Relax! You’re never too old to wear a slogan T-shirt
NOT since Katharine Hamnett Eighties statement tees, with messages such as ‘Worldwide Nuclear Ban Now’, have slogan shirts had such a moment.
What started as a simmering micro-trend has suddenly become huge. I’ve heard mutterings that it’s a bit wrong for anyone over 25, but I’m not having that.
Millennials may well be rocking them at festivals this summer, but they didn’t invent the idea — and with the current fashion must-have, Dior’s ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ T-shirt, retailing at £490, designers are hardly pandering to the nation’s cash-poor youth.
I’ll admit my own growing collection never fails to raise an eyebrow from my husband. Recently I was wearing one of my favourites, a roomy, white number emblazoned with the word ‘Radical’.
‘You know, someone who was actually radical probably wouldn’t wear a shirt saying they were,’ he smirked.
Fair comment, but I am undeterred. How could anyone feel dated wearing something so timeless?
ASI write this, a fierce mood of activism is gripping the world and designers are echoing the Hamnett days. U. S.- based Prabal Gurung, a favourite of Michelle Obama, has a range that includes the slogans ‘We Will Not Be Silenced’ and ‘ Girls Just Want To Have Fundamental Rights’.
And celebrities have jumped at the chance to wear their politics on their chest.
When Katy Perry wore a ‘Nasty Woman’ T-shirt — a nod of solidarity to Hillary Clinton after Donald Trump taunted her with the phrase in an election campaign debate — she inspired many of her fans to go out and do the same.
The challenge for those of us approaching the trend for the second time is how to wear a slogan without being too contentious or even vulgar.
I can and do wear my ‘Nasty Woman’ T-shirt to work — I’m a magazine editor, so some would tease that that’s very on-brand. But it’s easy to take your slogan tee down a sleek rather than silly route. As with anything, it’s all in the styling.
Of course, what your T-shirt says is key. Personally, I’d feel daft in one of the sexier double entendre messages favoured by the High Street — ‘Girls Do It Better’, etc — but a simple one-liner is a great finishing touch for a black suit. For this look, I love Topshop’s ‘Femme Forever’, £15, and Zara’s ‘Extra Power’, £12.99. My favourite brand, though, is Londonbased Etre Cecile.
It doesn’t really do politics, but rather tongue-in- cheek Parisian-inspired phrases. I own several that say things like ‘Bonjour, Let’s Eat!’ and one I haven’t dared wear yet, which says ‘ Popular’ — in case anyone reports me for false advertising.
My favourite way to wear them is layered, either over a long- sleeved striped top or under a print pyjama shirt. Add jeans and you’re ready for the weekend.
The best thing about this look is how often it makes people smile. OK, maybe some are laughing at me when I wear my ‘You Can’t Steal My Happy’ one (£13.25, from Etsy) but I’m fine with that.
So forget made- up rules about age and just have fun with it. If even Victoria Beckham can have a laugh at herself — as she recently did in her own ‘Fashion Stole My Smile’ design — I’d say that’s permission granted.