Week number 13 but by no means any piece of bad luck. I’m going to get straight to the point on this one, it’s fab! The use of intricate objects and symbols joined together to form a larger shape or symbol is a timeless one and it works fantastically on garments, depending on your subject matter.

This item from the guys at Chop Shop have had the Rock inspiration (quite apt with the current fad for Rock Star Games, Pop Idol etc doing the rounds), the fun thing about this t-shirt is that when you look closely each element of the design is a simple silouhette of a person playing an instrument or singing. You can literally sit there and look at it for ages picking out each individual part…well I said you could, didn’t say that you should! But if you actually do have a flare for music and history then you will also notice that the figures themselves are musical icons from across the decades!

So not only would you be wearing a great t-shirt with an eye catching design but you’re also wearing a little bit of history! Available in plenty of manly colours, this t-shirt is a wicked addition to any budding rocker’s wardrobe!

Tee Boy

The weather is at a low peak, it’s Monday and I’m already waiting for payday! Yes it’s that Monday feeling!

A great weekend of shopping and clubbing has just passed once again. Having scoured the stores for a t-shirt for a spur of the moment night out. Not as easy as you may think though readers, not when your friends are complete shopaholics and are more than likely to either already own the t-shirt that you have decided upon or (oh the shame) are wearing the same one that night. Luckily for me I was shopping with said friends in the day so had the opportunity to ensure that such mishaps of fashion wouldn’t occur. To this day I can clearly remember the time I entered a bar once and my feeling of smugness over my wonderful new purchase earlier in the week was all for nothing when 4 guys (yes 4!) all were there in the same item; queue to me running back home to change!

Back to this weekend and I had the dilemma…I’d already narrowed my choices down to two t-shirts, one from G-Star and the other from Diesel; both my favourite labels, both with a hint of pink, both looked great on me for a change having already hoped that would be the deciding factor. None of my friends had already bought either (in fact there was s distinct hint of jealousy when they realised that they couldn’t call dibs on either!) and neither my friends, passers by or even the very helpful girl on the shop floor could decide which one was the best. After 15 to 30 minutes deliberation, it all came down to the cold hard cash, my friends being shopaholics have their advantages, one being a VIP shopper and having a discount card! And unfortunately the discount didn’t go on G-Star clobber so the Diesel tee won out after all. And looking back over Saturday’s shenanigans, I’m glad I went with it after hearing all the compliments that were well received during the course of the evening…well I vaguely remember them anyway! Sure a number of pictures will appear on a very well known social networking site in the days to come…I await with anxiety!

Whilst out and about in the various bars it was a simple case of people watching for me, seeing what they were wearing (or not wearing in some cases!). In true me style and that of my friends, there was no respect for the weather in that none of us a) worse a jacket or b) had an umbrella; so anyone out on Saturday would have seen us jumping in and out of cabs as we hilariously cab hopped to each pub and club…expensive but worth every penny! Couldn’t get the t-shirt wet could we!?! Saw a few of my own creations in town too, a lovely sight for a t-shirt printer to see his babies being worn and enjoyed! Though it may not have been in good form to drunkenly point the fact out by pointing at said ladies from across the bar! For that girls I apologise.

In the mix of trendy wear, silly wear and down right weird wear there were a lot of fashion fatalities and trend setters, but all in all everyone seemed happy in their decision of what to wear on the town on a rainy Saturday night; and that my dear readers is the main emphasis of my ranting today, that despite my pomp and splendour, it isn’t about the labels, the materials, the colours or the design; it’s how you feel when wearing it. If a t-shirt can make you feel a million dollars, then what’s wrong with that?

