Not all slogan tees are equal. Sometimes, they fail to make sense even after a double take. Case in point: Reese Witherspoon’s workout tanks from 2015 to 2017 as documented by paparazzi outside her gym. But that shouldn’t deter you from wearing one, especially if you believe in the power of a wordy wardrobe.
Clothing has long been associated with activism and can be a form of protest, a way to address current affairs or even one’s political and social beliefs. A designer who has always seen the merit in this is London-based Ashish Gupta, who has been using the sequinned t-shirt as a messaging medium since the early 2000s. “I think it’s good for everyone to make a statement,” Gupta said of his use of inclusivity-themed slogans in his autumn/winter 2017 show. His latest collection, in fact, includes not just a sweater dress that calls for world peace, but also sweatshirts emblazoned with glittering sequins spelling out words like ‘Migraine’ and ‘Nausea’. For Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, the designer created multiple iterations of his now iconic ‘Not a lot going on at the moment’ t-shirt that the musician originally wore in her music video for ‘22’.
Earlier this May, American model and actor Emily Ratajkowski sported a Stormy Daniels tee when former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his hush-money trial, signalling her stance without having to say a word. Now, as the US elections heat up, celebrities have started sporting tees that simply read ‘Vote’, as a way to encourage citizens to exercise their franchise.
Then there’s the self-aware slogan t-shirt like Victoria Beckham’s ‘My dad had a Rolls-Royce’ and ‘David’s Wife’ tees, and Hailey Bieber’s ‘Nepo Baby’ crop top from last year—all of which became pop culture moments themselves. Princess Di, our eternal style icon, once wore a sweater that read ‘I am a luxury few can afford’, while Sydney Sweeney recently sported a sweatshirt that read ‘Sorry for having great tits and correct opinions.’ Talk about women who know their worth!
It’s not always about making a bold proclamation, though. Sometimes, it’s just about projecting a mood. Think Rihanna in Conner Ives’s ‘I’m retired’ dress even as fans continue to badger her to release her ninth studio album. Gen Z hot-favourite label Praying’s bestsellers include items with the words ‘God’s favorite’ and ‘They don’t build statues of critics’ (as seen on Charli XCX) printed in a serif font.
But my favourite kind of slogan tees are the niche bootleg kind, which look like they’ve been created in someone’s garage and have a worn, vintage vibe. Is Miuccia Prada aware that her face has been screen-printed three times on this crew neck courtesy of Brazilian brand Aged Archive? The t-shirt has got a life of its own on Instagram, thanks to fans of Prada. I also love this vegan memer’s store that sells not so demure but highly cutesy t-shirts featuring cartoon animals that do a great job of illustrating existential pains.
Whether you’re trying to show the world what’s on your mind or manifesting a big paycheck, here are the best graphic slogan t-shirts to nab right now, curated by The Nod’s style desk.
