Valerie, "Jemaine and Brett would be Proud", Brooklyn, NY

Who: Valerie

What: cotton/poly blend

When: 2007?

Where: Mohonk, NY

Why: You know that episode of Flight of the Concords, during the Business Time song, when he talks about that "ugly old shirt with a stain on it that you got from your old work that one time . . . Team Building Excersise '99"? Well, that's this shirt. I got it on a work retreat event, where we went to Mohonk Mountain House, a resort in the Hudson Valley. It's astoundingly beautiful, this Dirty Dancing-type guest house set into a gorge in the Hudson Valley. It's quiet, and beautiful, and totally amazing. Our boss takes his family there for skiing trips, which, frankly, I found difficult to stomach. Anyway, we all picked out a shirt, and it's like when you're at Disneyland, and suddenly the idea of not having a pink Minnie Mouse sweatshirt seems absurd, and yes, I will wear this ALL THE TIME. I just get caught up. Luckily, I didn't pay. And luckily, it's soft. So I wear it it bed.

And yeah, I put on those jeans expressly to take this photo. Then I put my pajamas back on.

Stacey, "It Rains Everywhere but in Her Heart", Edinburgh, Scotland

Who: Stacey

What: 95% cotton, 5% lycra

When: summer 2009

Where: Mountain Warehouse, Dunfermline, Scotland

Why: Once I saw this shirt, I had to have it. Look at it! Not only does it have an adorable sheep, but it states the truth. Seriously, it rains over here ALL THE TIME. Each sheep wisely has an umbrella. Plus, one adorable sheep is wearing wellies. It combines my love of sheep, wellies, and Britain all in one. And everyone who sees it laughs.

Lexi, "Lucky Strike", Orange County, CA

Who: Lexi

What: 100% cotton, made in USA

When: October 2009

Where: Goodwill

Why: I was treasure hunting at a thrift store, trying to find a creative costume for a Halloween dance that I decided to attend at the last minute. Failing the pursuit of my costume, I serendipitously found this shirt instead.

Patrick "Tells it Like it Is", Near Palo Alto, CA

Who: Patrick

What: um, cotton

When: unknown

Where: unknown

Why: Why? Because it's true. Non-fiction.

Camille "A Part of the Fun", Chino, CA

Who: Camille, 28

What: cotton, t-shirt

When: fall of 2008

Where: Kent, OH

Why: I lived in Kent for 6 months while serving a mission. If you live in or visit Kent you will see black squirrels everywhere. In 1960, a man from Canada brought 10 black squirrels to the city of Kent and released them. 50 years later they have taken over the city. Kent State University's is the Golden Flashes but their unofficial mascot is the black squirrel. Everyone in that city owns some item of black squirrel paraphernalia. I just wanted to be a part of it.

Lila, Raleigh, NC

Who: Lila, 2

What: cotton

When: last month

Where: Old Navy in Raleigh

Why: Because that's where she goes, she's a product of Duke Hospital. I guess I should say she's a product of me and Ben, but Duke kept her alive after she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She was just wee, three months old. She is now 2 years and 10 months, and two years cancer free. This was her two year remissionversary. We tried to tell her what day it was--in the simplest terms: we told her that when she was a baby she was really sick, and that she'd been healthy for two years, and where did she want to go to celebrate? And she chose Red Robin. She really likes their mac and cheese. Kimmy (Lila's aunt) told the the waiter why we were there, and the wait staff all chipped in and bought her a bear. Her name is Red Robin.

Nick, Upstate, NY

Who: Nick

What: 100% fading cotton/100% steadfast memory

When: May 2008

Where: Hayden, CO

Why: Visiting in-laws with my own folks, my dad bought me a memento hat/t-shirt combo. We caught more than 20 pike at Yampa River State Park that vacation!

Taylor, Chino, CA

Who: Taylor, 12

What: cotton

When: photographed late August, 2010

Where: horse camp, somewhere in southern California

Why: Taylor loves horses. And she's really good with them, considering she weighs about 80 lbs, and isn't a very physically intimidating presence. But she is naturally bossy, which I think helps.

Caitlin, Brooklyn, NY

Who: Caitlin

What: cotton

When: summer 2009

Where: Sausalito, CA

Why: My family is not typically into buying t-shirts as souvenirs, but my mom decided to buy this one because of the color. She wore it until I came home for Christmas and permanently"borrowed" it because I like the color too. When I was 10, I used to "borrow" her silk button-down blouses to pair with stirrup leggings. I like to think my sartorial style is just as awesome today.

James, Brooklyn, NY

Who: James, 31

What: cotton

When: fall, 2001

Where: Deseret Industries, Provo, UT

Why: I got this on a trip down to Provo while I was going to school in Idaho. I didn't have many friends in Idaho, so, I was went down to Utah often--every other weekend. I always went to DI. I got this t-shirt because I thought it was funny, because I didn't have a daughter. And, even if I did, she couldn't possibly be old enough to be on a cheerleading squad. Also, it was from Carbon County, Utah, which was the most rat hole county in all of Utah. It's full of miners and awesome t-shirt, apparently. Truthfully, I wear it as an undershirt more than as a regular t-shirt--the blue sets off my eyes.

James, Brooklyn, NY

Who: James, 31

What: cotton, probably

When: it was floating around our house for a while

Where: maybe from the actual festival

Why: We would go to this festival every year in Battle Creek, MI. It's a balloon festival, Freedom Aloft. I don't know, we went because it was cool to see giant animal shaped balloons. I always used to picture them flying away in the distance, across the country. But, I found out later that they land every night--they don't make it very far. I was kind of disillusioned with balloons after that. It seemed so romantic to fly into the night on your giant balloon. It made me want to own a big balloon. I don't really want to any more. I wear the t-shirt--it's like one of my only Michigan shirts--and yellow's my favorite color. It's good memories.

