Getting half off at Perry Ellis online right now is pretty simple. All you have to do is use the code “PESAVE50″ and you’ll get 50% off on anything and everything on their site.  Perry Ellis is one of the most popular and innovative men’s clothing brands, known for their stylish, well-made clothes — menswear that will fit your active lifestyle and creative expression.  And through December 19, they are offering everything on their site at half off using the coupon code above.

Just click the link below to shop and start saving…

=> Click here to shop at PerryEllis.com and get 50% off everything when you use code PESAVE50 at checkout <=

Click to get this Plaid Scarf from Perry Ellis at 50% off

At left is an example of just one desirable item of clothing that you can find at Perry Ellis now — a Plaid Scarf in warm tones of black and brown.  This scarf normally goes for $35, but if you shop today and apply code PESAVE50, you’ll get it for $17.49.

And that goes for EVERYTHING on their site!  Apply the code in the shopping cart when you check out and your entire purchase will be discounted 50 percent.

Perry Ellis Men’s Shirts

Perry Ellis is, of course, known for quintessentially-American men’s shirts, both dress shirts and casual shirts.  You can get half off now on well-designed shirts for the office — 100% cotton, flatteringly-tailored shirts in solids, plaids, and stripes.  Most are priced at $50 – $60, so you’ll be getting them today (through December 15) for $25 – $30. This is a good chance to stock up!

Much More Than Shirts — Suits, Jeans, Shoes, Etc. — A Complete Men’s Clothing Store Online

Of course, Perry Ellis carries a complete line of all types of men’s clothes, so you can shop for coats and sweaters, fashionable blazers, ties, jeans, dress pants, underwear, shoes, slippers, socks, belts, cufflinks, sunglasses, wallets, watches, suits, resort wear, and more.  (Check the video below to see examples of what’s new for 2011 from Perry Ellis.)

Like I said:  it’s like your favorite men’s clothing store suddenly announced a store-wide half-off sale.

Women’s Clothes, Too (Rafaella)

But what’s more, Perry Ellis does not just sell men’s clothes and accessories on their site.  They also offer something for women:  bikinis!  Now, you may debate the merits of buying a bikini in winter — unless you’re traveling to Mexico or Hawaii for the holidays, in which case it’s important — but I don’t think a guy would ever argue with the wisdom of a woman having plenty of bikinis.  So, be assured, those are half-off, too!

And if you’ve got a gal pal (or you are a gal) who wants to shop for additional women’s clothes at good prices, go to the site of Perry Ellis’s sister company, Rafaella Sportswear, where you can get everything at 40% off for a limited time with code RFL40.  Tell your fashionista buddies about this sale.

Or, if that 40% site-wide deal at Rafaella has expired, you can get 30% off 2 items (use code SAVE30); 40% off 3 items (code SAVE40); or 50% off 4+ items (code SAVE50) at Rafaella Sportswear.

Anyway, back to men…

Shop between now and December 15, use code PESAVE50, and save on well-made men’s attire and tons of accessories from Perry Ellis.  If you don’t need anything personally, are you done with Christmas shopping?

I figure you would regret it if you didn’t take advantage of this sale — after all, you have to wear clothes at some point, right?

Perry Ellis on Vimeo.

Related posts:

1. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 3 – Pat Perry Tee from Chrome
2. Win a $10,000 Shopping Spree at High-End Fashion Clothing Store SSENSE

This series of posts has been in response to the imminent price increases in cotton clothing.  If you had gotten one each of the T-shirts I’ve been reviewing over the past 10 days, you would now have 9 cool new T-shirts and you would have saved money.  But if the price of wearing cotton goes up, who says you have to wear cotton?  There are cool alternatives to cotton!  For example, you could wear bamboo clothing instead.  That’s where the final T-shirt in this series comes in:  the Bamboo T-shirt from ONNO Textiles.

When it comes to a resource from which to make stuff, few things beat bamboo (hemp might give it a run for its money).  Bamboo can be used to make many things, from virtually earthquake-proof houses to needles for turntables to bicycles.  And bamboo can be used for T-shirts.  A hell of a nice T-shirt can be made out of bamboo.

ONNO Textiles is an innovative company devoted to making clothing from “green” sources:  organic bamboo, organic cotton, and hemp.  The shirt I’m featuring today is their Bamboo T-shirt (pictured at left in charcoal blue), which is made from 70% viscose from organic bamboo and 30% organic cotton.  (Viscose is a viscous organic liquid produced from a cellulose-based material, e.g. trees.  Or bamboo.)  Since it’s organic, that means this shirt is made without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified seed, and with less water.  One cool thing about bamboo is that it will grow with rainwater as its only source of water (by contrast, cotton requires intensive irrigation to be grown commercially).

