Braggy message tees and sweatshirts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was looking for a good oversized sweatshirt to wear for dog walks and weekends when the weather gets cold. When I looked on the Anthropologie site I saw a ton of sweatshirts that said stuff like "Wifey" and "Fiancé". Do people actually wear these? It seems incredibly obnoxious. They also had stuff that said "Bride" and "Maid of Honor" which is also kind of obnoxious but I could see someone wearing to a bachelorette party or the week of the wedding. But like is someone walking around wearing a sweatshirt that says Wifey.

There's also a brand called Favorite Daughter selling sweatshirts that say "Dad's Favorite" or "Mom's Favorite" and while I get these are meant to be kind of tongue in cheek next to the other ones it just comes off as very braggy.

Is this a new trend? I have never been a message tee person but it's never bothered me that other people wear them. But these feel self-absorbed and braggy in a totally different way. And I say that as someone who is married and was a fiancé and has even been a maid of honor and might be described privately as my mom's favorite daughter. But I can't imagine wearing any of this stuff. Can someone explain it to me.

Go on Nordstrom RIGHT THIS INSTANT and read the reviews for the shirt that says “Dad’s favorite”.

You will learn that the shirt is intended for CHILDREN not grown _ _ _ women.

That’s all, carry on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a great surname, very similar to Gold.

Yes, I buy anything and everything with my surname to my great amusement. My family members are always on the hunt for Gold merch and especially sweatshirts and tees. I’m sure people think I’m a total weirdo for wearing seemingly random word hats/hoodies and tees but I don’t care. All in good fun.

Similar, my surname has a part that sounds like the name of an animal that some people consider cute and so there are pictures of said animal on all sorts of items. All my extended family tends to collect these items and have them tucked in various places around our houses. We just like to have fun with it.

This is going to drive me nuts. Patricia Pandasen? Samantha Slothman? Nancy Narwhalia? Octovia Ottern? I would do this if it was my name too. There used to be a popular bar in DC with my last name in the name, but I don't think they sold swag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a great surname, very similar to Gold.

Yes, I buy anything and everything with my surname to my great amusement. My family members are always on the hunt for Gold merch and especially sweatshirts and tees. I’m sure people think I’m a total weirdo for wearing seemingly random word hats/hoodies and tees but I don’t care. All in good fun.

Similar, my surname has a part that sounds like the name of an animal that some people consider cute and so there are pictures of said animal on all sorts of items. All my extended family tends to collect these items and have them tucked in various places around our houses. We just like to have fun with it.

Kowalski = Koala?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel this new expensive fitness club would speak to you:

https://sportyandrich.com/

Is that real??

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/19/style/sporty-and-rich-emily-oberg.html

Its the new goop...

[Anonymous]

I do not find these braggy at all.

I have almost bought the "favorite daughter" shirt many times. I am an only child. But my parents had a loss (not part of my life but theirs) so I don't dare stir that up because it could be cruel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a great surname, very similar to Gold.

Yes, I buy anything and everything with my surname to my great amusement. My family members are always on the hunt for Gold merch and especially sweatshirts and tees. I’m sure people think I’m a total weirdo for wearing seemingly random word hats/hoodies and tees but I don’t care. All in good fun.

Similar, my surname has a part that sounds like the name of an animal that some people consider cute and so there are pictures of said animal on all sorts of items. All my extended family tends to collect these items and have them tucked in various places around our houses. We just like to have fun with it.

McTurtle? Whalenski? Antelopez?

[Anonymous]

I bought a "Miss to Mrs" sweatshirt for my sister when she got engaged. Good grief. How is being married bragging????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I bought a "Miss to Mrs" sweatshirt for my sister when she got engaged. Good grief. How is being married bragging????

No offense, but are you married and/or young? The message society gives women (fortunately, less each generation) is that finding someone who wants to spend their life with you is winning. Being in a traditional family structure is desirable and safe. This is also winning. My friends who have been single or are divorced know they're better off personally, but it still stings when the messaging is, YAY you're getting married!!

Why else do we say congratulations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking for a good oversized sweatshirt to wear for dog walks and weekends when the weather gets cold. When I looked on the Anthropologie site I saw a ton of sweatshirts that said stuff like "Wifey" and "Fiancé". Do people actually wear these? It seems incredibly obnoxious. They also had stuff that said "Bride" and "Maid of Honor" which is also kind of obnoxious but I could see someone wearing to a bachelorette party or the week of the wedding. But like is someone walking around wearing a sweatshirt that says Wifey.