Tee Boy

Yup, it’s that time of the year again. The signs are there, Big Brother starts tonight, the sun is shining and yes the Festivals are already up and running. The Big Weekend has been and gone and the larger ones are due any week now. With this in mind it occurs to me that there must be a tricky set of decisions to be made before one ventures out into the countryside for a weekend or longer period to indulge in everything festival-ish; the main one being, what the heck does one wear!? Now we all know that the British weather can be moody at its best. The current “heatwave” is luring us into a safe sense of security and the majority of fest goers are donning the habitual shorts, vests and flip flops. All very good but what if the weather takes a turn for the nasty? I personally would pack a few hoodies in there, a mac (oh the shame!), some good jeans/combats or even some waterproofs if necessary! Footwear, well it needs no explanation, pack the sensible ones as you’re going to be stood around for a long long time! Wellies are a must just in case of downpours, trainers that are comfortable and the flip flop as long as you can cope for a whole day in them are a good idea; leave the heals at home girls!

To cover your heads, beanies, caps and for the braver of us the straw hat are great to ensure that you don’t burn those sensitive head parts in the sun..and if the rain poors you will also have something to keep you that little bit drier!

Loving the deals on the tees on the high street at the moment, Topman/Topshop, Next and River Island are all doing BOGOF’s (buy one, get one free; for those of you not in the know!), or 3 for a tenner. Pretty much a bargain for staple garments to wear whenever.

Republic are doing a 2 items for £30 at the moment, including tees, polo shirts and combat shorts or boardies. Having already taken advantage of this offer myself I thoroughly recommend it!

With the sun in mind we also shouldn’t forget the kids, they especially need protection from the UV rays so makesure to kit them out, but please do try and remember that they need to look good too, it’s essential for their self respect!

Next are ahead of the game with a great range of bright and fun t-shirts, linen shirts, boardies and cargo shorts. Especially loving the bright polo shirts available…guaranteed to make any kid proud to be dragged around the shops with Mum!

An additional t-shirt of the week I’ve also found today is this dedication to the old Hanes Manual, that “how to” manual for every type of car imaginable. Well now you can have a t-shirt! Next are now selling a great summer tee with a mini or Ford Capri diagram or comically a land crawler from the Star Wars franchise. Looks great on and also bring a little fun and personality to your wardrobe…buy one now!

Tee Boy

Unless you live in seclusion it should be clear to anyone watching TV, shopping or just randomly looking around that the Union Jack and all things British are once again huge!

We have the likes of Britain’s Got Talent and the many other “talent” shows on offer, Eurovision recently being given a huge token of effort from one of our upstanding and high profile society members all in the name of making sure that our neighbours know that we are just as amazing, talented and fashionable as them! The Union Jack itself is a symbol that over the many many years of its reign has become an integral part of our entertainment and fashion status. Who can forget Ginger Spice back in the nineties parading around the stage in what can only be described as a Glitter spectacular in the colours of our beloved flag. The talent shows are all about being British, what we can offer and how fabulous we can be.

In turn that has also shown in the fashion world. Many many world famous designers herald from our shores. Christopher Bailey (Burberry), Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith, Stella McCartney and Vivian Westwood to name but a few (and not to mention Julien MacDonald from our very own valleys here in sunny Wales!).

With this in mind I took some time to explore all things British and had a look at what these wonderful and visionary designers have got on offer in the new millennium and it isn’t just these big names that are adding to our Fashion perfection. All manner of wannabe courture creators have come out of the woodwork. Kate Moss who has been successfully modelling since a young age, despite her unfortunate relationships and naughty front page misadventures has managed to create a hugely successful and growing range of women swear for the Topshop brand. An eclectic mix of sexy, sassy and classy garments, accessories and shoes that pretty much speak for themselves, Miss Moss knows what she’s doing obviously!

Victoria Beckham needs no introduction, since her departure from the Spice Girls era and the association with Golden Balls Beckham she has not only mixed with the A list of the fashion and celebrity world but she herself has managed to shock and inspire the world with her fashion choices, style changes, haircuts and outrageous outfits. Expanding into catwalks (she models don’t you know!), perfumes and now her own fashion label; Posh spice is blatantly spicey still and more importantly is still British no matter where she calls home.

So here’s to us Brits, for such a small island, we sure do have some guts (not to mention a little bit of taste!).

Tee Boy

This week’s nominations (yes, more than one!) are apt ones. The sun is out so it’s fair to say that us sun worshippers are up for some summer fun in the brightest and coolest garb.

