T-shirts are changing. Have you noticed?
It has been a gradual change, but now it has gone too far for me to ignore.
What CURSÈD IDIOT came up with the SCATHINGLY BRILLIANT IDEA of putting SPANDEX in them?
What the hell is wrong with cotton? Are we running out? I thought it was a renewable resource! Back in the 1970s, when the world discovered polyester, cotton was definitely an endangered species. You could always spot a poly/cotton blend. As the T-shirt got old, it got transparent. That's because the blend was formed by wrapping cotton fiber around a polyester core, and, as the cotton wore away, the indestructible polyester remained; mute, transparent, ugly.
So, once again, the fardling idiots think they can improve on cotton. It started small...a bit of spandex in the neckband to keep it from getting droopy. Soon, there was more. The T-shirt seemed heavier, and the stretchy comfort was nice. Around the time these newly stretchy tops began to feel normal, somebody thought, "I know! We'll use microfiber!" Like the polyester of the Seventies, these T-shirts never, ever lose their shape. Unlike the polyester of the Seventies, they fit like a second skin.
This is all well and good, if you are built like a model, but HORRIBLE, if you look like the "before" picture in a Jenny Craig ad! And I got news. Most of us do.
I was power-shopping in Walmart the other day, and grabbed a T-shirt off a shelf. I can pour myself into a "medium," but prefer a "large," so, seeing one of the latter in a nice pinkish-coral, I grabbed it and headed for the checkout.
Oh. My. God.
Spandex. Microfiber.
I looked like a big pink sausage.
Today, I went back to see if they had anything else. I still need T-shirts for my trip. You know...driving three thousand miles in the Miata...meeting people I know from the internet, but have never seen in person...you can appreciate that I want to look more-or-less civilized, right?
So, having already decided to avoid anything even vaguely resembling pink (coral, peach), I'm stuck with teal and olive green. I did find ONE shirt that was 100% cotton, and one that is 95% cotton and 5% spandex. That spandex sure goes a long way, literally, as well as figuratively! And...AND...I had to buy an EXTRA LARGE to keep it from molding itself onto all the squishy places that appear when one is "of a certain age."
I am NOT a happy camper.
No wonder the damn things were on sale for a dollar!
There is (was) a store ine St. John's mall called Cotton Ginny - I loved it! The colors were fabulous. Back in the days when the kids wore sloppy shirts, we were a one-size-fits-all-family.The absorbancy of cotton is a plus too. I also like my tee's roomy -- better to have them fall from my modest bosom than to accentuate my ample midriff -- if I'm not walking up-wind, you'd never guess it was there.
ReplyDeleteYour pink sausage comment created a lasting image :) I really like teal better though.
since the 80s, there has been an abundance of cotton in the stores, and I have got spoiled.
ReplyDeleteMost of the 100% cotton shirts have bugs bunny on the front, or some such. Some skater. Skulls. Like that.
I just want a nice, feminine-looking T-shirt that is not stretched tightly over my entire upper half. Then, to add insult to injury, the darn things roll themselves up!
To be honest, there was nothing particularly feminine about these Tee's but they were nice, solid colors sans motiffs.
ReplyDeleteI am sure there were more "girly" ones there but I took advantage of the unisex bonus.
After 10 years, they are frayed at the neckline but I kept a few for wearing with pajama pants.
So comfy!
I have favourites like that.
ReplyDeleteWe really need to send your rant to the T-shirt companies. I was perfectly happy with T-shirts that you couldn't count "the rolls" in! With jeans fitting ridiculously now, these shirts accentuate the muffin top. Yippee (insert eyeroll here)
ReplyDeleteRonni! Try Old Navy and Kohl's. Love the Old Navy tee -- always a solid color, and lots to choose from. 100% cotton, almost always 2 fer...
ReplyDeleteAnd, for further profound uniquely expressive tees -- visit www.shirt.woot.com... but buy xxl...
Don't feel bad about the size, Ronni. I usually end up with an XXL to accomodate my curves. Being busty is not all it's cracked up to be when it comes to finding clothes that actually fit properly.
ReplyDeleteI prefer a V-neck, as the crew neck chokes the life out of me. Being short, the V-neck helps with that.
FireBerry, I tried Old Navy. I found one. ONE. they were having some sort of sale, and everything was all hanging wherever, and they onely had the things I liked in micro sizes, like 4/6, XS, etc. they said to come back when the sale was over.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to go back when the sale is over, I want to find something that fits and is ON SALE!
Hello.
I did get one shirt and a pair of cotton capri pants at Kohl's.
I've bought most of my stuff, as usual, at the thrift shops, which is how I can afford Liz Claiborne and other well designed stuff.
I'm convensed the bigger the shirt the more spandex. what happened to the days when t's couldn't be too big unless you tripped on them.
ReplyDeleteThen there are the necks down to your waist so you can "layer"
if I need layers I can put a cote on.
Betty
I'm with you, Betty!
ReplyDeleteI am declaring a moratorium on spandex. A boycott, if you will. If it has spandex, I will not buy it.
lol goodness you sound like me! lol
ReplyDeleteI prefer the loose fit too,hate to feel like I'm getting squuezed to death.
I go to the craft store and buy the plain old Hanes Ts at 2.99 each!
But, I like T-shirts that look a little bit feminine.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I only buy Cherokee t-shirts from Target. They are a feminine cut, but not clingy and silly...the other brands they carry don't fit the same--don't bother with the Merona. They carry them all year long, a good assortment of colors, v-necks and crew necks, and some 3/4 sleeves in the winter.
ReplyDeleteAnd they're made in Latin America instead of china.