Whether you’re a clothes lover who enjoys shopping or someone who would rather visit the dentist than the Gap, at some point in your life you are going to buy a new shirt.
So you and your new shirt arrive at home. Now what?
To wash or not to wash? Are you one of those people who like to wash their clothes before they wear them? Are you afraid of the thousands of dead skin cells left on the shirt by the 16 people who tried it on in the store? Do you think there’s some kind of chemical on there that gets rinsed away after the initial wash? If so, you’re probably a washer.
The Same Day Wear. When you get home do you immediately put on the shirt and wear it for the next 3 days? If you’re a same-day-wearer I’m guessing you wear the shirt as many times as possible the first week without someone seeing it on you twice. You wear it to the party on saturday night, church on sunday morning, work on monday, and then to the poker game on thursday.
(The hyper-intense version of the the same day wear person is the “I’ll wear this out of the store” person. Although it’s kind of awkward to pull that these days with those magnetic security tags. You’ve got to climb halfway over the counter to give them enough room to get it off without ripping the shirt off your body.)
Into the Rotation. Does your new shirt join the rotation of old shirts and get equal playing time with everyone else? Or is the new shirt the star player that gets worn as soon as it pops out of the dryer. You do realize that once that closet door closes, the new shirt gets mercilessly hazed by the veterans. “You think you’re so hot now buddy, but just give it a few washes and you’ll be getting stuck at the bottom of the pile, forgotten for months at a time like the rest of us.”
THE BRYAN NEW SHIRT BREWING SYSTEM
Here’s my rules for a new shirt. These are probably drastically different from yours, but I don’t care. If you hadn’t figured out that I’m a moron by now, you’re probably a moron too.
1. The new shirt does not need to be washed – Slap that thing right on a hanger or throw it in a drawer and it’s ready to go. (My nicer t-shirts get hangers, the lower level shirts get piled on a closet shelf.)
2. The new shirt will NOT be worn on the same day – To me, wearing a new shirt on the day of purchase says, “look at me, I have a new shirt on! Everyone, look at me and my new shirt!” Personally, I just don’t like to draw that type of attention to myself.*
*I realize no one else will know that your shirt is new…but YOU know…and really, that’s all that matters.
3. The new shirt will brew in the closet for at least a few days – Like Tony LaRussa or Larry Brown, I’m not a big fan of letting the rookies play over the starters. I like to let my new shirts know that just because they’re new doesn’t mean they are special. And while they’re brewing in the closet, they can get to know everyone else, and learn what it takes to be a shirt in my wardrobe.
As a side benefit, waiting to wear a new shirt makes me feel like I’m being incredibly patient in an impatient world, which makes me feel better about myself. Yeah, I have issues.
4. The new shirt will make it’s debut for a notable event – The upside to letting my new shirts brew for a while is that when I do take them out for their debut, it’s usually for a big game. Maybe I’m speaking somewhere or there’s a dinner party or we’re going to NYC for the day. Just know this: when I make the call for the new shirt, he appreciates the opportunity because he’s been sitting there for a few days waiting patiently for his turn.
5. The new shirt will NOT draw attention to itself – Some people like to walk around with that “Look at me and my new shirt!” swagger. I am not one of those people. My goal is that when you meet me you’re left thinking, “Did he have a new shirt on or has he had that thing for years??? I have no idea. Bryan is so clever with his wardrobe.”
That’s how I roll.
My wife Erica likes to wear her new shirts as much as possible the first few days. I think she’s impatient. She thinks I’m an idiot, and she thinks my tshirt brewing system is the dumbest thing she’s ever heard of. What do you think?
Are you a same day wearer? Or are you a master of patience like me?
What’s your system for integrating a new shirt into your wardrobe?
Posted by Bryan AllainTags: Brewing System, Patience, T-Shirts
it depends on the shirt. usually im a same day wearer. it’s probably a girl thing. i don’t really have a rotation either.. i wear the same things over and over then come out with something i haven’t worn in a long time.
i love how you said “brewing in the closet” like 10 times.. and now one of the allain brothers will count how many times you actually said it and correct me.. i’ll be waiting. no-wait. now since i’ll be waiting you guys won’t count.
