In Good Company

NAME: Ben
LOCATION: The Firkin & Pheasant, Orchard and Diversey

They gave it to us for free at the video store I worked at. So, I stole it. We were supposed to wear it in the store, but I never wore it in the store, I wore it everywhere else. And it's comfy!

Are you a fan of the film?

I don't hate it. Any movie where Topher Grace gets to bang Scarlett Johansson, I'm all for.

Do you wear it, though, as an advertisement for the film?

No. I wear it as an advertisement for comfortable maroon shirts. And Topher Grace. And Dennis Quaid and Scarlett Johansson, but not the movie itself.


But you told me that it's your favorite shirt.

It is my favorite shirt.

What makes this your favorite, as opposed to a shirt advertising a movie you actually like?

I got it for free. Um, it's the most comfortable shirt I wear. It doesn't wear out no matter how many times you wash it. I've probably washed it ... at least more than once, hopefully. It doesn't fade. When it's hot out, it feels cool, when it's cool it feels warm. And it's ironic enough not to be hipstery, but it's also not a hipster shirt because I actually got it where I worked, I didn't buy it in a second-hand store or anything.

Is there irony in your wearing it because you don't think it's a very good movie?

No, I don't hate it. I mean, I think I have a burned copy of it somewhere, from the video store. But I don't watch it a lot. If it was on TBS when I go home right now I would probably watch it. They order Domino's because their dinner gets ruined and then Topher Grace hits on her by playing ping pong in the garage then the lovable little sister comes in and it ends - well, I'm not gonna say how it ends because it's really cool. And then she goes to school and lives in a dorm even though she's like 29 or something. And then Topher Grace bangs her... I haven't watched it a lot, I swear to god.

The New Theater, St. Louis

NAME: Kate
LOCATION: house party, Roscoe Village

You can't pretend that you don't know where that shirt comes from.

I actually don't, I swear to God. I mean, seriously, I have three older brothers, I have two parents. And like, one day it was in my house and I was like, "I like red." And it says "theater" on it. And I do theater. So I was like, "This shirt should be mine." So I just took it. I don't even know what "The New Theater, St. Louis" is. But it's a nice t-shirt. It's like stretched out and old. So it's like really really comfortable. And it's red.

The Plain Black

NAME: Alex
LOCATION: outside Miller's Pub, Roscoe Village

So you went to the Decemberists show tonight?

Yeah.

Tell me about your choice of an all-black t-shirt.

Um, it's slimming. It makes me look a lot thinner than I am. It at least disguises some of the paunch, if you will.

Was there a conscious choice to wear it today for the concert?

For sure.

So you do put thought into what you wear for a show.

Uh, yeah. I mean, yes.

It's not a conspicuous choice.

I always wear a t-shirt to a show, or almost always. And I have about three or four that I rotate for shows. It's a mixture of comfort and aesthetics, I guess you could say. I think I look good in this.

I agree!

Thank you, Todd. It's very very comfortable as well. It's lightweight, you know? I sometimes won't wear this when I go outside. I'm not going to wear this on Sunday for Lollapalooza. There's another one I wear sometimes, it's like a brown skater shirt. But I'm not a skater.

Do you feel that the black in any way mirrors your soul?

It's nothing dark or goth or emo like that. I do like black, black is classic. It's hard to go wrong with black.

WISCONSIN

NAME: Josh
LOCATION: Hamilton & Argyle

Do you know where I got this from?

Where?

When I was in Los Angeles, I was cleaning out [my boss] Niels' garage and he had a bunch of old boxes and my job was to organize them and help him determine what should be thrown out and what should be kept. And he's actually originally from Wisconsin and I'm not sure where he got it from but there it was staring me in the face and I'm like, "I have to have it" and he was kind enough to give it to me.

So is it like a Wisconsin pride thing?

Um, somewhat? It's just one of those shirts that just makes you feel really comfortable. And I really like that.

Because of what's on it, or...?

Comfortable because ... also the fit. It just hangs there and it just feels so good and comfy. And also, who doesn't love purple cows?

Ironically, you are lactose intolerant.

It is difficult to have something you love so much and you just have to stay away. Our relationship had to evolve.