With the recent worrying news that the Swine Flu has travelled across continents and suspected cases have now been recorded bother here in the UK, we’re all feeling perhaps a little concerned. Of course our hearts go out to those that have died from the virus and the families and loved ones that have been equally affected.

As with all things going on in the world however be it illness, war or poverty, we still have to go on with our daily lives; it’s a given that we cannot control what is going on around us and that we have to persevere and do our best to help ourselves and those around us.

It is my belief that those living in Mexico are a testament to this by not only doing what they can to prevent the spread of the bug but some (perhaps) fashion conscious residents have gone that little bit further recently by not only protecting themselves with the habitual medical masks to wear whilst commuting and going about their usual business but trying to lighten the mood and keeping things a little upbeat by decorating their masks with fun and amusing designs. Masks with the stereotypical Mexican moustache have frequently been seen in the newspapers and day by day more people seem to be taking this idea and putting their mark on it by inventing weird and wonderful ways to express themselves. Some may feel that this perhaps mocks the state of things at the moment but I personally believe that there isn’t anything wrong with people who are being directly affected by this awful tragedy trying to brighten up their day and trying to tone down the seriousness of the situation by doing so. Hat’s off (or should I say “Masks on” to them).

In other fashion news, it seems that the legend herself, Naomi Campbell has been quoted as stating that she shall be shortly hanging up her heels after nearly 30 years of modelling, so it just goes to show that even the beautiful people get older and have to stand down on occasion.

Marks and Spencers have recently announced that their 125^th anniversary of producing womenswear next month will be celebrated with the release of a new exclusive line of clothing! Simply entitled “125”, the range will include swimwear, underwear and accessories and will incorporate many influences from the many decades of M&S’s reign; including the forties and roaring twenties in some of the aspects of the pieces that will be created. I look forward to seeing what they come up with!

And finally the Bafta’s this week presented a wide and interesting variety opinions as to whom dressed up and those that (ahem) dressed down. The ladies were generally a sensation in vibrant reds to co-incide with the much coveted red carpet experience, although some of the celebrities perhaps decided that the most flesh on display was a good way to get featured in the magazines the following day. The gents turned up in a variety of experimental suits, Graham Norton himself presented the ceremony in nothing other than a fabulous silver grey embroidered suit jacket that only he could get away with. All in all a great show (although perhaps Mrs Jonathan Ross could have left the silver horns at home, but hey! We can hope!).

Tee Boy

With Spring comes the idea of flowers, new life and all measure of exciting and wonderful things, and of course it seems that the birth of new babies is also very much a Spring theme.

With these little cherubs in mind it’s safe to say that a whole industry and fashion movement has fast grown around these tiny little people, and of course the money involved in this has boomed over the year with the introduction of the Yummy Mummy and the celebrity mums and dads.

Over the years, the clothing of children has fast become a huge deal, and more and more mums and dads are increasingly conscious of what their little ones are wearing. The colours are becoming brighter and bolder; designs are no longer just simple teddy bears and fairy princesses. They are now getting edgier, more risqué with attitude and I like it!

I am happy to see that Gap have managed to keep up with  contemporary children’s clothing without losing their initial Gap feel and look that they have always been famous for. Having had a quick peek at what they have on offer online it’s easy to see why they remain a huge name in baby fashion.

My favourite I have to say is the cuteness personified that is their BYOB bodysuit. Playing on the theme of bringing your own alcohol (hence the bottle term), this put together with a cartoon-esque baby milk bottle is very much a must have for any fashion conscious infant and mum!

Tee Boy

Hi peeps, unfortunately (or fortunately, whichever way you look at it I suppose!) we’ve been pretty busy in the office so I’ve been neglecting my blog duties (I know tut tut, but we can’t all print t-shirts, answer the phone, write emails AND create fantastic in depth and interesting blog articles can we?!).