As a fellow moron, I too have given this some thought. I think it depends a lot on the purchase of the shirt. 1 Was it a gift, 2 was an impulse buy, 3 were you out specifically shirt shopping, or 4 did you realize you had an event approaching that very evening and you for whatever reason need to purchase a shirt. I had #4 last weekend, it was a Nice outdoor dinner/picnic on a warm evening. I chose to purchase 4 shirts since my wife says I am lacking in the “nice shirt” area. Knowing one of them was to be chosen for immediate use, even though I usually like to wash them first. LOL!
I couldn’t disagree more about point #1. You must wash, unless of course, you want to walk around smelling like store (they all smell different, but all terrible).
You hang shirts? What about the hanger bumps on the shoulders?
I just loaded up on a new batch of mock v-necks from target, by the way. Hanes perfect tees. They’re over by the underwear and undershirts, but not in packages. They’re individually rolled up and sell for around $5. You’re welcome in advance.
oh you think you know us so well lindsay. and in fact u do.
its been so long since ive bought a new shirt that i don’t even remember how i would handle this situation, ill have to get back to you next time i go shirt shopping.
I’m a new shirt wearer, new anything for that matter, if I buy it I like to wear it out of the store, or I will change in the car before I go to the next store.
After being cooped up in a store full of other clothes it is nice to show your new shirt a good time, sore of like in the movies when people adopt a kid and then buy them ice cream.
Wearing out of the store let’s the shirt feel proud that it was chosen and gives it a chance to say goodbye.
p.s. this also depends on if you are a “dress up to go shopping person” or not.
Tyler,
What is a “mock” v-neck? Come on, you’re either wearing a v-neck or you’re not. You can’t ride the fence on that one.
I do, however, agree with the hanger bumps – they’re ridiculous. If you can’t find space on the shelf for your t-shirts, you need a bigger closet or fewer t-shirts. My guess is – fewer t-shirts.
Erica is right. You are wrong. I have spoken.
@kevin, good point on the “crap, i need a shirt tonight!” aspect.
@tyler – yeah, i hang t-shirts, but they don’t get hanger bumps on them. I use thick plastic hangers that don’t leave the bumps like wire hangers do. plus, tshirts are light. sweaters, yeah, they might get bumps. but not tshirts.
and what the heck are mock V-necks? i’m with Lacey on that one. Is a mock V-Neck a crew neck? i think you misspoke there, and you need to admit it. And Lacey, the reason i hang my better tees is that folding and stacking them leaves them wrinkled, and I don’t believe in ironing things.
@ethan, i like your arguments. i don’t agree with them, but i like them.
@jordan – your money saving willpower is impressive.
@geof u stink.
Does it really matter if you wear it out of the store, the first day, or let it marinate in the draw with the other shirts for a couple of days? Isn’t the first time still the first time?
@Buddy, stop it with all that logic.
Wow. I feel persecuted.
Allow me to explain. V-necks fall into three categories:
1. Mock-V. The training wheels of v-necks. This is basically a crew neck that comes to a point in front. Chest exposure: Minimal
2. Regular V-Neck. This is your classic, out of the Hanes package, V-neck. Chest exposure: Average
3. Deep-V. This V might as well stretch to the belly button. Wearers of the Deep V are commonly asked if they are wearing a girl shirt. Typically worn by rock star worship leaders. Chest exposure: All
Apology accepted.
I apologize for bringing logic to your blog. In reality I am a same day wearer if at all possible. Just this past Sunday I went to Target to buy a shirt for an event that was happening within the hour. I took it to the room, ironed the fold marks out of it and put it on. No washing, but I always iron them before use. I also went shopping without my wife, so I bought two shirts with the intention of taking the one my wife didn’t approve back.
Do you know what I think? I think you really, really, give your wardrobe an incredible amount of thought, and I find it both disturbing and compelling. That’s what I think.
Wow.
I think your pants are probably sad that they got left out of this discussion.
“PANTS”!!….don’t get me started on pants. LOL!
Wow. Your comments section is sort of like my comments section. Which is lawsome. (lame + awesome = lawsome).
Ok, so if I get a new shirt, I’m definitely not wearing it that same day. Most of the time it will hang in my closet for a few days unless I have a specific event coming up that I was planning on wearing it for. Ok there, I said it, I can be like a girl sometimes and actually think of specific clothes that I want to wear to upcoming events. It’s not gay. I prefer to say that I’m stylishly metro.
@kat- i put too much thought into EVERYTHING.
@brad – it’s okay man. this is a safe place come clean on what makes you, you.