Bamboo has many impressive qualities:  it will grow just about anywhere except Antarctica; it grows up to 3 feet a day; it is stronger than oak; it will grow without cultivation; it produces more oxygen than trees; it is insanely renewable.

But, you might be wondering, what are bamboo T-shirts like?

Bamboo fabric makes T-shirts that are softer than any cotton T-shirt you’ve ever worn, yet are quite durable.  They hold their shape wash after wash (ONNO pre-washes them to minimize shrinkage) — just toss them in the machine (or beat them on a rock), toss them in the dryer (or line dry), and put them back on.

People rave about the comfort of bamboo tees:  light, airy, and soft.  They wick better than cotton.  They are about as soft as silk.  Girls will want to touch you.  Often. You think I’m kidding?  Here’s what one online-reviewer said about ONNO bamboo T-shirts:

“Bamboo T-shirts are the greatest shirt I’ve ever worn. The material is silkier than cotton, they wick away sweat, stay cooler when it’s hot and warmer in colder weather.  Aside from a slight shrinkage, I wear this shirt to work, to play and to bed.  If the world all wore bamboo, we’d all be touching each other.”

Bottom line:  you will like this T-shirt.

ONNO is known for the quality of its organic-cotton clothing and tote bags.  They are a Better Business Bureau-accredited business.  They purchase carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint.  They are a member of the Organic Trade Association.  And they are fanatical about using the best raw materials to make their clothing.

You should check out their organic cotton and hemp T-shirts as well.

Click for men's bamboo T-shirts at ONNO

Anyway, get yourself a short-sleeve or long-sleeve bamboo T-shirt from ONNO and judge for yourself.  They come in 19 different colors — yes, 19 — and 7 different sizes.  (For colors, click on the “Color Chart” button on their respective T-shirt pages.)  You should be able to find one to fit your style.  Or several.  They’re priced at only $26, which is comparable to regular cotton T-shirts.  The thing that is not comparable is that, as cotton clothing goes up in price, bamboo will stay about the same.  Heh.  Thus the point of this final post.

By the way, ONNO also offers wholesale pricing.  If you want to buy a whole bunch of cotton shirts to put your logo on, or whatever, they can cover orders like that.  They have wholesale info on their website.

That about wraps up 10 Days of T-Shirts.  I hope you’ve found this series of posts helpful, and I hope you’ll enjoy wearing some hip new cotton (or bamboo) T-shirts.  (Of course, I’ll be highlighting more superior T-shirts — and the companies that make them — as I discover them in the future, so this isn’t my last word on the topic.)  One final note:  remember that whenever you buy a product from any of the outstanding businesses recommended here over the past several days, not only are you getting top-of-the-line goods, you are voting with your dollars for high quality and excellent customer service.  Not a bad thing to do with your consumer dollar.

If you have found something interesting or useful here on Best Stuff for Men, please consider making a donation, so others can benefit, too.  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 3 – Pat Perry Tee from Chrome
2. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 1 – Take Advantage of Less Expensive Cotton Now

CafePress has about 4 billion T-shirts to choose from.  (Okay, I’m exaggerating, but they do have millions of T-shirts.)  They carry over 330 million unique products and at least 10 million are T-shirts.  Which means you could spend 8 hours a day, every day, combing through the funny, unique, cool, creative, vintage, rude, sporty, and artistic T-shirt designs at CafePress and never explore them all (particularly since 45,000 new designs are added each day).

The bottom line is that CafePress has something for everybody.  And everybody, in this case, is you.  And a T-shirt I think you’ll like is this pistol-packing panda.

I looked through every T-shirt CafePress offers (okay, another slight exaggeration) and found one you could not help but appreciate:  the Panda Armed and Dangerous T-shirt.  (Yes, the actual title of this shirt at CafePress is “Panda Arm and Dangerous” but I figured I’d help them out with their grammar some.)  The picture at left shows the shirt in black but you can get it in 9 different colors.  The black and white panda design should work well with any color. The shirt is made of 5.6-ounce, 100% cotton (of course) and retails for $25 (for now, before cotton clothes go up in price).  

This T-shirt is a bit edgy, a bit humorous, sort of aggressive without being obnoxious.  Where could you wear this shirt?  The question should actually be:  where couldn’t you wear this shirt?  You could wear it to church (depending on what church you go to) or you could wear it to a pub.  You could wear it to work (depending on where you work) or you could wear it to a lacrosse game.  About the only place you wouldn’t want to wear it would be on a hay ride.

You could definitely wear it to yoga class and impress the cute girl stretching herself supplely on the mat next to yours.

