Keep your ego-boosting slogans to yourself
By Elliot Chan, Staff Writer
Remember those āIām with stupidā shirts with an arrow pointing to the person beside you? Werenāt those hilarious? Well now, athletic brands like Nike are producing T-shirts that point the attention on the wearer, but with positivity. Iām referring to the āIām so awesomeā shirts, which arenāt funny at allāthey are actually a bit aggravating.
To have the gall to wear a shirt promoting how great you are all day makes you an egomaniac, and that is not exactly a good first impression. Some might say their apparel isnāt meant to bring anybody down; they are simply inspirational quotes. Thanks, but I donāt need to get my inspiration from looking at your bulky torso. I know you work outāyouāve been talking about it all day. I donāt need your shirt to remind me too.
If you want to inspire someone, donāt rehash old sayings. āJust do it,ā it says. āThen do it again!ā How droll. There is a thin line between being confidently motivational and arrogantly ambitious. And the line can be crossed simply by wearing those shirts outside of your bedroom or the gym.
When someone walks by me wearing a T-shirt that says āDonāt sweat my swag,ā in bold, colourful text, I am unsure what to make of it. Is it just workout slang or a subtle putdown? Iām really not sure. But perhaps pondering the meaning of such a phrase is in fact sweating the swag.
T-shirts are the perfect canvas for showcasing personality and interests. Yet, we are constantly changing. I just have to look through my own closet to find old relics of places āI heartā and concerts Iāve attended. The T-shirts Iāve accumulated over the years become a little history book of my life. What I wore when I was 17 is different from what I wear today. Like looking at old pictures, we remember how stupid we used to look in those Ed Hardy T-shirts and V-necks. Oh waitāwe still wear those.
The casual look is the reason we choose to be in a T-shirt, but it is still important to stay classy. No matter how athletic, intelligent, and confident you are, your bad taste will tell the world otherwise. Save your witty quotes for Twitter or bathroom stalls. Donāt wear them on your chest as if āYOLOā is the name of some sport team you play for. If your shirt says, āIām the best,ā then youād better live up to it.