For the girls we have a nice little number from the gang at Republic. The Crafted “Pop” T-shirt is just that, poptastic, neon multicoloured lip designs repeated in the guise of Andy Warhol. Perfect with a faded jeans or hot pants (for those brave enough and tanned enough of course!). Uniquely printed on the front and back it has the edge to be a firm staple in the wardrobe for a day chilling in town or a night our with the ladies for a few cocktails. Pop perfection!

For the lads it’s all about the basic colours and the prints. This (my personal favourite label) Superdry number has both, a fantastic bright and edgy Sapphire blue partnered with a retro feel motif circa racing driving american style. The quality and price are what you would expect from this exclusive and very sought after brand, partnered again with the faded jeans, boardies or combat shorts, this little number will get the eyes turning as you walk down piazza. Eating out in style or chilling out siesta style. Chilled to perfection.

Tee Boy

Well it’s now official,  we have now relocated to the lovely area known as The Philog, here in Whitchurch, a quaint yet busy area of our thriving (and at the moment VERY sunny) city of Cardiff.

The new studio (posh word for office come shop) is just what we were looking for and with a lick of paint, some fresh ideas and of course t-shirts, look out The Philog, we’ve arrived.

With the move comes my (some may say insane) decision to purchase a bicycle to commute to work every day, a somewhat bold move on my part due to the fact that the last time I rode a bike was around 10 years ago. As you can imagine it was rather a shock to the system, not to mention certain areas of my body!

With the decision to cycle to work, coinciding with the beautiful weather that we are currently lucky enough to have; comes the equally confusing decision as to WHAT TO WEAR?

No this decision isn’t perhaps one of those earth shattering ones, not quite as vital as to what to wear on a night out or on the beach but to look good and remain professional and most importantly being comfortable are a must number of decisions one must undertake when deciding to venture onto the bike paths and roads of this bustling city. Not quite ready for lycra…(who is?!) it has to be said that t-shirts and shorts go hand in erm…pocket and work perfectly, light enough so as not to feel like I’m wearing a weight on my back, fun and trendy whilst allowing for our logo and contact information to be displayed clearly (why do I feel like I’m being used as a walking (or cycling) advertisement?). I arrived at work feeling good, not too sweaty thanks to the t-shirt decision, and still able to conduct work looking professional yet stylish. So all in all not a bad start to my cycling to work campaign and perhaps a start to an insight into other realms of clothing and garment design.

Whilst I’m not quite brave enough to look into more traditional cycle wear as of yet, it is clear that this is a very large and profitable market. Clothing has been scientifically (must mentioned the science!) design and created to allow cyclists to move without friction or discomfort on long journeys. Speed is of the essence if racing is your thing and the people behind the clothing have not forgotten this, making helmets more aerodynamic and racing tunics and shorts more streamlined they can now nock seconds off your journey time! WOW! Safety being a huge concern, elements such as reflective and glow in the dark garments are now widely available for those that want to be safe and seen at night.

All in all, a rather successful niche in the clothing market that continues to grown, which I’m sure I’ll be taking more of an interest in now that I’m off that niche!

Tee Boy

This week’s nomination is something of an acquired taste, not only is it not a T-shirt (I like to mix things up!) but it’s a little bit different from the standard type of thing that people go for. There are no slogans, no messages, no cutesy characters, no amusing anecdotes…quite simply this is a piece of art! Brought to you by the people at Fullbleed (don’t let the name fool you, they’re lovely!), this sweatshirt entitled “In Full Swing” has a one colour image of people literally swinging on clouds…aw how lovely. A nice and friendly print that is quite simply “nice”, no need for gimmicks or in your face neon colours, just a great unique print and gives you a feeling of chilling on a swing in the clouds…okay perhaps a bit far fetched but you get my drift. Put together with trendy and affordable garments and you’ve got yourself a nice (there’s that word again) little gift for yourself or someone you love.

With the nice weather coming soon, it’s nice to see something fun, friendly and relaxed for a change. How about some nice things eh, the world doesn’t always have to be harsh and in your face.

What say thee?