On this lovely Friday afternoon I just have 5 minutes while the printer works its magic to regale you all with my findings in the world of T-shirt designing and printing. My favourite this week comes from America as usual (those imaginative cousins of ours), from a company called Glenz, they’re philosophy seems to be that they aren’t content with producing run of the mill retro and current well known images, but they would rather put their own little comedic spin on something that perhaps even though cute or popular, is rather dull. So hats off to you guys across the atlantic, you’ve got a sense of style and most importantly a sense of humour. Amongst the gems are the Darth Vader buffing his helmet, Nemo being custard pie’d by another “Clown fish”, a very famous fast food clown appearing in a rather whimsically ironic coffin come burger box; and finally my favourite simply titled “Mushroom Soup”, a rather innocent dish design with what appears to be a floating Smurf corpse, yes perhaps a little macabre but I like it (yes I am slightly twisted). Come on, enough of the sweet, cutesy Mr Men designs, enough with the pinks and the pastels, lets have some fun and show our dark sides, and then wear them proudly to show the world and influence the next generation to see things that little bit more realistically!

Tee Boy

Happy belated Easter to you all. I trust that you had a nice long fun filled weekend, I know I did, the sun was out, four whole blissful days to enjoy it. What could be better.

I picked up a few titbits of style information over those 4 days whilst perusing the high street and the internet for bargains.

Firstly, the dreaded 80’s has more to answer for this season as once again we are being told to delve into or wardrobes and dust off those denim jackets because yes people they have returned. It’s all about distressed, faded worn in denim this time so if you’ve got it, use it or if not, then I’m sure they’ll be appearing in a store near you very soon, already ripped, scagged, torn and bleached within an inch of it’s life for you to wear and enjoy. The likes of Nicole Richie and Miquiter Oliver of T4 Fame are already showing theirs off.

Sunglasses, a big yes over the weekend as the rays came out and the sunnies went on. The big frames are back once again this year, the likes of Katy Perry and Paris Hilton having done their bit for consumerism by telling the ladies that 50s glamour is back, meaning dark huge frames are a must have for that chic and sophisticated look. For the lads, the aviators are definitely here to stay or for those of you with a hankering for something a bit more practical, stylish and that little bit more pricey then Ray Bans in the true eighties style are a big yes and the Oakley’s for those more sporty people of amongst us are never going to go out of style.

I was happy to notice that checked short sleeve shirts are being worn again so all those I bought last year in the vain hope of a summer and a holiday were not in vein so out they come again casually worn open over a t-shirt or (for those of us brave enough of buff enough) open with nothing underneath to expose those coveted six pack abs. I’m working on it believe me!

Polo shirts are definitely back with a bang, both for the girls and the lads, bright colours, stripes and distressed collars are all a factor.

The new or old depending on which way you look at it style of Y neck t-shirts with different colour neck and sleeves is definitely one to watch and embrace at the moment, the brighter colours the better and the bigger the pecs the better so it seems

One of my favourite style websites Yoox has recently announced their intention to release a environmentally friendly range of clothing including slogan t-shirts, expect some simple yet fun and trendy designs to explode onto the fashion scene later this month, although saving up may be an option because those guys don’t believe in budget buying even during a recession!

All in all, summer is a coming so get the jumpers off, get your t-shirts and sunnies on and let the festivals and BBQ’s begin.

Tee Boy

Looking forward to a long bank holiday weekend it’s time to start thinking about what I’m going to be doing, where I may be going and who am I going to see, and of course what I may be wearing when I do so!

I thought I’d visit some of the current must have trends that are doing the rounds at the moment, you may already be sporting the, you may not, if not then take a look and see if one takes your fancy.

Ripped jeans. Yes this style has come and go more than Tina Turner’s career but it’s now back with a vengeance and everyone including celebs are doing it. I myself own a customised pair as I write this. You can buy them pre-ripped pretty much everywhere now, in preparation for the summer months. Or if you’re very brave and un afraid of experimentation, do it yourself! It’s simple! Start by skagging the knee and thigh area (or wherever you choose, just be aware that flesh will be shown!) with a razor blade or sharp knife, put in the washing machine on a very high temperature and voila! You have yourself a distressed pair of jeans! No idea how it works but it does (we are not responsible for any damage to clothing or injury inflicted from use of blades).