CafePress bills itself as “The world’s favorite place to find or make unique T-shirts and gifts.”  I suppose Zazzle might dispute that somewhat (Zazzle bills itself as “the world’s leading platform for quality custom products”), but the bottom line is that CafePress has 2 million unique shops where people just like you (well, not just like you) can offer their personal designs to the world.

Of course, if you don’t quite cotton to the Panda T-shirt, you could design your own at CafePress, taking advantage of dozens of clothing and customizing options.

In fact, you can also create many kinds of customized gifts at CafePress:  click here to explore T-shirts and more.  The Panda T-shirt is just a starting point — check out jewelry, iPhone cases, water bottles, greeting cards, and more.

Another nice thing about CafePress is that they unconditionally guarantee their products.  If you don’t like it, you can return it, no questions asked.  Not many businesses stand behind their products as firmly these days, nor treat their customers as well as CafePress.  So, whether you acquire a design that someone else has made, or you creatively create your own, you really can’t go wrong with any merchandise from CafePress.  See the video below to hear Allison give an overview of their approach to T-shirts:

T-Shirt – CafePress Product Info from CafePress on Vimeo.

Chicago Cubs Vintage Tee from CafePress

Now, maybe the Panda Armed and Dangerous T-shirt isn’t quite your cup of tea.  In that case, I’ve selected another T-shirt from CafePress for your sartorial consideration:  the Chicago Cubs Vintage Tee.  Not only is this design kind of a charming throwback (harking back to a time when Cubs fans were simply hopeful, rather than desperately hopeful), this T-shirt is made of organic cotton, enzyme-washed to be super soft, and mixed with a little spandex to keep its shape.  Of course, the character on the shirt is still a bear, but a different species of bear, and he’s carrying a baseball bat instead of two semi-automatics.  Take your choice of weapons.

Or get one of each.

Or, if you’ve been inspired by this post, design your own shirt or other product at CafePress.

Okay, so I put in 10 hours today working in a warehouse, so I’m going to go have dinner.  Not that you necessarily care about that.  I’m just sayin’, you work up a powerful appetite searching for good T-shirts at CafePress plus working in a warehouse.

Related posts:

1. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 4 – Vox Logo T-Shirt from Musician’s Friend
2. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 8 – Orange Lantern Avarice T-Shirt from Entertainment Earth

Sometimes you just want a basic T-shirt.  Whether it’s to wear under a dress shirt, or to wear when you change the oil or mow the lawn, a T-shirt is one of the most functional, versatile, and cost-effective parts of your wardrobe.  It doesn’t always have to be fashion-forward and attention-getting.  Here I’ll list places to buy the most inexpensive T-shirts online.

First, some criteria…  One is that, in keeping with the rest of this series of posts, these T-shirts are made of cotton.  You might find cheaper T-shirts made of polyester, but who wants a substandard polyester T-shirt when you can enjoy cotton?  Two is that they are well-made — you might be able to find 100% cotton T-shirts for less at the flea market, but they will probably fall apart after you wear and wash them a couple times (and they will not be comfortable or good-looking in the meantime).  Three is that I’ve tried to find the cheapest, best-quality T-shirts available in a complete range of sizes.  It won’t do you much good if a store is having a closeout on T-shirts and you’re a size Medium and they only have one shirt in Small or XXXL.  The idea here is to provide a useful selection and consistent choice for all of you.

That said, there are a number of excellent deals you can find online for basic, inexpensive T-shirts from reliable retailers.  These are places you can find tees that are useful for layering, for wearing to the gym (playing hoops, pumping iron), to walk your dog, or just to lounge around watching a game.  And when they finally wear out, they’ll make great rags.

Cotton BVD T-Shirt from Freshpair - $13.99 for 4

So, how about a 4-pack of 100% cotton BVD T-shirts for $13.99?  That comes out to just $3.50 per shirt.  These are white, tagless, rib-neck T-shirts from BVD, which has been making underwear for men since 1876.  You can’t get much more basic — or better — than that.  When it comes to buying underwear, Freshpair offers the whole enchilada.  They usually have these 4-packs of BVD T-shirts on sale for 30% off, and they also offer free shipping on all US orders.  Get these T-shirts now, because, as I said in my first post, cotton clothing will be going up in price soon (though, if anyone can hold the line, it will be Freshpair, due to their high volume and huge inventory).  Another handy thing is that Freshpair generally has a lot of customer reviews.  These BVD Crew T-shirts average 4.5 out of 5 stars in reviews.  About them, customers said:

“After a few washings they kept their shape around the collar.  I use these for work and they are comfortable and keep my torso cool.”

“Great shirts.  First time you wear them, [they're] on the big side; once you wash them, great fit.  These are the only undershirts I will wear!”

