Are band and music t-shirts dead?
Introduction
Fashions come and go by definition, however there are some items of clothing that never completely go out of style. Usually, an innovation or peripheral trend emerges to bring them back to the public’s attention. For example, I’m thinking of denim jeans that have been an iconic and dominant piece of clothing for decades, but seem to go in and out of style depending on other factors, such as celebrity endorsements or cutting style innovation. . Another fashion classic is the music or band t-shirt. Are band shirts dead? Should they be sent to Fashion Show 101 alongside dress pants and chunky cardigans with leather elbow patches? No, says this musical T-shirt fan. Music and band t-shirts are still in style.
where t-shirts began
T-shirts used to be underwear. Nondescript clothing and nothing special. That all changed when James Dean wore his classic white T-shirt in Rebel Without a Cause. Suddenly, T-shirts became a youth garment, a rebellious garment that challenged the formal shirt and tie worn by older generations. However, the shirts were plain. Mainly white in fact. However, in the late 1950s, things were about to change with the invention of a new material called plastisol ink that made it possible to print durable designs on clothing. T-shirts continued to be the clothing of the rebels throughout the 1960s, when tie-dyeing and other processes gave them a new rise in popularity. Bands also began to use T-shirts as a means of promotion, as did concerts where they were sold as souvenirs.
Musical t-shirts hit the mainstream
Thus, T-shirts became mainstream as clothing styles moved away from the formal suit and ties of the early 1960s towards a more casual look. Iron-on transfers arrived in the 1970s, allowing t-shirt shops to open in every city and shopping malls printing almost unlimited t-shirt designs. No trip to the beach was complete without picking up a cool new t-shirt, printed on demand.
The punk explosion of the mid-1970s gave t-shirts a new lease on life with designers like Vivienne Westwood adapting them and creating outrageous new t-shirt designs using pop art imagery, safety pins and shocking prints. Once again, they became a potentially cutting-edge and important fashion statement.
Throughout the 1990s, T-shirts ceased to be a fashion statement and became more of a middle-of-the-road safe clothing staple. All bands now promote themselves, their tours, and their albums using T-shirts along with other media. In fact, T-shirt sales remain a major source of revenue from the band’s tours, and many tours are accompanied by exclusive concert T-shirts that cannot be purchased anywhere else. They remain strongly associated with music, but also with every other form of popular culture. Where teenagers may show their allegiance to beliefs, bands or TV shows by wearing button badges, most adults now do the same by wearing t-shirts, as button badges are generally considered less acceptable to the older generation. Because band and music t-shirts have been around since the 1960s, there are now over 50 years of designs for music t-shirt companies to loot and reissue, and there are still plenty of classic t-shirt designs available today. . Major bands like The Beatles and Pink Floyd have dozens, if not hundreds, of officially licensed T-shirts for sale from a wide range of sources. TV shows like Southpark, The Simpsons and Family Guy are also popular t-shirt targets, and adults of any age can proudly and subtly (or so they hope!) show that they’re on trend by sporting a particular t-shirt when out and about. From home. Dress-Down Fridays in workplaces (where formal wear is normally worn Monday through Thursday) are a great opportunity for those considered uptight and out of touch to correct what they might consider to be a misconception. In the UK, T-shirts are more popular than ever at the moment, with fitted T-shirts particularly appealing to skinny youngsters, while the broader crowd among us still opts for Large to XXL. All of the trendiest bands, whether young or old, new or established, have t-shirts available. Lady Ga Ga, The Killers, Lily Allen, Snow Patrol, Morrissey, The Gallows, etc. For Heavy Metal fans, the usually black t-shirts have been a staple from the mid 70’s onwards and there are fantastic metal t-shirts available for fans of bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slipknot, Slayer, Motorhead etc. . and the graphic designs on these t-shirts are legendary and unique in the music t-shirt industry, as most other genres tend to focus on band photos or album covers.
Conclusion
So, what will you wear on your vacation this summer? Okay, you could buy yourself a nice Hawaiian shirt or a boring high street polo shirt. But I think you want to express yourself and wear your heart on your chest. There’s no better way to do that than through a band or music t-shirt. Show you care, show you’re cool. Buy a hip band t-shirt from a site like http://www.musictees.co.uk and you can’t go wrong. Informal but deliberate. Comfortable but elegant. Are music t-shirts dead as a fashion item? Yes, but only if you’re too boxy to wear one.