Stripey t-shirts, yup! For those of you with a fear of stripes making your lumps and bumps appear larger, look away now because they’re back! Look in any store or at any fashion conscious celebrity and the horizontal stripe is a big presence at the moment. Check out GAP, H&M and more traditional casual retailers for this cute and inexpensive addition to your daily ensemble.

Checked shirts, yet again this eighties and nineties has reared its (sometimes) ugly head. For the summer boys there’s the short sleeved fitted shirts in all manner of bright and neon colours paired with a variety of small and large (and in some cases over the top huge!) checked designs. For the girls the lumber jack shirt is most definitely a high player, partnered with the jeans and casual jacket and prerquisite heals and you girls are fast on your way to becoming a high street fashionista.

Anyway, enough of my rambling observations. All in all the looks are coming back so those of us that saved those monstrosities from long ago, well done because you can just grab them from the drawer from whence they came and let them have the comeback they deserve!

Tee Boy

This week’s nomination is from a designer based in Amsterdam called Rockwell. Based on hand drawn artwork, colourful fonts and interesting fun sayings this rather quaint brand has something going for it. Simplicity! They manage to fill the t-shirts with the design rather than keeping it minimal, meaning that you feel that you’ve purchased something worthwhile and not just a plain t-shirts with a label on it somewhere un-detectable for a rather large price tag. My favourite would be the Crazy Mixed Up Kids t-shirt, simply because it’s so simple! The use of the fun font and bright neon-like colours is just very appealing. There are no hidden agenda’s no crude slogans, just artistic prowess and the liberal use of fun!

This brand also produces a wide variety of other items such as bedding, cushions, stationery and even trainers! For those of you on the hunt for that little something that no one else has just yet, check them out, I reckon they’ll be over here in blighty in no time!

Hear it here first people!

Tee Boy

Before I introduce this week’s t-shirt of the week nomination I thought I’d highlight a fabulous addition to the world of Bag for Life. Upon visiting HMV the other evening and unfortunately for my wallet purchasing way too many retro DVDs in the current sale. At the til I noticed a rather funky looking black satchel/record bag with the logo on the front in white. Above it was the advert explaining that these rather novel versions of the traditional cotton bags were now available to purchase; and I have to say I love them! They’ve great for the boys who don’t fancy using the carrier bag style ones. They can be worn over the shoulder in true man bag style or folded up and put away, great for repeated use and they look great, which let’s face it, is the most important bit! Grab and use one, you’re covered when anyone asks if you do anything to help the environment because apparently these are made entirely from recycled plastic bottles.

Tee Boy

It dawned on me this morning that I may perhaps be neglecting the female of the species in that I haven’t really looked at girls clothing recently. Probably a good thing as me wandering around New Look or Top Shop picking up strappy tops and denim shorts may raise a few eyebrows and most certainly will get me escorted off site, and I do have a reputation to uphold (at least I think I do!).

Well I’m here to rectify this by doing a bit of research into what you girls want. The sun is starting to come out which means the layers are coming off, which means you want trendy t-shirts, tight fitting for those of you who want to show of your curves or lack of them. Colours are essential and so are edgy contemporary designs. Slogans are a must as it seems messages are cool at the moment. Retro as always is a big yes so we’re looking at cartoons, TV programmes, The Hof (!) and so on and so forth. With this in mind I’ve found a fab site that incorporates all of these essential things.

Thinkgeek seem to have hit the nail on the head with the use of excellent quality lady fit t-shirts, combined with fun simple designs that suit all tastes. I particularly love the glittery effect of some of the designs, something that you don’t often see in the high street, giving the designs a little bit more umph. I love the Wizard of Oz inspired red shoes design that’s says simply “there’s no place like” with an American postcode, bringing the famous slogan and Ruby Slippers into the next generation with an almighty bang! Love it!

I love “Futurama” and in particular Bender, the ever un-politically incorrect farting and drinking robot, so you can imagine my delight when I located a t-shirt on this site featured the one and only Bender, complete with a star filled sky backdrop. Truly a lovely t-shirt that most girls would grab without a thought…it makes you want to be a girl sometimes it really does!