But that’s not all the outstanding deals Freshpair offers when it comes to T-shirts.  You can also get a 3-pack of Hanes Crew Neck T-shirts (white, pre-shrunk cotton) for $12.60 (average 4.5 stars), and a 3-pack of Fruit of the Loom White Crew Neck T-shirts for $15.39, and Fruit of the Loom White V-neck T-shirts for $15.39.  Both the Fruit of the Loom Crew Neck and V-neck T-shirts average 4.5 stars in reviews.

Those are some of the best prices you can find at Freshpair — or online anywhere.  Explore the rest of their inventory for men to see other good deals or to find high-quality options from many other companies.  You won’t find a better underwear selection online.  And remember, they provide free shipping on US orders.

Desert Wash Vivid-Dyed Football Jersey T-Shirt from Buy.com

This next deal might have been number one, but you do have to pay for shipping.  Still, how about $2.47 per shirt, with a choice of 8 colors and 5 sizes?  That’s what you’ll find at Buy.com:  the Desert Wash Short-Sleeve Men’s Vivid-Dyed Football Jersey T-shirt.  These are well-made, 5.2-ounce cotton T-shirts, with ribbed collars, double-needle stitching, and taped seams.  The colors are unusual (as you might expect) and interesting.  You can’t beat a T-shirt for under $2.50.  Plus, when you shop at Buy.com, you earn Rakuten Super Points, which you can redeem for Buy.com merchandise.  The shipping cost is reasonable and, since you’re buying online, you can usually avoid sales tax.

Urban Pipeline Basic Tee from Kohl's - $7.99

This next T-shirt is from Kohl’s:  the Urban Pipeline Basic Tee, $7.99 each, on sale.  Kohl’s is the new Gap.  Remember in their early years how you could count on the Gap for attractively-designed, well-made, basic clothing for reasonable prices?  That’s what Kohl’s is now.  Unfortunately, the Gap no longer offers products that have the best value, but for shoppers who’ve discovered Kohl’s, that’s not a problem.  Their in-store brands — such as Urban Pipeline, Sonoma, and Apt. 9 — are better quality than you might expect while still having good prices.  For basic T-shirts, the Urban Pipeline Basic Tee comes in 7 colors (the color pictured at left is “Reindeer”) and 5 sizes.  Buy several online — spend at last $75 — and you’ll get free shipping.  Or browse more of their basic T-shirts.  Of course, Kohl’s is a full-on department store, so they carry more clothing and other products than the Gap ever did.  Nothing against the Gap — I shopped there a lot in the 90s — but things change.  Fortunately, innovative companies, such as Kohl’s, step in to fill the gap.  Click here to see all their men’s clothing.

Cotton Military T-Shirt in Olive Drab

If you read my very first post on T-shirts, then you know that they had their origin — as much of men’s clothing has — as a utilitarian garment worn by soldiers.  So it’s only fitting that I include military-grade cotton T-shirts in this collection of inexpensive T-shirts:  the 100% Cotton Military T-shirt in Olive Drab.  $8.55 from the Army Navy Shop online.  Since we live in more modern times than WWII, you can also get it in black and brown.  And really, what man needs a T-shirt in any other color than olive drab, black, or brown?  The description is “100% cotton tee” and that’s what you get.  Hang something around your neck on a chain or leather thong when you wear this shirt.  It also might help if you chomp a cigar.  No shirt is more masculine.  Except maybe one of those rough linen pirate shirts.

Cabela's Combed Cotton Short-Sleeve Tee - $7.99

Now for one of the highest-quality basic T-shirts you can get:  the Cabela’s Combed Short-Sleeve Tee.  This is a comfortable, 100% combed cotton T-shirt and it’s only $7.99, on sale.  You can also get it in “Tall” sizes for $9.99.  That is not much money, especially when you consider that you’re getting it from Cabela’s, which is known for the quality of their products.  Not only that, they have some of the best customer service anywhere, and they back their products.  This T-shirt comes in 6 useful colors and 8 (count ‘em, eight) different sizes.  When you consider Cabela’s quality, this deal is hard to beat.  Pick up several, because this price probably won’t last long.

