Band t-shirts are a wardrobe staple for every alternative chick and dude. You, reading this post right now, how many band t-shirts do you own? How many black Ac/Dc tops are piled up in your wardrobe? Are your drawers bursting with old t-shirts with too many memories attached to throw away? I know how it is. I absolutely love band t-shirts, especially the ones you buy at concerts. Those t-shirts bring on so many memories when you wear them that you couldn’t replace them with anything else, not even an autograph or a million photos. There the shirts you feel most confident in for whatever reason. Going out for the day? My first choice is my newest band shirt. Are you one of those who always buy a “souvenir” t-shirt at concerts? Or do you buy band t-shirts at Hot Topic? If you're like me, you get that tingling sensation seeing one of your favorite bands on display on a glorious shirt.
Sometimes it's simply something that's aesthetically pleasing and easy to wear. I've designed a shirt for my solo project that's a cat in baseball gear. I don't even like baseball but it looks cool and it's endearing. Sometimes it relates to the artwork on your album art. There's a variety of choices. But no matter what, it's completely disreputable to wear your own shirt no matter how personal you make it. You’re in the band—you’re not supposed to like the band too. Definitely not your own shirts.
This is contrasted against the fashion industry. If I go into a boutique store and I purchase an item and ask to wear it out – that’s seen as a great compliment. It’s not uncomfortable to wear a designer’s clothes to their show. It’s not curious if a designer wears their own lines. In fact all of these actions seem to celebrated.
Band shirts are their own culture and that's the beauty of them. They look good. They make a statement. They bring awareness. Finally, the express the wearer all at once. From my Beatles to my Bowie to my ZZ top shirts, without them k wouldn't know how to express myself.