All in all though, this goes to show that there is more to the printing, fashion, t-shirt, clothing type world than boy’s things, so I make this promise to the double X chromosomes amongst us, I will endeavour to find and divulge my findings for your tastes too!

Tee Boy

It has occurred to me whilst thinking about kids clothing, that all bets are now off. No longer do the girls have to wear pink, the boys in blue, cutesy animal pictures and teddy bear logos on the front, delicate and un-noticeable. Now, kids can be edgy, funny, trendy and dare I say it…risqué!

On the scout for the ultimate in trendy, funky baby clothing I recently came across a label called Nappyhead. Their designs range from the traditional simple pastels to bright, bold and just that little bit naughty. There’s something there for the yummy mummy, the traditional mum or the quite ridiculously outrageous mum. Furthermore there’s something there for the dads too, t-shirts with slogans matching those of the children, great fun to wear at a party or fun get together.

One design that has caught my eye is the Pac Man eighties inspired t-shirt, incorporating the baby milk bottles with the infamous Pacman yellow guy logo; this is not only cute but fun and rather contemporary for a child’s t-shirt, pure genius. Available in black and funky pink, any toddler I’m sure would very proud to wear (although obviously at such a young age they may not quite have much choice in what they’re parents dress them in, poor defenceless kids!).

Tee Boy

The obligatory Hen night or Stag night (or bachelor/bachelorette party in the US and a Buck party to our Aussie cousins) is a time honoured tradition for those that have decided to bite the bullet and get married. Usually associated with t-shirts and sometimes ridiculous themed outfits, this night (or it seems here in the 21^st Century, perhaps a week or a fortnight!) is one of merriment, shenanigans and dare I say it debauchery! One thing that I can’t help but wonder however, is where this festive activity comes from? Does anyone know? Does anyone care?! Well I for one decided to find out.

Unfortunately even the internet couldn’t divulge a complete history of where the idea came from but there are a few hints. Perhaps the most prominent dates back to the Spartans (yes you saw the film!), members of their military would celebrate a comrade/friend’s upcoming betrothal by drinking and feasting through the night, usually the day before the wedding day. Obviously now the night before the wedding has significantly declined in acting as the day of the stag/hen party.  The reference to Stag being the literal leader of a group, a masculine symbol that represents it’s purpose. As to the Hen, perhaps a reference to future motherhood or the care of her own group. Whatever the reason, these terms are well and truly part of our regular vocabulary.

Nowadays it is perfectly normal to celebrate at least a few weeks prior to the main event, perhaps due to risk of hair loss, embarrassing tattoos or whatever else has happened on the night/weekend/week long excursion, there is now time left to grow back that hair that was shaved off in your sleep, have that tattoo removed from a very visible area or even arrange to sort out a misunderstanding after the incident with the pole dancer. Whatever the reason it’s fairly obvious that like most things in the last few decades, more effort, more money and more wild ideas are being ploughed into this tradition. With the eventual addition of the ladies also going out onto the town and celebrating their last days as a single girl, this worldwide phenomenon is now a common sight on any street in any city in any country. Much to the disappointment of certain bar stewards or door staff that have the unenviable task of keeping these merry makers in order! You know who you are!

With the events themselves, comes the desire to dress up, have a uniform or quite simply let the planet know why you are all dressed in stockings and suspenders wandering around Swindon at 3am…yes boys you were seen!  Stag and Hen T-shirts are the most popular way of making the night or holiday into a fun one, the message on most is literally an giving the name of the soon to be Groom/Bride and maybe a little play on his/her likes or dislikes, usually incorporating some level of impropriety, but overall just a bit of fun that usually brings a smile to most passer-by’s faces.

All in all, the purpose and activities relating to this once sacred right of passage have exploded and been added to quite outrageously over the years and today a great deal of fun and profit can be made.

For those of you planning your celebration, have a fantastic time and go all out, that’s what it’s there for. Enjoy your friendships, enjoy the beer and go out in style, you only get married once…apparently!

Tee Boy