Structure Men's Strech T-shirt from Sears - $7.90

Of course, as you might expect, Sears offers a pretty good basic T-shirt for a reasonable price:  the Structure Men’s Stretch T-shirt.  Unlike all the other T-shirts here, this tee contains a substance that is not cotton — it’s got 3% Spandex, which actually adds an extra measure of comfort and fit.  It conforms well to your body, which is handy if you’re in good shape, and works well under other shirts.  (And why not look good even when you’re wearing just a basic T-shirt?)  It’s only $7.90.  It comes in 4 colors. Customer reviews for these T-shirts are almost uniformly positive.  Such as:

“In cold weather, I need an ‘athletic type’ t-shirt to wear under my judo gi.  I’ve tried the all-nylon and all-polyester shirts.  They’re OK but look too 21st-century.  (Judo and Karate gi’s are nothing but ancient-design kimonos.)  This shirt is not polar white, so it matches the slightly off-white color of the gi.  It is about the same color of a regular t-shirt, but fits a lot neater.  Occasionally, I’ve worn one with a dressier street shirt.  If bought at sale price, an excellent value.  Seems ‘fanatical’ to shop for an undershirt for a judo gi, I suppose.  So be it!  The shirts will shrink a little.  If you have a long trunk, keep that in mind.”

“I wear these as an undershirt every day and have for nearly 2 years now.  They are without doubt the best undershirt or stand alone t-shirt I’ve ever owned.  Durable, keep their shape and very comfortable.”

“How can you beat this great price for a Structure shirt that wears well, fits great, and washes with ease.”

One handy option is to buy this shirt for the low online price and pick it up in a nearby Sears store.  That way, you don’t have to pay for shipping.  See the Sears site for details.

Celtek Bird T-Shirt from Dogfunk - $9.98

Finally, when it comes to low prices, you don’t have to consider only plain T-shirts.  You can get a pretty hip graphic tee from Dogfunk that’s only $9.98, on sale:  the Celtek Bird T-shirt.  This is a 100% cotton T-shirt that has a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.  It comes in 2 primary colors — black and white — with 3 different “bird” design options.  You can wear it solo, or it will work under a dress shirt.  Double duty for one low price!  Just another useful, cutting-edge product from Dogfunk.  Again, take advantage of this price while it lasts.

Celtek Bird T-Shirt in black and orange

I mentioned that I wouldn’t be featuring T-shirts for low prices that only offered a few of one size.  However, I don’t want you to miss out on deals like that.  So I will recommend two online retailers where you can find a wide variety of good T-shirts at closeout prices.  You’ll just have to check their inventory for your size.  If they’ve got it, great.  If not… well, just check the shirts and stores listed above; you’ll still be able to find inexpensive T-shirts there.  The first online store I’ll mention is Sierra Trading Post.  They have T-shirts clearance-priced for as low as $2.50.  The other online retailer is Eastbay, a store that carries a huge selection of sports equipment, shoes, and apparel.  They have a good selection of T-shirts (including graphic tees) for as low as $4.99.  Both of these companies are known for good customer service and large selection.  Plus they each have frequent sales.  Both are good places to shop.

Get yourself some cheap, basic T-shirts.  It’ll be satisfying to know you’ve got that wardrobe staple covered and you can reach in your drawer and pull out a good tee whenever you need one.

Related posts:

1. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 10 – Bamboo T-Shirts from ONNO
2. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 3 – Pat Perry Tee from Chrome

Let it not be said that Best Stuff for Men neglects fashion.  We simply take the view that fashion consists primarily of a singular expression:  you.

No one else expresses your stylistic being.  No matter if you wear exactly what someone else wears, it will impinge on the world differently.  Fashion blends elements of function and art, industry and politics, nature and nurture, along with the personal vision of a designer.  We are tribal, after all.  So, unless you invent and construct your own clothing, whatever you wear is part of the zeitgeist.  Your unique part, animated by you.

Planetary Crew Tee - $44

Sometimes you want to know that you have something to wear that’s rather cutting edge, without trying too hard.  And this series of posts is about tees, after all, so here’s a T-shirt by Beta Unit:  the Planetary Crew Tee.  It’s got a an amorphous image with a vaguely forward-looking quality that’s in keeping with Beta Unit’s aesthetic:  that which used to work or is about to work, that which broke in an interesting way, the implications of almost-obsolescent technology, re-purposed as art.

Not that Beta Unit’s production is anything less than modern high-quality.  You get a 100% cotton T-shirt with iconoclastic styling and interesting details that you won’t find in T-shirts you get at Walmart (or any store with “mart” in the title).  That’s fashion.  And, via Revolve Clothing, not too expensive.  And you get free shipping.  And good prices today, cotton-wise, is what this series of posts is about.

Another cool thing about this shirt:  your girlfriend will want to sleep in it.  (That’s good for you.)  And if you don’t have a gf, this shirt will help you find one, because women pay attention to the fact that you’re not just an animal but a creative animal, and are more likely to come to you as a result.

You can get the Beta Unit Planetary Crew Tee from Revolve Clothing.  If you want to be au courant most of the time, Revolve Clothing is the solution, without trying too hard.  Shop there and they’ll take care of you (including accessories and lifestyle tech, such as interesting cameras).  Your canniness will impress.  See, for example, the “Editor’s Picks” section of their site (under “Men,” “New”).