Valerie, Brooklyn, NY

Who: Valerie

What: um, cotton?

When: um, 2002?

Where: Seattle, WA

Why: I had just started hanging out with James in earnest, and we were spending A LOT of time together. Being with James, just at first, was a tricky balance. It was kind of a game, neither of us wanting to appear too needy or dependent. I made plans with my roommates to drive to Seattle for spring break without consulting James on his break plans. I felt this was a strong move, one that signaled that I was a person indivisible, not a part of JamesandValerie. I liked this shirt, because in addition to its important sentiment, there was something very cheeky about it, something that made me feel cheeky, and strong, and autonomous. And I needed that reminder, because I had it baaaaaaad for him. I'd wear it whenever I felt like I was getting too wrapped up, too dependent, too concerned about when he called, and how often he came over. This shirt made me feel bold and audacious. This shirt made me feel more me.

And if you were to tell me that this is a lot of meaning to endow a t-shirt with, first I'd be like, "what?", and then I'd be like, "tell me about it."

Anna, Brooklyn, NY

Who: Anna, 24
What: cotton/poly blend (tag cut out). neck and sleeves cut.
When: a few years ago.
Where: my brother gave it to me for Christmas. I told him I wanted it, so I wasn't very surprised.
Why: I grew up in Schenectady, NY, which is known as the Electric City because General Electric used to be headquartered there. I cut the neck and pinned the sleeves one day because I wanted to look cute but tough. I sometimes think I succeeded. I like wearing it because people ask me if I'm from Schenectady, and if they are too, then it's a guaranteed ten-minute conversation. I have a lot of hometown pride.

Brooke, Idaho Falls, ID

Who: Brooke,

What: mediana, 100% algodon pre-encogido

When: May 2004

Where: a quaint little t-shirt shop in Oaxaca, Mexico

Why: I did a study abroad through BYU-Idaho to MesoAmerica (Mexico, Guatemala, Belize. I tend to spend a lot of money way too quickly, so, I was trying to be disciplined and not buy everything I see at the beginning of the trip. The first week in Mexico City, my friend Julie found an AWESOME black t-shirt with the Aztec sun on the front. I wanted it. But, I told myself that I would find something I liked better down the road and I should save money. Three weeks and 12 t-shirts later, I hadn't found anything better than Julie's shirt. I settled for this somewhat similar shirt in Oaxaca (pronounced "We-hawk-a"). I still don't love it and I really wish I'd just bought the first cool one. I got back home with $200 extra spending money because I'd been a little TOO frugal.

Brooke, Idaho Falls, ID

Who: Brooke, 28

What: size small, 100% cotton preshrunk

When: February 2006

Where: Seattle, WA, the Space Needle

Why: One Monday morning, during my second senior year of college in Rexburg, Idaho, I woke up to go to class and ended up driving to Western Washington in a snowstorm instead (without telling my roommates I was leaving). I think some may call that a breakdown, but, it was more of a spontaneous solo adventure for me. My best friend was attending grad school in Tacoma, so, I decided to surprise her. I spend a week there and while she was in class, I adventured into Seattle. I was BROKE, but I figured I had JUST enough money to buy this t-shirt if I wrote a check and floated it just right. I was wrong. The t-shirt overdrew my account, but, instead of rejecting the purchase, it just charged my account $30 and let me keep going. The $2 parking pass was another $30 charge, as was the $6 sandwich on my way home. I still thought i was fine, especially when my friend lent me $50 to get home. I deposited that in my account (do the math, I was STILL in the hole) and continued to use my card, thinking I had that $50 to spend. $200 in overdrawn charges later, I still have this t-shirt to show for it. Good thing it's cool.

Van, Sacramento, CA

Who: Van, 2
What: cotton
When: about two months before he was born
Where: Rexburg, ID Deseret Industries, via Valerie
Why: Well, sometimes at a baby shower, you get things like footed pjs and babywash and things with baby animals and ducks on it. Well, my dad said that a little boy wouldn't wear stuff with baby animals on it because that's lame. He didn't say anything about awesome big horses in lightning though. Because who wouldn't want their son to look this cool. The great thing about this shirt is that all it needs with it is a diaper, and maybe a tractor.

Shinae, Ogden, UT (Forks, WA)

Who: Shinae, 28

What: 90% cotton 10% poly

When: three weeks ago

Where: Zazzle.com

Why: I seriously have an OBSESSION with anything Twilight related. Team Edward, of course. Can I just tell you how excited I was to get this hoodie!? I wish I had ordered it one size smaller, but it's comfy! I wear this all the time and get mixed reactions to it. Some people love it, lots of people roll their eyes at me with they read it, but they're just haters. i love this hoodie because I secretly live in Forks, WA in my thoughts and dreams. I will visit this place someday and wear glitter all over to see if I really sparkle in the sunlight. :)

Taylor, Chino, CA

Who: Taylor, 12

What: 50/50 cotton poly, youth small

When: during a family vacation to Cape Cod, a couple of years ago?

Where: in Cape Cod, at the Brewster Scoop

Why: Because they have the best ice cream EVER. You (me, the writer), Grandma, Grandpa, me and my dad stayed at a lake--at a pond house. there was a pond. It was big. I canoed and tried to fish--I used a stick, a string, and a rock.

Let's go do it again. That was kind of fun. Next time, I'll use an actual worm. I like this shirt because it reminds me of this trip--makes me think of ice cream.

T-Shirts on People

We all wear t-shirts.

Pete, 3-for-Friday

New York born and New York bred.