13 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Dress: Max & Cleo, from BCBG Outlet
- Belt: Gap Outlet
- Earrings: Honolulu swap meet
- Wedges: Lauren by Ralph Lauren, via Macy’s super shoe sale
End Notes:
You know that seafoam green belt that I’ve blogged a couple of times? It’s actually came with this dress: a wonderfully tailored jersey dress with inverted pleats at the neckline and pockets tucked away in the waistband pleats. I only had this dress for a little while before becoming pregnant, and I had been reluctant to pull it out this summer, wondering if I would fit it again and not wanting to be disappointed if I didn’t.
The good news is that my post-preggers body — particularly my breast-feeding boosted chest — quite possibly fills out this dress better than I did before. Whee! I want to be honest, however, and admit that not all forays back into my pre-preggers wardrobe have been as successful. Things have just…shifted…or something…and my pile of summer clothes to donate has grown. But, whenever I am tempted to despair over the fact that a skirt or a top or a pair of shorts no longer flatter my body, I try to remind myself that the fact that my body overcame some pretty substantial obstacles to have a baby in the first place, and that tends to refocus my perspective.
Speaking of refocused perspectives (like the segue?), S.’s post yesterday resurrected some of my personal neuroses concerning slogan tees. Due in part to personality, in part to upbringing, and in part to the fact that I have close relationships with people in radically different cultural, political, and religious spheres, I’ve never been much of a slogan tee kind of person. I would, to give one example, always prefer to write a long letter than go to a rally.
I am, unfortunately, quick to extrapolate and file. If I see a stranger wearing a certain t-shirt, I assume that I know the entire gamut of the owner’s political views, whether right or left, and I similarly assume that the same assumptions would be made about me. I have never had a good experience of striking up a conversation with a stranger whose slogan tee I disagreed with. Instead, after a few past encounters that devolved into frustratingly hyperbolic one-way expositions, I tend to shy away altogether. My personal rule of thumb has become one of only discussing politics with people that I have a close personal relationship with, in safe spaces where nuance and fuzzy gray borders and third spaces can exist. In these conversations, I surprise my friends and am surprised in turn as questions and counter-examples and confessions come out in messy ways that don’t lend themselves to pithy statements.
But this is my experience, and I’m willing to reconsider. I certainly think that there are inherently political aspects to how we dress, but I tend towards implicit rather than explicit expressions. Have you ever had your mind changed by a slogan tee? Has such a tee sparked a great conversation with someone of an opposing view? Do you make your politics or religion explicit in what you wear? I’m curious.
- E.
This outfit is so simple and so gorgeous! I’m not one for slogan tees, either. I can’t say I wouldn’t wear one if I found one I really adored, but I’d rather talk to someone about my feelings than advertise them to everyone on my clothes.
I had this discussion about slogan tees during down time before a class once; I think I came off as snooty like “ewww I don’t like slogan tees” because it was hard to explain exactly what you just said above! Thank you for putting it in better words than I can. Too bad some of those class mates probably already think I’m a fashionista jerk! *haha sigh.*
On a related note, what about advert/brand tees? Does anyone else see the strangeness of paying to become a walking billboard for the company you just bought a shirt from? Or even stranger, paying to become a walking billboard for your favorite soft drink, food, etc.? I fail to see what goes through someone’s head in the morning when they say “I’m going to wear my Slovacek Sausage (local company) T-shirt today!”– what makes them pick that over any other shirt? “Um… I like sausage?”
Super cute dress! I’m so glad you’re talking about the challenges of dressing a post-pregnancy body. Being 14 weeks of my own first pregnancy, and watching my body change, seemingly drastically, these are the types of issues I really wonder about.
You’re a knockout in that dress, no two ways about it. And I’m glad to hear that you’re learning to love you post-baby body!