Related posts:

1. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 10 – Bamboo T-Shirts from ONNO
2. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 7 – The Most Inexpensive T-Shirts You Can Get Online

Let’s talk about authority.  Every man wants it.  It comes in handy.  But few have as much as they’d prefer.  Chuck Norris has it.  You can start acquiring more by wearing this T-shirt from the folks at ThinkGeek:  the Chuck Norris Destroyed the Periodic Table T-shirt.

Let’s face it:  few situations could not be improved by having more authority.  Everything from ordering room service to a job interview is enhanced when you are authoritative.  But few men possess that quality to their satisfaction.  Except Chuck Norris.  Chuck Norris CAN get some satisfaction.  And you can get some yourself when you don this T-shirt. (Or, at any rate, a good laugh).  It’s white, 100% cotton, with black artwork.  It states:  “Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table because he only recognizes the element of surprise.”

Consider Chuck Norris.  When he started out as a martial artist, he could kick your ass.  Then he became a successful actor.  Now he is a successful actor who could kick your ass.  That is true authority.  And being an actor with authority is about as good as it gets.  So he authorized ThinkGeek to create this T-shirt.

Consider another guy, Sean Clements.  He can’t kick your ass.  But he does want to be an actor.  He’s working at it, but I think he needs more authority.  For example, in the “Sean Clements Acting Reel” video below, which he uses to promote his work, consider how in the opening scene the authority of the two guys would be enhanced if they were wearing shirts.  Even just T-shirts.  When it’s time to pitch your movie, it’s helpful to wear a shirt.

That’s where this Chuck Norris shirt comes in.  It will provide you the opportunity to wear a shirt when you need one.  And it will vicariously enhance your standing.  Always wear a Chuck Norris T-shirt when in doubt.  Or when not in doubt.  Clothes make the man, you know.  Especially T-shirts that you get for reasonable prices.

Voltron Giant Robot T-shirt

Of course, if Chuck Norris is a personal friend of yours, or if you are Chuck Norris, then you will probably not need this shirt.  In that case, the huge selection of other humorous and/or entertaining T-shirts from ThinkGeek will come in handy.  Yes, most are funny, but some are even cool, despite the fact that the company has “Geek” in the title.  Check out, for example, the Voltron T-shirt (at right), which is both bright and Japanese.

You're confident

And the FTW! T-shirt. (FTW = For the Win.  Which is what you want to do.)

Actually, getting back to Sean Clements, he’s got potential, he’s developing some funniness.  Case in point, a few of his recent tweets:

• “To Frat Dudes:  Being loud and being funny are the same thing.  Go tell the others.”
• “If someone brings up a movie I haven’t seen, I make sure to talk about one they haven’t seen right after.  I’m nobody’s fucking bitch.”
• “It’s Nationel Typo Day!”
• “One cool thing I do for my friends is I tell them when I think their life is boring.”

Dude, don’t be boring.  Or non-authoritative.  If you can laugh, you’ll be neither.  To be sure, cover your bases by trying the Chuck Norris Periodic Table T-shirt.  You have nothing to lose.  Except the general disrespect in which most people hold you.  (No, just kidding.  That’s what is known as “marketing.”)

Really, get the shirt, before the price goes up.  Shirts always come in handy.  ThinkGeek does not charge a lot, but when they catch on, they will.

Sean Clements Acting Reel from Sean Clements on Vimeo.

Related posts:

1. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 10 – Bamboo T-Shirts from ONNO
2. 10 Days of T-Shirts: Day 7 – The Most Inexpensive T-Shirts You Can Get Online

Sometimes you need to channel your inner rock musician.  Or be an actual outer musician.  In either case, you’ll want a T-shirt to fit the vibe.   Something cool, not highly unsubtle.  Here it is:  the Vox Logo T-shirt.  From Musician’s Friend.

Vox is the English company that helped pioneer electric guitar amps, adding technical power to the British Invasion (musically) of the US.  Their AC30 amp is legendary, having been used by rockers such as Keith Richards and Pete Townshend.  Plus a successful little group called The Beatles.

The Vox Logo T-shirt expresses the right blend of brand cachet, musical cool, and laid-back hipster detachment.  Those who know music will know Vox.  But even chicks who don’t know the difference between tube reverb and solid state sustain will dig the stylized Vox crown.  Like earlier T-shirts in this series, this shirt will handle diverse sartorial applications, from auditioning a new electronica group at an underground club to starring in your buddy’s skateboard movie.  Of course, if you’re a guitar player, you can wear it everywhere.

