Argh - yet another horrible t-shirt - YouLookFab Forum

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Argh - yet another horrible t-shirt

Katja

(website)

Yesterday I did a women's bike ride. Part of the swag was a t-shirt with the cute ride logo. There were two t-shirt choices: what used to be called a babydoll t-shirt (and now seems to be called a women's cut t-shirt) or your standard boxy crew neck unisex t-shirt.

I'm a misses size 10, and the largest women's cut t-shirt was at least 2 sizes too small for me, so now I'm the proud owner of Yet Another Hideous T-Shirt that I will never wear except to the gym.

I keep trying the think of ways to wear these t-shirts because I'm proud of the athletic accomplishments they represent, but I'm too old (mature) to refashion t-shirts with a pair of scissors (like this or this) and I think quilts made out of t-shirts are tacky.

Where are the cute woman-shaped t-shirts in larger sizes?

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from Elly

Sparky

Veteran

Argh, how frustrating! I just figured out how to repurpose such tees ~ my kids LOVE them for sleepwear (the tees look like nightgowns on my munchkins). But that solution doesn't help you. That just doesn't make sense that the women's versions are not available in a size 10; what are these people thinking? Only thing I can think of is to cut out the logo and sew it onto a nice, blank tee you do like, but that seems like a heck of a lot of work.

Congrats on your bike ride! That's quite an accomplishment!

Kari

Veteran

I wear them to bed or for gym wear exclusively.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I was pleasantly surprised that at the Rock n Roll marathon series they gave out technical running shirts instead of cotton tees - now, that we can use!!

annette

I get them when I do some runs, but there are starting to be more running shirts and fewer cotton, which are horrible for running. Add to that my beloved husband of 10 years persist in buying them for me when he is on vaca. He appears to be unaware that I do not wear these! Men are funny. Anyway, another vote for pajamas. I haven't purchased any real pjs in years, just wear the ugly t shirts. ( husband should consider lingerie next time he is souvenir shopping!)

Elly

Veteran

This irritates the heck out of me--- that said, if you had been able to get a fitted t, where would you have worn it?

http://www.instructables.com/i.....-TOTE-BAG/

I like this idea---- you could use it as a casual purse, a gym tote, or as a eco-friendly grocery bag.

catgirl

Veteran

I have several of those unisex shirts with the high crew neck and boxy odd fit from a race I do yearly. I'm saving them for my son when he is big enough to fit them. I like Elly's idea too. My sister uses weird t-shirts as pillow covers.

Kari

Veteran

This may or may not be kind of tacky, but when I was a kid, my family's teething dog chewed the sleeve off of my favorite tee shirt. My mom decided to make the remnants of the tee shirt into a pillow since the main design was still intact.

I wish they would give out something smaller for races/accomplishments, like a pin or a mug or something, that would take up less room!

Freckles

Veteran

I wear mine as a pajama top too. Vote for better fitting t's!

Isis

Veteran

I use the boxy men's T's for running. I don't like the necklines though and I really like the first instructable that features turning the crew neck into a boatneck! I'm going to give it a try; I have a slew of race shirts!

You suggested that you are too old for that modification, but I don't agree! If you like boat necks, take the men's shirt, transform the neck into boatneck, skip the cap sleeves, slim up the sides, and possilbly hem to a reasonable length. Do you think that would work?

Patty

Veteran

You know even the guys have a preference for what shirts are used for give away and event shirts. I have read some great debates on car guys sites when organizers have asked what to get--it's amazing crappy shirts are even offered anymore there are so many decent shirts available. That said--bigger/boxier t's can also be used as car seat back covers and still have display purpose--except in your car.
Congrats on the ride Katja!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Those T shirts are for household chores only. Sorry, but they just can't get worn out of the house. They are the least flattering clothes in creation. You could potentially wear them to other sporting events, or to exercise, but I don't find cotton T's to be great workout wear.

Katja

(website)

Car seat covers! I like that!