I’m not much for slogan tees, as I feel my political views are private. But the one S posted yesterday does tempt me …
I can tell that you’re still coming to terms with your post-pregnancy body, my best advice is just to accept it with a zen-like attitude. Lots of things in your life are going to be different now, your body is just one of them. I have “cankles” that I didn’t have before and my feet are wider and still swell on occasion. Still, my feet and legs get me where I’m going and allow me to chase my son, and for this I am thankful every day.
Love the dress, love the look, you look great as always!
I love the dress. The color looks great on you. I also like slogan tees. I think they aren’t necessarily worn to change the mind of people who oppose your views, but rather to show support to others who are impacted by the issue. For example, if I was in a town that I’d never been to before and I saw that pro-equality shirt from the other day, I’d think “This is a friendly, welcoming place” or at the very least, “Phew, there is someone who is on my side.”
Re: slogan tees. While, I can completely understand how anyone might be uncomfortable wearing one, they do serve a purpose. I think the beauty of a tee like S.’s yesterday isn’t that it changes anyone’s mind, but that it makes people who silently agree with you feel more comfortable speaking up.
You’re looking amazing in that dress. The color is also very flattering. Go post-pregnancy body.
As for slogan Ts, I was more into them when I was younger. I had the “this is what a feminist looks like,” one and a bunch of anti-war/anti-Bush and union shirts. While I still have many, I don’t them because as a professor, it’s not really appropriate.
But when I did wear them, they were meant to be both provocative and expressive. I am someone for whom politics is very important. I think a person’s political opinions reflect his/her morals, ethics, and who you are as a person, and I find discussing them, with strangers or not, to be fascinating and important. I will step away from conversations if I think someone is getting upset, and I will stop any conversations if someone engages in ad hominens, especially, “well you’re just a head in the clouds intellectual, what do you know.” (This happened more than once).
But that’s me. I am very open about my politics and I realize that this can be alienating, but political honesty and expression is something I find important. I am also happy to report that I have changed my mind about things in the past.
This dress looks wonderful on you!
I like slogan tees, but only on other people. This has less to do with the slogan and more to do with the fact that I am not a t-shirt type of gal.
You look great! I’d love to have your figure.
As for slogan tees, I think of them much like bumper stickers. Quick way to get your message across, but I’m not always sure that it will be received the right way. It’s a way to identify oneself with a cause/campaign/philosophy, but I wonder why it is that a person feels compelled to do so?
This dress is fantastic on you. I like the belt swap, and I hope you love your LRL wedges as much as I love the ones I bought myself last year. I would grab these in a minute, as well.
I agree almost entirely with your take on slogan tees, and as such I generally avoid them, but I wanted to add that I think they can be an effective way of normalizing an issue within the public consciousness. Having taught high school, I can say with confidence that the more pro-gay marriage t-shirts a teenager sees on people like S., the more likely that teenager will be to think of gay marriage as “normal.” Exposure to outspoken activists on TV is one thing, but IMO kids tend to be more influenced by the “regular” people they encounter in everyday life.
I feel strongly enough about gay marriage that I’d break my general rule against slogan tees to wear one supporting it, but the issues I’m willing to draw attention to across my chest are few and far between.
That dress is absolutely STUNNING on you. And I think I stopped and stared at those fabulous wedges for 5 minutes before reading the rest of your post!
I’ve never been much of a slogan tee kind of gal. Like Sal, I feel that political, religious, or even socio-cultural opinions that I may have are private, and don’t often like announcing myself to the world like that. That said, the “marriage is so gay” t-shirt is quite tempting.
Cute dress – you look wonderful.
With the exception of my alma maters, I don’t wear tshirts (or any clothing) with writing/slogans/logos on them. I do not choose to make myself vulnerable in a way that I think such clothing makes one…and I’m not willing to be free advertising!
WOW – what a beautiful color, adn it looks stunning on you. I love the shoes, as I am a fan of wedges! How do you decide to do things like wear a brown wide belt instead of the thin seafoam green one? That is just one of the reasons why I read this blog…always inspiring.
