Monday, September 6, 2021

Black T Shirts (a 30s consumer obsession)

 IT seems I don't have much going for me in life. Utterly consumed by my job that I can't talk about with anyone. Utterly taken by routine and the difficulty of finding structure and being overwhelmed. No time for socialising or people (this week was a good exception).


Lately I've thought really hard about my clothes. I think about what will be suitable to wear going to work, commuting, what fabrics deal best with sweat, what fabrics I wear well while travelling and what fabrics don't smell or feel weird if I wear it too long. 

With that I've been targeted by adverts on facebook and instagram constantly about t-shirts and even done my own online research. I've bought 3 black shirts that are basically the same thing but completely different and really weirdly overpriced. I feel like I'm going to wear it as if I'll wear it forever. I do feel pretty cool wearing it. Perhaps its the feeling that it cost so much. So the jackets I got are: 


Elgin: most recently. Elgin is this UK brand that gets advertised a lot to me. It's called the perfect t shirt (GQ). I've worn it once, its a bit thicker than what I'm used to but for September that's not such a bad thing. It feels good. It wears well. It is all cotton which I am in favour of and I only wore it for fitness purposes so perhaps I'll see how it goes for future wears.

Another one is an American brand, J-Crew. It's really preppy. I'm surprised that I'm into preppy being a hairy longhair. It feels good. It cost way too much, the postage cost as much as the product. There's no other way to get itt. It feels very light. It's a bit baggy but I'm also fatter so that fits me well. It has a breathable feel but I can feel it when I'm sweaty and at gym sessions it gets totally soaked. Having said that I think its a perfect staple item.

Another T Shirt comes from POC. POC is a cycling brand and I have one of their helmets. I thought I'd give it a try because it said it was merino wool. It's great, it has a nice thickness, it deals well with sweat but it does have components of lyocel/tencel which is a semi-artificial fabric and artificial fabrics smell bad as they aren't porous enough for sweat, or something about them that causes the odour to still stick on the fabric. Having said that it keeps the sweat off with the little passable feel of natural fabrics, it is also potentially a good layer for when it gets cold. I might stick with this but not buy any duplicats. 

It's hard to find the perfect shirt. Of the above each have their pros and their cons. Having said that I'm still undecided on the Elgin. Perhaps, just perhaps, GQ are right. If they are I might get and Elgin merino wool shirt.


Gosh. How did I end up being American Psycho? I'm definitely channelling some unresolved personal issues into an obsession with black t shirts. Don't get me started on stretchy trousers. 

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