THE T-SHIRT IS more than just a casual piece of clothing. It's a staple in most men's wardrobes that can be worn on any occasion. The T-shirt is also the perfect vehicle for advertising. These walking billboards can be provocative, inspiring and funny, with images and graphics that offend or simply make a statement.
The T-shirt started life as an undershirt, becoming part of the US Navy uniform in 1899. It came into its own in the 1950s, when a generation of rebels adopted it as their uniform, imitating stars such as Marlon Brando and James Dean, who wore white T-shirts with leather jackets.
This season, the trend is towards bigger prints and flashy bright colours, similar to those worn in the 80s. Text and graphics aren't confined to the front - they're turning up on sleeves and on the backs at the nape. For prints, anything goes, ranging from eagles and tigers to Hawaiian airbrushed graphics and soft porn. Mickey Mouse motifs and even religious topics are popular. Los Angeles-based Teenage Millionaires cashed in on the trend with its provocative 'Jesus is my Homeboy' T-shirts.
The Tee has also made an appearance on the catwalk. Calvin Klein has been making classic T-shirts for years, and D&G is a favourite among T-shirt lovers - perhaps best known for its eye-catching prints and dedicated collections to Madonna and Elvis Presley. This season, D&G's prints feature comic-book heroes such as Superman and Batman. The Tees are worn with elegant blazers and jeans to make what was once a young trend more sophisticated.
Since T-shirts are such versatile pieces of clothing, match them with anything from cargo pants and sneakers to a suit with leather loafers. The trend is so hip, you can get away with almost anything.
1. Logo print ($1,100) by Paul & Joe from Lane Crawford, IFC mall, Central, tel: 2118 3388
2. Kung fu print ($490) from Shanghai Tang, Pedder Street, Central, tel: 2525 7333