There's also a brand called Favorite Daughter selling sweatshirts that say "Dad's Favorite" or "Mom's Favorite" and while I get these are meant to be kind of tongue in cheek next to the other ones it just comes off as very braggy.

Is this a new trend? I have never been a message tee person but it's never bothered me that other people wear them. But these feel self-absorbed and braggy in a totally different way. And I say that as someone who is married and was a fiancé and has even been a maid of honor and might be described privately as my mom's favorite daughter. But I can't imagine wearing any of this stuff. Can someone explain it to me.

People are wearing them on the plane to their honeymoon destination. Or at their bachelorette. Or whatever. MYOB. No one will make you wear one.

OP here. That's what I would normally assume but these are expensive sweatshirts. Like $80-120. Not a $20 joke tee. Are people really spending $100 on a sweatshirt they will wear to their honeymoon destination or their bachelorette and then (presumably) never again? I guess the price point made me think this is something people are buying to wear somewhat regularly while they are engaged or after they are married. Which strikes me as strange.

So you are poor and no one wanted to marry you. We get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a great surname, very similar to Gold.

Yes, I buy anything and everything with my surname to my great amusement. My family members are always on the hunt for Gold merch and especially sweatshirts and tees. I’m sure people think I’m a total weirdo for wearing seemingly random word hats/hoodies and tees but I don’t care. All in good fun.

Similar, my surname has a part that sounds like the name of an animal that some people consider cute and so there are pictures of said animal on all sorts of items. All my extended family tends to collect these items and have them tucked in various places around our houses. We just like to have fun with it.

McTurtle? Whalenski? Antelopez?

Katz?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't explain it. I don't wear shirts with words on them as a rule.

Same. Nor do I hang anything in my house with words on it.

Same! So tacky

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I bought a "Miss to Mrs" sweatshirt for my sister when she got engaged. Good grief. How is being married bragging????

No offense, but are you married and/or young? The message society gives women (fortunately, less each generation) is that finding someone who wants to spend their life with you is winning. Being in a traditional family structure is desirable and safe. This is also winning. My friends who have been single or are divorced know they're better off personally, but it still stings when the messaging is, YAY you're getting married!!

Why else do we say congratulations?

This. Publicly identifying yourself a married in the way is unquestionably smug. And I say that as a married person. It is absolutely about status.

I think it's uncomfortable to point this out to people because for many women getting married is the goal and the idea that you shouldn't then brag about accomplishing it takes away from why it feels so good to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course there are people who buy this! Newly engaged or married people, people buying gag gifts for sisters or daughters, etc.

This.

They are meant to be gag gifts or for special trips, eg, bachelorette weekends in Nashville.

They are not meant for dog walking. There are myriad sites for what you are looking for.

My other pet is a cat who would kill me if I tried to leash her.

Chief Pooper-Scooper

My boss thinks I’m working right now.

Or just wear a sweatshirt from your alma mater. Better yet: order a sweatshirt from a school that might prompt a strong reaction—good or bad. Think: Harvard Law (who cares that you are a SAHM or flight attendant) or Ole Miss.

Personally, I triple dog dare you to go bold with your sweatshirt. Why not find an old school hip hop hoodie from the 1990s? Why not have a sweatshirt made with your neighborhood name—perhaps design a logo and mascot? The Vienna Vixens or Del Boca Vista Phase 3 Foo Fighting Federalists?

[Anonymous]

https://www.smithsonianstore.com/50th-anniversary-hip-hop-hooded-sweatshirt-28401/?sku=28401-L&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_e6Tv24tyHM492at3bANqWgbWXM&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIt6HX86uziAMVZHhHAR0OFQYAEAQYAiABEgK5tvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

From the Smithsonian store: 50th anniversary of hip hop hoodie. So much cooler than a boring sweatshirt from NPR.

[Anonymous]

https://shopnpr.org/npr-i-voted-2024-election-hoodie?utm_term=&utm_campaign=NPR+Sales-Performance+Max-12&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=4570881786&hsa_cam=19003757962&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD8mJS-qsTZXadseqpGAUTb4t5dVd&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3ZnpqayziAMViUlHAR1i7RzpEAQYBiABEgI2ffD_BwE

Make 2 statements with this brown (how appropriate?) crewneck sweatshirt with both the npr logo AND an embroidered “I voted” sticker. Personally, I think they should have gone with the more traditional “Yo vote” approach.