Lifestyle

Laura Craik on the politics of the dad t-shirt



When I look back on the summer, it won’t be defined by the changeable weather, the constant sound of Old Town Road or that infernal black and white polka-dot Zara dress (oh look, there goes another one).

More ubiquitous than any of these things has been the dad tee. Despite the vast effort that designers expend in crafting the perfect ‘everyday’ T-shirt (pocket or no pocket? Scoop neck or V? Tight sleeves or raglan?), London has rejected every overthought stylistic machination in favour of a boxy basic. You know the one: crew-necked, nerdy, one size too big, sleeves that fall just above the elbow. Basically, the kind of T-shirt your dad wears to wash the car.

Shapeless and sexless as they are, not all dad tees are created equal. Pristine Rolling Stones/Prince/Metallica T-shirt bought last week at Topshop? Nul points. Bonus points if they carry a naff beer, retro sportswear or defunct car manufacturer’s logo. Better still, they should be emblazoned with a meaningless slogan, like Beverage Expert or Disco Fries. But don’t overthink it. Better just to borrow your dad’s.   

Most surprising this summer is the dad tee’s popularity with women, especially younger ones. Call it the ultimate in post male-gaze style, but the baggy dad tee is a safehaven for London teenagers who don’t feel comfortable in crop tops. Maybe they have body hang-ups. Maybe they just want to be comfy. Maybe they’re sick of being propositioned on the bus.

Or maybe that’s overthinking it. The ultimate dad tee postergirl is Billie Eilish, who has spoken frankly about her own body dysmorphia, and who recently called out people who read too much meaning into her clothing choices. ‘Everyone sees it as “she’s saying no to being sexualised” and “she’s saying no to being the stereotypical female”,’ says Eilish. ‘I wear baggy shit [because] I wear what I want to wear. I don’t like that there’s this weird new world of supporting me by shaming people that don’t want to dress like me.’ 

Still, it makes me happy to see young London girls wearing the same loose T-shirts and comfy trackpants as the boys. Equality might still elude us in the workplace, but at least there’s a bit more parity in the wardrobe.

Getting schooled

(Ben Birchall/PA)

It’s that time of year when I get sent a barrage of emails from supermarkets espousing the wonders of their super-cheap school uniform, the cost of which seems to fall exponentially every year. Which is strange, seeing as the cost of everything else is rocketing. It surprises me that brands are still boasting about their £3 skirts and two-pack polo shirts for £1.75 at a time when most responsible adults are questioning the ethics through which such inexpensive prices are achieved.

Don’t kids deserve to be dressed sustainably and responsibly, too?

Home truths

(Airbnb Luxe)

Post Traumatic Holiday Disorder: you come back from a week in the sun, walk in the front door and realise your house is a s***hole. Where are all the pristine, light-reflective surfaces? Why is there so much MDF? Where’s the maid to change the sheets and empty the bins? You switch on the lights. A spotlight blows. You find yourself standing under a trickle of water, trying to get clean by means of a shower head that hasn’t been descaled since 2003. My windows need to be cleaned, my bedroom door is falling off its hinges, my kitchen tap needs a new washer and we all keep getting trapped in the lav because the door handle fell off in June. Can I find a tradesman in the whole of London? Nope. Any handymen or handywomen reading, hit me up. 



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