White Graphic Tee-Shirt, Two Ways, Two Days

I briefly considered rustling up a Five Things Friday post, but since I’ve scheduled Five Visits with Friends!! in the two days we’re in Nanaimo, I’m going with a very short-and-sweet What I Wore instead.

Let’s call this one Two Ways to Wear a White Graphic Tee, ’cause that would be following the advice that some sites like to dish out on How To Build More Followers.  . .

So here it is, with a little photo-bombing from Pater. In the top two photos, I’m heading out for a city walk, wearing the white t-shirt I bought last fall in Paris, the one that declares my identity to be that of aFlâneuse. I love it and so far have managed to protect it from wayward soya sauce and melting fudgsicles.  I took it for a walk last week with this longish denim skirt (by “Mother”). I love the skirt, in theory, but haven’t been wearing it much and decided to make an effort to get it outside in the summer sunshine. Tucked the Tee, belted the skirt, entertained some doubts about how the tucking and the high waist and the high contrast between skirt and Tee emphasized my short waist. Then decided that I was going to embrace my short waist and just get out there. So I did, and it all worked out okay. . .  white Arizona Birks, a small cross-body M0851 bag I purloined from Pater long ago,  a gold bangle, and my H*****double-tour watch. . .

Another day, another city, another mirror-and-door combo, this time in the hotel room. Same Tee-shirt, but paired this time with a white J Crew skirt and left untucked (although some strategic positioning of not-quite-horizontal pleats might have happened).  Accessorized with my gold sneakers (Onitsuka Tigers), same watch, same bangle, and you can’t see the cognac bag I grabbed for a day of visiting with old friends.

Off to meet another friend for coffee and then I’m having lunch with yet another. Before Pater and I head to another island to socialise with some of his colleagues and their partners. Honestly, I haven’t been this social for weeks and weeks. I’m enjoying it, but suspect I will be in serious need of some hunkering down in a very quiet room when it’s all done.

What about you? Where do you stand on white Tee-shirts (or graphic ones)? On tucking or not-tucking? On the luxury of visiting too many friends in too short a time? Or just a hello and a hint of what you’re up to this weekend. Now I’ve got to run — got friends to meet! 😉

23 Comments

  1. Lorrie
    21 July 2017 / 6:20 pm

    Both tucked and untucked look great. I'm a fan of white t-shirts, but not so much of graphic designs. I'm beginning to consider them, though. There are some great digital prints these days.
    I don't tuck as much as I used to, for the same reason that you had second thoughts. I like the way to decided to embrace your short-waist and just go for it.
    Enjoy the visits and know that quieter days will come.

    • materfamilias
      24 July 2017 / 10:09 pm

      Thanks, Lorrie. It does seem that one of these decades I should accept that I might never be 5'7" and 115 pounds 😂

  2. Ceri in Bristol
    21 July 2017 / 7:02 pm

    Looks great on you both ways, Mme Flaneuse. If I had your figure I'd go for a graphic design but being tall – and effectively man sized – I find they make me look rather butch. Not a good look on me…

    My comments on your previous posts have vanished into the ether (I'm getting to grips with a new phone) but please remember that your many friends here are thinking of you and your wider family and wishing you well.

    • materfamilias
      24 July 2017 / 10:10 pm

      Too funny. I have doubts about wearing the look because I'm so short. . . .
      And thank you so much for the kind words.

  3. Anonymous
    21 July 2017 / 8:48 pm

    Lovely,both!
    I love white tee-shirt very much,it is one of my favourite basics
    Graphic? From time to time 🙂
    Dottoressa

    • materfamilias
      24 July 2017 / 10:10 pm

      And you wear white tops so well.

  4. slf
    21 July 2017 / 9:10 pm

    I've never been a fan of graphic tee-shirts, especially ones that proclaim where you've been but you are changing my mind! I rather like that tee-shirt you got from Paris. BTW, I have a very similar denim skirt (same length, same raw hem) by BlankNYC. I've been wearing it with a white linen shirt half-tucked (in front but not in back) and at other times with an ivory and navy striped long-sleeved tee-shirt. I'm conflicted about tucking or not tucking (so I guess that's the reason for the half-tuck!). I am long-waisted but with a high-waisted skirt or pants, tucked seems strangely not casual enough. I like the way the white tee-shirt and skirt works for you, and the belt is a nice touch. I don't believe it makes you look short-waisted at all. Also, white skirts (gathered or pleated) are great for the summer, don't you agree?