Tee Boy

Having a look around yet again for the latest in trendy childrenswear I have discovered the joy that is Threadless. An all american brand that is able to mix the traditional with the ultimate in chic and fashionable gear for the liccle ones. For those that want the envious looks at the nursery and high street, these people are the ones to see and it seems from the reviews that the mommies and daddies of the world are flocking to this site.

My personal favourite is the Be Cool t-shirt. Ode to the old school tradition of the colourful magnetic letters on the fridge door, this adorable t-shirt comes in a variety of great colours and the standard kids sizes and printed on 100% ring spun cotton, with bargain prices there is no reason why your darling ones shouldn’t be wearing a little bit of fabulous this summer.

So Mums! GET SHOPPING!

Tee Boy

This week’sT-Shirt of the week (again, rather late! Apologies people!) is quite an apt and timely nomination. Ode to the joy that is Star Trek, yes we may all mock those that consider themselves a Trekkie or Trekker as they now like to be called (to avoid ridicule, hmmm me thinks it may not actually work guys!). Having seen the newest addition to the franchise I was surprisingly pleased to find that they did a good job (albeit with a few rather large plot holes but within adequate parameters, and this t-shirt is a perfect gift for those geeky friends and members of the family brave enough to admit their love of all things Sci Fi (as the Klingons say, today is a good day to die (of shame)!).

The crazy yet genius people at Nerdyshirts.com seemed to have decided to play on the invasion (excuse the pun) of all things Sci Fi in the wake of all the Sci Fi themed contributions this year (Trek, XMen, Terminator and Transformers, OH MY!) by recreating one the more prominent elements of the franchise, the uniform! This simple homage to the original series’ simple Starfleet logo on a ladies v-neck t-shirt is perfect for anyone who I contemplating a themed event or convention (again the shame!).

Keeping with that theme I’m going to have a look around and see what other geeky t-shirts can be found, after all it’s now retro and trendy to have once-ridiculed characters and tv programmes emblazoned across your clothing, is it not?!

Live long and prosper…

Tee Boy

A number of things are a changing in the world of fashion, be they large, earth shattering ones or tiny yet significant ones, despite recessions, world poverty, war and disease, one thing is a certainty, there will always be a big importance within what we all wear, an inescapable truth that has been around since the beginning of man (and of course the ladies!).

M&S have shockingly admitted their wrong doing when making those larger endowed ladies pay more for their bras, and have now (thanks to the time and effort put in by many of its customers and shareholders, one very persistent cause believer actually paid to become a share holder with one goal in mind, to confront the board of directors in order to put an end to the madness!). So well done to those ladies that have been unfairly treated and congratulations on such a positive result.

Military chic is officially back! Khaki is in, the simple, straight forward yet sexy look has returned for another round on the catwalks, meaning that yes it will be appearing in the stores shortly, probably autumn time. So you may want to hold on to those military jackets, combats and anything dark green!

Pants! The very word is now fashionable, over the years the ladies have put a specifically high regard and effort into underwear and now us men are able to do the same, whether for your own peace of mind (don’t we all worry about what we’re wearing if run over or is that just me?!) or for the attention of those lucky enough to get a glimpse, boxer shorts, briefs (yes they are now cool too, so long as they’re stylish and labelled enough!, how shallow are we?) and trunks are now the latest accessory to be taken very seriously. Gone are the days when Calvin Klein was the apitimy of style when the famous CK logo seen just above the waistband was the hottest look. Now relegated to the shelves of seconds stores and Ebay, the thrown has been taken by a host of edgy and rather risqué brands such as Aussiebum, Ginch Gonch and Diesel. Colours are getting brighter, garments are getting skimpier, white is lo longer the look, instead the bold and sexier gets the customers in. Waistbands with chain mail, sequins(!) and neon fonts are now replacing the once subtle label name. High street retailers have been quick to pick up the trend and Next and Topman no longer just sell boxer shorts. They now sell high quality, fitted, cut, sexy under garments for the man who wants to look good in and out of his clothes, the Y font just won’t cut it anymore!

I look forward to outing many more fashion faux pa’s and down right shocking changes in the world of fashion!

Tee Boy