It’s black, heavyweight 100% cotton, and only 18 bucks.  Musician’s Friend carries this shirt and dozens of other musically-themed T-shirts — enough to strain a roadie’s back.  If the Vox Logo Tee doesn’t do it for you (or you already own one), check out their Paiste Alpha Thorn T-shirt, their Vic Firth Goth T-shirt, and Dean Wings Logo Custom T-shirt.  The prices are low, too.

Get the Vox shirt, wear it, and wash it, because it’s only going to get softer and better-looking with age.  Cotton was cheaper when they priced this shirt, so grab it now — or two or three — and save.  Put it on when you start feeling like head-banging.  Or finger-popping.  Whatever.  Bands from U2 to Radiohead have relied on Vox.  Not a bad legacy.

Jazz guitarist Vinny Valentino is one of those discerning guys who plays a Vox guitar.  In the video below, he performs with drummer Steve Smith and the group Vital Information.  A harmonically simple yet rhythmically-sophisticated fusion jam borrowing from Indian konnakol.  Let it remind you:  nothing is cooler than music.  And, by extension, musicians.  Capiche?

Get your shirt from Musician’s Friend.  And you can search for more musical essentials below using the Musician’s Friend search bar.

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T-shirts have become an artistic medium.  Here’s an excellent example to add to your collection:  the Pat Perry Flower Face Tee, made by Chrome.

Pat Perry Tee "Flower Face" from Chrome

Pat Perry is first and foremost an artist — a wizard with brush and pencil.  He describes himself as a “Drawer and Painter.”  But he also takes pictures (good ones) and so I’d add “Photographer” to the mix.  In any medium, he has a knack for coming up with wholly original, visually-arresting images that are both fun and disturbing, accurate yet surreal.  Fortunately, Chrome, the legendary maker of messenger bags, got him to design some T-shirts.  So, rather than having to spend hundreds or thousands on one of Pat Perry’s paintings, you can get a T-shirt.  You’ll look savvy.  And faintly disturbed.  (A provocative combo.)  Here for your visual and performance entertainment is the Flower Face Tee by Pat Perry.  Wear it and roll.

Pat is a pretty cool dude, with varied interests, including backpacking, so he understands and appreciates function when it comes to clothing.  As a company, so does Chrome, which means that this very soft, durable, ring spun cotton tee will do the job, while looking cool.  It’s 100% cotton, made in the USA.  Only $25.

Click for Pat Perry Cyclops Tee from Chrome

While you’re getting the Flower Face Tee, check the other Pat Perry T-shirt designs at Chrome.  Plus the rest of their über-functional, attractive apparel.  Oh, and remember their bags.  There are messenger bags that are as good as the ones made by Chrome, but none that are better.

If you’ve read my preceding two T-shirt posts, you’ll be aware that I’ve been providing some 411 about cotton for your dressing edification.  So, what do we have today?

How about the question:  is cotton a flower?

No, Jimmy, cotton is actually the fiber that grows to protect and help disperse the seeds of the cotton plant after the flower has fallen off.  Cotton is the fibrous “boll” that surround the seeds.   The cotton plant is a member of the genus Gossypium, which includes about 50 species.  Only a few of these are cultivated commercially.  Some are genetically modified.  When you see cotton growing in the United States, it’s most likely Gossypium hirsutum, or Upland Cotton.  When you’re driving by a cotton field with your parents, point at the field and say, “Look, Mom and Dad, that’s probably Gossypium hirsutum.”

They will think you are smart.  Maybe they will buy you a cotton T-shirt.

Here is a time-lapse video of Pat Perry doing a painting.  This shows about 2 weeks of work with acrylic paint and ink:

Timelapse Painting Two from Pat Perry on Vimeo.

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Here’s the second in our 10 days of cool T-shirts:  this is the Basic R Dot 2 Tee by Rusty.  You can get it from Killer Dana, along with other handy summer stuff.

If you’re not into surfing you might not have heard of Killer Dana, the surf shop located in beautiful Dana Point, California (once known for its — guess what — point break; that was before the Army Corps of Engineers got hold of it).  But maybe you have heard of Killer Dana, because cool has a way of exuding beyond formal boundaries, and they have offered a cool place to shop since 1991.  In 1996 Killer Dana was one of the first surf shops to go online, and over the decades have expanded to become one of the largest online retailers of gear to accompany your favorite adrenaline-rush activities.  But by no means have they forgotten their roots in surfing, and they are justly famous for their extensive line of board shorts — the largest anywhere — and surfboards.  Dude, if you need a surfboard, you can definitely find one at Killer Dana (and they’ll ship it free).