    • materfamilias
      25 July 2017 / 10:12 pm

      It's true — tucked can look much fussier than I feel, or than I want to look. And I absolutely agree about white skirts in the summer — not sure why I didn't acknowledge this or celebrate it for so many years, merely from fear of grass or catsup or soya sauce stains — I think the look is so fresh, well worth the occasional intense laundry session 😉

  5. Mardel
    21 July 2017 / 9:54 pm

    I like the tee both ways and you look good both ways as well. Methinks we fret too much. I used to hate graphic tees, and now perhaps I love them; but not I white, never in white. I love white on others though.

    • materfamilias
      25 July 2017 / 10:14 pm

      For decades, I swore I couldn't wear white. Then for some reason, I tried something white — top or dress — about five or ten years ago, and I noticed that every time I wore it, P would comment on how "fresh" I looked, or how nice, or how good. So I added another piece, and then another. . .

  6. Anonymous
    22 July 2017 / 12:14 am

    I like the tee both ways too, on you. On me I envision the tucked in version feeling constricting and the untucked looking wilted and sloppy in short order. Of course its been blazing hot here all week so life is consistently wilted and sloppy. The post-socializing hunkering is frequently my favorite part…..

    ceci

    • materfamilias
      25 July 2017 / 10:15 pm

      Yes, Wilted and Sloppy 'R' Us in the heat. . . . But white does look cool, doesn't it?!
      Still waiting for the hunkering to happen. So much social here, strangely….

  7. Missi
    22 July 2017 / 2:17 pm

    White tees and denim ( some graphic, some not) are my fashion staples, causing some sidelong glances from some of my fashion-stuffy friends! Yep, I'm 60-plus, but "Frankly, my dear…" You look great in both outfits. (P.S. I'm glad I found your blog through your bogging friend from SoCal "une femme d'un certain âge")

    • materfamilias
      25 July 2017 / 10:16 pm

      I like your attitude, Missi! And so glad you found your way here. Welcome!

  8. Eleonore
    22 July 2017 / 5:35 pm

    Your tee looks very good on you both ways. Personally, I feel a bit uncomfortable when I tuck in my top, so I would probably opt for the second version. Generally, I wear white tees only as a layer underneath a cardigan, sweater, or blazer.
    I only own one graphic tee, a very subdued brown on dark grey, which I wear with white jeans or skirt and my leo-print sneakers.
    I have two statement tees with political slogans which I wear sometimes when I feel like provoking some thought or contradiction around me. The more conservative alternative may be a button which shows what I think. At the moment I am wearing one which says "adalet" (which is "justice" in Turkish). As a goodbye present two of my colleagues gave me a number of plastic buttons which can be opened, so I can design my own messages.

    • materfamilias
      25 July 2017 / 10:18 pm

      I really like the outfit I've constructed from your description: that brown-on-dark-grey graphic tee with a white skirt and leopard-print sneakers. I'd wear that in a heartbeat!
      Also like the idea of those buttons. . . your colleagues know you well.

  9. Anonymous
    23 July 2017 / 1:41 pm

    Love a white tee but am often frustrated by the fit, being short. Cannot bear them being tight nor too baggy so I keep on looking. Hope you enjoy the socialising and then the hunkering that follows. Both good for the soul.

    • materfamilias
      25 July 2017 / 10:18 pm

      It's true — I'm only 5'3" myself, and it's hard to get t-shirts in a good length.

  10. Anonymous
    23 July 2017 / 3:56 pm

    Of late I've come to like wearing graphic tee-shirts, both white and black, especially if I can figure out a way to slip something over my flappy upper arms. And if not, then I flap away. 😉

    Some of my current faves are: "We Should All Be Feminists" (the $18 Amazon Prime version, not the $700 Dior version), Minnie Mouse (the early 20th century feminist) on a shaded gray background, the Superman logo (red on black).

    I'm also a fan of graphic sweatshirts, including (not sure why, but the love is real) those featuring Pikachu.

    I'm turning into one of THOSE old ladies. 🙂

    Ann

    • materfamilias
      25 July 2017 / 10:19 pm

      Those are great tee-shirts!! I want one of each. And I hope to be one of THOSE old ladies myself, tbh. . .

  11. Susan B
    24 July 2017 / 7:12 pm

    As a short-waisted gal myself, I understand the challenge of tucking. I've been trying to give myself some of those "just embrace your shape" pep talks. But it looks cute here with the skirt! And I really like the all-white outfit. My favorite graphic tee is the pink Kenzo one, but I'm still hoping I someday find my Talking Heads "More Songs About Buildings and Food" concert tee stored somewhere I'd forgotten about.

    • materfamilias
      25 July 2017 / 10:20 pm

      Oh, that concert tee would be fabulous with your new split-seam jeans!

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