Reporter Online | Tag: Style

Unique T-shirts for Spring

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:12:09 -0400

Lift your spirits with a tee all your own.

by Adimabua Ofunne


Matt Mancuso

You wake up in the morning and it is a beautiful day. You’re in a good mood and you wear a shirt to match your mood. The sun is shining and your brightly colored shirt seems to be getting a lot of attention as you walk down the Quarter Mile. It has something witty written on it because that’s how you felt this morning as you left your apartment. You smile at everyone who looks your way and you’re just feeling good. A friend stops to have a chat with you and notices your shirt. They laugh and tell you they love it. Your joy is reinforced and you then head to class. Your day is going perfect until you look over to the person sitting next to you in class and realize that they are wearing the same t-shirt as you.

If that has ever happened to you before, you know it feels like they just stole your thunder. It’s like when you were a kid and your parents also gave your younger sibling a present on your birthday so they wouldn’t start crying. You suddenly don’t feel that special anymore.

Sometimes college life feels like a trend on its own — thousands of kids around the country seem to be buying and doing the same things around the same time. Like how we all still fall for the pizza bribe, everyone has an iPod and apparently some memo must have gone out telling everyone to switch from a Windows machine to a Mac. Well, if you want to keep your cool unique edge (at least in the t-shirt department), I went searching for some new and underground t-shirt designers so you can buy those sweet t-shirts for the upcoming spring without any fear of friends stealing your thunder.


Matt Mancuso

Foreign Family
If you are familiar with Marc Ecko’s tees you will find these to be of pretty similar style. They have a street feel to their designs but still look fresh. Founded in 2005, two friends (Chad and MR44) decided to start their own clothing line. Thus, Foreign Family was born. A typical t-shirt costs 19.99 to 24.99, so if street wear is your thing, you might want to keep an eye on this place. My favorite design is Foreign Affairs.

The Love Network
This is a new t-shirt company that was started in February of this year. The theme of the shirts is a gorilla silhouette doing some activity with a their signature red heart incorporated somewhere. The Love Network, whose aim is to create t-shirts that inspire spreading love, started out of Obilo Nwokogba and Chibueze Ekeh’s apartment at Cornell University. It has since turned into an online store. All shirts go for a flat price of 18, including international shipping. For those of you who love cute designs on your tees, this might be a good place to watch. My personal favorite is Love Soul.

The Bearon
This is another college startup company. Caroline Rooney from the University of Michigan has been making t-shirts for years prior to her decision to turn it into a business. Her first design was Peace and Love but, since then, the Bearon t-shirt collection has grown. This socially aware brand has also been recently featured in Inc. magazine as one of the coolest college startups. Their shirts are a bit on the expensive side (25 - 30) but they donate a portion of their profits to charities. My favorite design is Peace and Love.


Matt Mancuso

Bernos
This is an African-themed t-shirt company located in Los Angeles, California. They print bright artistic designs on American Apparel tees. I found their designs pretty cool and fresh. Bernos is made up of a team of four: Meron Samuel, Dawit Kahsai, Nolawi Petros and Beshou Gedamu. If you like that African culture feel but with a modern twist, then this might be a good place to look. The prices of their shirts range from 14.95 to 22.95. My favorite design is Afrobeat.

Glenn Tees
Glenn Jones is a graphic designer and illustrator from Auckland, New Zealand. He is one of the most successful artists on Threadless.com, with 21 of his designs printed. Since then, he teamed up with some people in the states to make his own line of tees. If you’re married to Threadless, Glenn Tees will be a mistress you will want to check out. All the shirts go for 19.95. My favorite design is Self Maintenance.

Other t-shirt sites of note are underground but almost famous:
Threadless.com and Designbyhumans.com

Really, Really Ridiculously Good-looking

Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Pretty boys at RIT.

by Michael Barbato


Tom Schirmacher

I’m pretty sure there’s more to life than being really, really ridiculously good-looking... This quote from the movie Zoolander, starring Ben Stiller, describes the handsome yet sometimes intimidating persona of the metrosexual man. Metrosexuality is the choice to spend time and money buying and using high-fashion goods.

What makes the metrosexual man? It takes more than a straight guy in clean clothes. For starters, it is his highlights, well-moussed hair, and body chiseled out of marble. This guy works out, not at the gym, but at the fitness club. He can also be very picky and pays attention to the smallest of details.

