Every once in a while, the biggest trending topics cause a huge clustermug of warring factions -- and that's especially true whenever some kind of fashion statement works its way under the skin of the general public. Fashion is always controversial, but whereas people can blithely argue about some of the more bizarre fashions seen at New York Fashion Week or on the red carpet, sometimes something like this happens. I have to warn you, though, if you have any allergies to algebra, reading, or peanuts, you probably shouldn't continue reading...
It started out with JCPenney, putting out a shirt saying, "I'm too pretty to do homework, so my brother has to do it for me." The sentiment was decorated with all kinds of bright colors and squiggles, in line with a lot of other shirts in the same collection, most of which made much of text speak. Awww! Cute! Yeah, not so much. On the one hand, you get it -- okay, 7 year olds are going to be wearing this, so it's no big deal ... until it is. Either recognizing that or simply caving in to public pressure, JCP pulled the shirt, and that's probably for the best.
So why, exactly, didn't Forever21 learn from that mistake? I had to go looking for their newest shirt, which proudly states, "Allergic to Algebra." I can't find it, so maybe they've already taken that off the shelves as well -- and again, while I understand, I get it, I'm still glad. I mean, I love graphic tee shirts. When they're funny or ironic or stupid, it's great. Express your individuality! But when you do it at the expense of others, I'm not quite so chill, and yes, that does include many of the sentiments found at places like Hot Topic and TShirtHell.com. But I digress.
Whether or not Forever21 has taken this new shirt down, it's still filled with hugely hypocritical shirts and sentiments. Go to the website, check out the shirts, and "I Love Jesus" is alongside "I Love Rich Boys." "Believe in Me" and "Prayer Trust & Faith" are great messages, but they sort of lose their zing when seen beside polar opposite sentiments.
So yes, fun and fashion and not important. But -- are these great messages to send?
Sound off, y'all: are these cute, fun tees going a little too far, or are people overreacting?
Top Image Source: weheartit.com