If they were fitted, I'd wear them like graphic tees, with maybe a cropped jacket and well fitting jeans or a skirt. Boulder is a very gear town, and it's a common casual look around here.

Some races are giving out technical shirts, which is nice. This event (Venus de Miles) had American Apparel shirts last year, which were even smaller than this year's shirt.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Sorry I don't have any ideas myself, except to commiserate that the race shirts are mostly bad. Even the technical ones are mostly bad in my book, because it it's a man's tshirt, I won't wear it. Too high in the neck, too big in the shoulders, too tight in the hips and too long. If it's a women's, even a medium or large, it's most likely too small (cut for 18 yr. olds?)

I use the cotton ones for p.j.s. The long sleeve ones are decent for wearing at home in the winter, after changing out of work clothes. I guess I don't mind the higher neck when it's cold out, and the sleeves with ribbed cuffs are good. I also admit that sometimes I just don't take the shirt, or put in the Goodwill bag as soon as I get home. I've thought of making a quilt, but I have too many other quilt projects that are more interesting.

I do like the idea of pillow covers, though. I may investigate that.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I sympathize! There's really not ,much that can be done with an ill-fitting race t-shirt. I might take a photo of it for posterity's sake and give it away.

Queen Mum

Veteran

I keep one or two on hand for hair coloring day or painting day...

I also thought this was a clever idea...

http://www.instructables.com/i.....-TOTE-BAG/

mrseccentric

(website)

Veteran

oh, this thread is making me laugh! a year or so ago i ran across a strange phenomenon on the web - many ladies who sew use these funky tees to make their own panties! i wish i'd kept the links somewhere, the logo placement was pretty sassy on some of them.....and these were by no means just young girls, many less then slender grandmas were getting in on the action, too!

so if you're handy with needle ane thread...... have fun! steph

Queen Mum

Veteran

here's a link to t shirt panties. someone's got to try this for no other reason than to give us all a good chuckle...

http://www.supernaturale.com/articles.html?id=70

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

QM, Thanks for posting the link to the tote bags. I think I'm going to use this project to teach my kids how to sew this week. I think it is a dying skill and one that everyone should have, like driving and swimming.

Queen Mum

Veteran

very true Modgirl! I think I'm gonna start whipping up some of those grocery totes as well. Here in CA, stores will no longer be giving us plastic bags for our groceries starting in January, and those reusable totes that you buy in the stores get really gross after a while. I really like the idea of being able to throw them all in the washer.

Kari

Veteran

By the way, I was very curious about the bike race you were involved on, so I followed the link to your blog and have been reading about your Cycling the Dordogne trip. Katja, how fabulous! What a neat way to travel and be a tourist from a very different perspective. I've read some posts on SimplyBike (a blog run by S., formerly of Academichic) about bike tourism and I'm so intrigued by the idea. I need to strengthen my wimpy wrists that are strained from too much typing before I bike more regularly, though.

Katja

(website)

Thank you, Kari! As you may have read in the blog entries, it was a really big leap of faith (and energy, and aggravation, and marital tension, and other stuff) to get that bike tour organized and to do it, but it was great.

Without the disability part, I'd say you should go for it! Bike touring can be done at so many different price point/luxury levels - there's something for everyone.

Oh, and the ride with the ugly t-shirt was the Venus de Miles.

rachylou

Veteran

Ohmigosh, isn't that the truth. I have some UGLEE t-shirts from the Halloween 5K run/walk I've been doing the last few years (I walk, haha). Need to get one of those books on how to re-fashion a tee.

Elly

Veteran

Here is another idear for ya! IDK if you ever cover the back of your chair- (I know a couple of young women and teens or kids that made their own or bought/have made covers for their upholstery on their backrests because they thought the basic black was ugly or wanted to change it up)--- you could turn the tshirts into the same thing. IDK if it would work with your particular chair, but it would look cool and would be similar to wearing the t-shirt.