Click for Rusty Basic R Dot 2 Tee from Killer Dana -- $20

But we’ll cover surfboards another day.  Today is about T-shirts, and the T-shirt at left is the Basic R Dot 2 Tee by Rusty.  (I know it says “Rot” on the Killer Dana page, but that’s a typo, dude.)  Rusty is a company started by a guy named — you might guess — Rusty.  He began in the US as a surfboard shaper and achieved some success in that endeavor.  In 1986, he added T-shirts to his line of boards and achieved some success in that endeavor as well.  Enough so that in 1989 he went international, and today Rusty is a world-wide brand, selling surfing gear from Argentina to New Zealand to Japan.  Oh yes, and through Killer Dana.  His T-shirt designs are balanced, artistic, and diverse.  I think the Basic R Dot 2 in that metallic color is one of his cooler efforts, subtle but dynamic.  With a blazer, it’ll handle casual Fridays, and with shorts and leather flip-flops it’ll cover scarfing mussels and beer with your friends at Bungalow 8 at King Street Wharf in Sydney.  If you want a more flamboyant tee, you can surf (heh) many more Rusty T-shirt designs at Killer Dana.  As well as T-shirts from other top-line manufacturers.

Also, since you’re reading this post, I’ll let you know that, as we head into summer, you can get free shipping on all orders of $75 or more at Killer Dana by using coupon code:  summerfreeship.  Just enter “summerfreeship”  during checkout.

Regarding Rusty, below is the trailer of a film they helped sponsor, Kerrazy Kronicles, due out soon.  This’ll help set the mood for summer and T-shirts:

Kerrazy Kronicles Preview from rustyintl on Vimeo.

Remember, I’m doing 10 days of T-shirts so you can stock up and avoid the price increases that are about to hit cotton clothing.  Regarding cotton, here’s a factoid:  China produces more cotton than any other country.  You might have thought it was the US, but no, the US is not even second.  That would be India.  The US is third.  China and India had a lot of inconvenient rain last year, which reduced the cotton yield.  Half of all the world’s clothing is made of cotton.  That’s one reason you’ll be paying more for T-shirts in coming months.  And jeans, socks, sweaters, handkerchiefs…  There, now you’ll have some conversational ammunition to fall back on after you arrive at a party wearing your R Dot 2 T-shirt and a cute girl eyes it with approval.  First, say hi to her.  Then, after the initial chit-chat lags — and it will — tell her, “I got a bunch of shirts at Killer Dana recently because, you know, of the rain in China…”  If this line of talk goes well — and it will — you can then say, “You’ll probably want to stock up on thongs.”  Then excuse yourself to get a beer.  (But, of course, you plan to catch up to her later.)

I believe you’ll find her receptive.

No, you don’t have to thank me.  Come back tomorrow and find another excellent tee for additional parties. And remember to scope the rest of Killer Dana’s inventory…

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You may have noticed news reports about cotton going up in price and how this will impact the cost of cotton clothing.  Short version: it’s heading north.

Cotton prices have been rising steeply for about a year-and-a-half.  In March, cotton hit nearly $2.30 per pound on the world market, a 267% increase over the previous year.  Driven by increasing consumer demand, poor harvests, and farmers diversifying into more lucrative crops, cotton will not be decreasing in price any time soon.  What does that have to do with me, you ask?  It means that cotton clothing — T-shirts, jeans, and many other manly wardrobe staples made of cotton — will be getting more expensive.  Don’t get behind the curve.  Shop for cotton clothing — and put T-shirts near the top of your list — now.

Click for DYED T-Shirt by Lira from Karmaloop

Retailers and clothing manufacturers predict that major price increases in cotton clothes will hit between now and the end of the year.  That means, if you want to save money on cotton duds, now’s the time to do it.  Or the “fabric of our lives” might become a little too pricey to include much of in your life.

Accordingly, since I’m all about adding value to your life here, I’m going to feature a different T-shirt every day for the next 10 days so you can get them at a price that’s still relatively okey-dokey.  I’ll keep my eyes open for superior designs.  And offer diversified navigation to the best retailers of T-shirts and other cotton clothing online, including jeans, shorts, and underwear. (C’mon, you need a few boxer shorts too; admit it.)

MVP Tee by IMKING

Price increases could hit as soon as June 1, so I recommend not waiting.  When summer arrives (and it’s already getting hot, or haven’t you been outside?), you’re going to want a few threadful tee’s to keep you cool.  And looking good.  Not like some clueless, donked-out, sweaty churl.

Of course, if for some weird reason you don’t think a design I suggest is deck, the online retailers have about 140 thousand more.  Just be sure you take advantage of lowest prices.  Like, today.

Shop wisely, Moriarty.  And return for additional jersey-centric intel tomorrow.  Meanwhile…

See what’s on Sale @ Karmaloop.com!

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