As for the slogan tees, I generally don’t wear them…However, I think S’s post was great, with a positive message re: equality for all, and she looked adorable in her ensamble! Thanks to the three of you for sharing your ideas and finds!
I’m not crazy about slogan tees for much of the same reasons. My whole self cannot by summed up in a sentence or two. I have very few opinions that can be summed up in a sentence or two (some can, most can’t). And I don’t want people reading a small part of my view on life and thinking that they know everything I think. Or even everything I think about that one subject.
If I get a free slogan tee I’ll usually wear it for yard work or something, so that sometimes means I wear those to Home Depot or to pick up a job-well-done pizza. I hope no one at Home Depot or Papa Johns cares enough to think very deeply about it, since I’ll wear almost any free tee I get for yard work occasions (unless I am so radically opposed to the message that it makes me angry to even see the shirt).
Love the dress! As for the slogan tees- I have to agree with all you have written—sad part is, no matter how much we try to erase “labels” and stereotypes, we inadvertently tend to brand people ourselves. I like to be forewarned (and there’s no better way to say who you are than with a slogan) and would prefer to keep my distance from people I know will not “get” me. :)
Do I sport symbols of my culture? sure, as my skin color and tongue announce my presence as it is. If I think its stylish, I’ll wear it….(doesn’t extend to religious symbols- which I feel should be personal, and don’t really define me..)
I’m not big on slogan Ts anymore, but I do tend to wear my politics, convictions, cultures, and beliefs. For instance, most of the jewelry I wear are made by AmerIndian artists, and most of the diamonds I own are ones either I or my loved ones dug up in one of those “mine your own diamonds” places. When I graduated, I wore a holoku and a graduation sash made from my great-grandmother’s “tear dress” to show pride for my Hawaiian and Tsalagi (Cherokee) heritage.
It’s what I don’t wear that really shows my stance. I would never wear a head dress (“war bonnet” is a more appropriate term) or engage in other culture appropriation for the sake of fashion. I don’t buy from companies that are known for using slave labour.
It’s difficult, of course, to have these self-imposed guidelines. Yet at the end of the day, fashion is art, and I believe that art is one of the most effective tools to enact social change. To me, fashion and convictions have a dialogue.
Great color!
Sorry to say, when you stop nursing you’ll have another body adjustment :( Enjoy them while you can!
I don’t wear any kind of slogan tees any more. There is no one thing that I want to say for an entire day, to every different person I come into contact with.
This includes everything from XKCD geek shirts to shirts from various clubs or employers to band shirts – they’ve all been given away. Even buttons with writing on them are gone.
No one who I’m not actually talking to needs to know anything about me. (And yes, the irony of saying this in a public comment is amusing…)
Lovely dress!
I don’t really wear slogan tees anymore, but that’s because my style has changed. If it changes again I could happily go back to wearing them.
As others here have said, I don’t think of them as a way to change anybody’s mind or spark a discussion, I just think of them as a way to express who I am, just as the bright colors and mismatched patterns I wear now help express who I am.
I’ve rarely had anyone comment on one of my slogan tees, but then, I’m a liberal in one of the most liberal municipalities in the country. It’s a very safe assumption here that most people who saw my slogan tee would agree with it, and if they didn’t, they’re probably at least accustomed to being around liberals and might roll their eyes at the most. There’s no risk involved. I might feel differently if I lived in another part of the world.
I’m with you – I would rather make my political, religious, and political views in person rather than in a form that instantly invites judgment. I’m more about open discussion and cordial disagreement than a heated FOX News debate.
That being said, I wear very simple accessories that subtly state my religious beliefs in a non-confrontational way.
It’s a really interesting topic, because you really do make a statement by what you do or do not wear – be it a slogan tee, a piece of jewelry, a head scarf, or even how you dress in the first place.
Love the simple chicness of your outfit today by the way!!
First off, that’s a wonderful dress.