For example, Thomas Bottom, a third year Computer Science major and borderline metrosexual uses nothing but his moisturizer du jour and the best creams. “I buy a specific non-comedogenic moisturizer...and I wouldn’t use anything else unless it was recommended by someone who matched my dressing style or taste,” he explained. “I would just assume only they would know about that kind of thing.”

Similarly, Josh Zagaczkowski, a second year Marketing and Public Relations major and self-described “metro” cares very much about the condition of his nails. “There is such a negative stigma on long nails and no one wants to shake your hand if you have nasty nails all over the place” he reasoned.

Although this issue has only recently been tackled by the media, there are already two distinct subsets within this sect of man-pretty.

Which Type Are You?

Members of the first subclass are referred to as a girl’s best friend. Also known as Type I, they are the sensitive metrosexuals and are most likely to compliment your mom on her dining set. Usually extremely outgoing, they are often observed to start conversations with anyone they make eye contact with. Some remark, “It’s almost like an obligation.” Another common trait is charisma, which leads many to following careers in Human Resources or Communications.

However, a Type I’s single most defining trait is his effeminate nature, which often causes others to ponder the metrosexual’s sexual preference. This is because metrosexuals often give the impression of being “too clean-cut” and “too sensitive” or “too empathic” which is the complete opposite of the stereotypical “manly-man.” This is often the case, especially at RIT, where some guys give no attention to their personal appearance by wearing the same clothes every day and growing a scruffy neck-beard.

“This actually happened to me. I liked a guy in high school who was actually very metro. I wasn’t sure if he was straight or not. It turned out he was straight,” commented Kailyn Brand, a second year Biotechnology major.

In stark contrast to the first subclass, Type II metrosexuals possess an unyielding, incorrigible, macho attitude. The term guido, which previously only applied to Italian-Americans with loud personalities living in the Northeast cities, is often associated with this group.

At present, guido describes almost any guy from the Popped-Collar Movement. These metrosexuals have many common attributes with Type I metrosexuals such as extroversion, charisma, and maybe even likeability. They are, however, very self-involved.

The main difference between the two types is why they are so conscious of their appearance. Type Is tend to dress nicely and give the impression of being more approachable, while Type IIs tend to dress nicely for the attention they receive from those around them, especially the women.

Pretty Boys at RIT

“The way I dress is how I act. A loose sweater means I’m loose and easygoing,” Zajaczkowski remarked on his chosen lifestyle. He mentioned, “Layers and form-fitting shirts” were two aspects he looked for in clothes.

Jonathan Halloran, a third year Biochemistry major and another self-described metrosexual, said, “I dress the way I do, not necessarily because the clothes are comfortable, but because I’m most comfortable in them.” His style seemed to have an impact on his personality. “I met a lot of people I otherwise wouldn’t have met since I started dressing metrosexually. I used to be a lot shyer than I am now,” Halloran remarked.

Even the smallest detail matters. “There’s a pinstripe effect,” Zajaczkowski explained while talking about deliberately hanging his keychain tassel down his leg. In this respect, it takes a lot of subtle planning to pull off metrosexuality.

Some believe that metrosexuality defines who they are. It is a constant state of being, whether they are out with friends or at home. “I think metrosexuality is more of a lifestyle,” Halloran commented. However, for some metrosexuals, it is only a social behavior to dress up when they go out or meet new people. “Metrosexuality isn’t a lifestyle; it’s a...social thing,” said Zajaczkowski.

A Female Perspective

When asked about her opinion on metrosexual men, Nadiah Ghazalli, a fourth year Biotechnology major, said, “I like guys who take the time to look nice, but not guys who take the time to look pretty, but I definitely prefer guys who look nice and presentable rather than guys who don’t take the time to dress up at all.”

However, Monique Harris, a second year Biotechnology major, said, “I think that if the right guy can pull it off, then it’s totally acceptable.” The manner in which a guy uses his ability to look good must balanced with the situation, or he might come off as ridiculous.

Said Natalie McHugh, a second year Visual Media major, “A guy who actually spends time with a comb and gel, I don’t get that...For me, personally, my parents would be, like, ‘What the hell?’ if I brought one home.”

Thanks to the guys at Glover’s Barbershop, 672 South Ave, Rochester, NY.