This Hey Arnold shirt is one of my favorite tees in the world. It’s a really fun, nostalgic pattern.
So here’s a little-known fact about me: I hate graphic tees. I bet it would be sort of a shock to my younger self, who lived in the tee section at dELiA*s (my personal favorite is still the bright pink double-music-note heart shirt). In general, I tend to stick with basics that I can mix and match. I love a good pattern, but I can’t stand the stupid sayings that companies are slapping on these shirts. I saw one the other day at Zara that literally said “This is a Graphic Tee” and I almost vomited.
But every now and then, I come across something I absolutely love. Here’s a list of graphic tees that are my vibe:
Art Tee from Dazey LA, $52
photo from @dazey_la on instagram
I’ve been obsessed with Dazey LA since I started following them on Instagram a couple months back. Dani Nagel, a graphic designer, started her line to empower women through graphics that “stand for something.” Every shirt is beautiful, but this Art Tee is my absolute favorite. I love the whimsical, artsy vibe with a message that everyone should hear.
GOODIE TWO SLEEVES N’Sync Boyfriend Women’s Tee from Tilly’s, $23
photo from Tillys’ website
Fun fact, I once crashed my car while listening to *NSYNC’s “No Strings Attached,” but that’s not why I like this shirt. I’m definitely one to wear a good band tee, especially if it’s simple and a band that I actually know and love to listen to. Bonus points if it’s vintage. Does the 90s count as vintage yet? Gross.
HUF x Betty Boop Livewire Pink Long Sleeve T-Shirt from Zumiez, $38
photo from Zumiez’s website
If you put Betty Boop on anything, I will buy it. If you release an entire collection with Betty Boop graphics, I’ll worship your brand forever. HUF does collaborations with cartoons so wonderfully, I forget they’re even graphic tees. I also love tees with a small graphic on the front and a bigger one on the back, like this one from Halsey. So this one gets an A+ from me.
Aloha From Hell White Tee from Broken Promises, $29
photo from Broken Promises’ website
Broken Promises is another brand I’ve been Insta-obsessed with. I genuinely get excited when they pop up on my timeline, which is rare for me, as I’ve established many times in this article that I don’t enjoy graphic tees. But Broken Promises designs edgy clothes that make me feel understood. I sound so emo.
You’re Too Old Tee from Sugarhigh Lovestoned, $58
photo from Sugarhigh Lovestoned’s website
The worst part of graphic tees are the weird messages that are always printed on them. My personal favorites include “Allergic to Drama,” “Not an Influencer,” and “Careful with My Heart.” The only time I’ll wear one is when I wholeheartedly love the message, like this one! My dad taught me this from a very young age, so it’s super special to me.