Second, I love how you explained your ideas about slogan tees, and I agree with you on it. I think my own ambivalence regarding slogan tees (even those with which I agree wholeheartedly) is wrapped up in the way I was brought up. I remember that my parents never let my sister or I wear Puerto Rico-shaped jewelry and they would always tell us to “wear our flag in our hearts” because that made a stronger statement than wearing the necklaces and beaded flags that our friends wore. While it’s a different context, I feel that this applies to my political views as well. It’s hard to really express the depth and breadth of emotional political issues in a tee or a bumper sticker.
Thanks, everyone for your thoughtful comments and responses. I think we have the most intelligent, well-spoken comment-ers out there!
I’m particularly interested in Liz’s idea of slogan tees having the potential to normalize something rather than necessarily being a conversation starter. And Frances, your comment about your parents telling you to “wear your flag in your hearts” resonated very strongly with me. Two nuances to this issue that I had not previously considered!
Thanks to all for making me think!
- E
That dress is gorgeous!
I kind of feel the same way about slogan tees. I like activism, but I always feel like others will make assumptions about me if I wear a t-shirt declaring a belief. I also worry about accidentally doing something counter to my slogan (like getting angry while wearing a shirt that promotes peace and serenity) and I don’t like the thought of others judging me, or worse,, judging everyone who believes in that slogan.
Most of my t-shirts have something either written on them or a design of some sort. T-shirts constitute the majority of my daily wardrobe; though I’m trying to change this as I’ve recently gotten my graduate degree and really do have to go be a professional now. (At least this is the excuse I tell myself every time I find myself reading yet another fashion bog.)
I tend to avoid overt political statements on shirts though, largely because I don’t really enjoy unsolicited political conversations with people, something I feel a political shirt might attract.
Most of my shirts tend to be funny or geeky (or both) so I suppose I’m more comfortable branding myself as a nerd. Conversations sparked by those shirts tend to be much more positive generally. (Generally I find the more obscure the nerdy shirt is, the more fun it is to run into someone who ‘gets it’ like you’ve discovered an unexpected ally.)
I refuse to wear a shirt that simply has a brand name on it. I don’t like the idea of paying money to serve as advertising, no matter how much I may like the company’s products.
I know how you feel when it comes to the slogan tees, and I’m kind of the same way. I don’t ever wear slogan tees, but I will wear tees with logo’s them. For example, I have one with my church’s logo on it.
Anyway, I love the dress! I’ve been loving wearing dresses lately, especially since it’s been so hot!
I’ve been lurking for a while and finally decided to comment. First of all, I love this site and the commentary that all of you have to offer. You three are quickly becoming heroes, especially as I prepare for the world of graduate school.
Second, that dress is lovely.
As for slogan tees, I rarely wear them (and I never wear tees advertising brands, although I may wear tees featuring organizations I participate in). When I make exceptions, it is for things I feel very strongly about. For example, I have a shirt that I bought from the HRC store that says “<3 is Everywhere." It supports an organization that is doing things I believe in, but it is also a good message. Even if someone is against gay rights, they probably like the reminder that love is everywhere. They might not see love in the same ways, but to everyone, multiple kinds of love exist: be that heterosexual or homosexual, between a parent and a child, a human and their pet, best friends, ext. You can disagree with the politics behind it, but still agree with the message. To me, that makes an acceptable tee-shirt and a good conversation starter. However, I'd rather not risk my attir eliciting political conversations with strangers.
As someone else mentioned, I view slogan tees much as I view bumper stickers. When I’m driving and I notice someone with an offensive bumper sticker (offensive to my point of view, of course), I usually roll my eyes and am not all that willing to let them cut in front of me. If I see one that mirrors my own thoughts or is witty and impressive, I instantly like that car’s owner and feel better about the highway on which I’m driving. So I like slogan tees like this in the sense that they create community, but I feel there’s that danger of being misunderstood because strangers take one statement as a summary of your entire identity.
I was once part of a production of “The Vagina Monologues,” and I took pride in wearing my cast t-shirt in public, with the show’s name emblazoned on the front; I even wore it to an event at my church, which is a very conservative and old-fashioned place for the most part. I wanted to stand up for what I believed, regardless of what others thought, and I think that’s a fine perspective to have.
That said, how about all of the slogan tees a la “Free Hugs!” or “Don’t You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?”? My uppity self is very judge-y when I see those.
I haven’t read the comments but I know that I am drawn to PEACE and LOVE slogans on t-shirts.
I only have one slogan tee anymore (though I own many ashirt from Threadless), and it has three couples on the front–two males, a male and a female, and two females. It says “acceptance” beneath and it was made for my college Day of Silence my senior year. I still wear it because it’s a message of solidarity; it makes a statement that we are all to love and be loved, and I honestly don’t view it as political. Everyone deserves to be happy unless it’s actively damaging someone else, and homosexuality/gay marriage etc. aren’t damaging. People make it their job to be damaged by something in which they aren’t involved, and I like that my shirt makes that nosiness/holier-than-thou attitude a neglectful thing. Also, a few locals have assumed (incorrectly) that I’m gay when I wear this shirt, especially when I wore it for our first Pride Day in June. The assumption annoys me, but I also assume that anyone wearing camo and driving a beat up pickup truck is a redneck, so I guess I shouldn’t talk.
/soapbox
Slogan tees that say things like “Italian Stallion” and “Stop reading this shirt” really annoy me. You wearing a shirt like that doesn’t make you clever and it looks kinda trashy. Wear something that shows who you are, not who you want other people to think you are.
[...] is so gay’ t-shirt has sparked an interesting conversation. I appreciated reading E’s viewpoint and all of yours in the thoughtful comments you left – I welcome all of those, whether you [...]
[...] here lately. But, I wanted to add my two cents about slogan tees. I’ve enjoyed reading E’s post, both of S’s posts, and the many thoughtful comments, all of which have had me doing quite a [...]
Lovely look.
I don’t wear slogan tees myself, but I enjoy the glimpse of a student’s wit when I see them in class.
[...] here with the “Marriage is so Gay” tee-shirt worn by S.), as I found the reasons behind E., A. and S.’s message tee-shirt choices [...]
I have a few reasons for almost never wearing shirts with writing on them. (I say almost because I’m currently wearing the only one I own: it has my school’s logo on the front and the word ‘WRITER’ across the back. The logo looks cool, the shirt is warm (and winter isn’t), I had no problem giving money to the school I love, and it’s a general group solidarity thing: we’re not fellow students and faculty, we’re family.)
You guys have hit most of the reasons I shun logo shirts very effectively (hammer… nail… head…) but it seems like the one thing that concerns me most is the one nobody else noticed!
I have boobs. I’m skinny, so they’re THERE. They’re not going anywhere, and I’m coming to terms with the fact that if I wear the same cute little sundresses my gal pals get to wear, I look trampy while they look cute. I haven’t figured out a way to rock strapless yet, my bras are basically bulletproof polyester whilst my pals get cute little patterned things off the sale rack, and basically it all boils down to: my body shape.
If I wear a shirt with writing across the boobs, it’s got the same effect as saying LOOK AT MY BOOBS. And since I so thoroughly judge the girls at the gym with JUICY written across their tushes (particularly when they’re offended that guys are staring at their bums), it seems hypocritical to draw attention to my chest when I spend so much time preferring attention go to my face, or my entirety.
Also, I was subjected to a campaign of harassment in college when my upstairs neighbors filled their windows and the building hallways with anything from NObama to manifestos of the only ways in which it would be appropriate for Muslims to interact with people in public. As such, instead of viewing slogan clothing as ways for groups to show each other that they’re not alone, I see them as ways for individuals or groups to be covertly hostile to others.