Counterpoint, wearing a graphic on the back feels shallow and self-aggrandizing. You’re never going to get to see the graphic you like in a mirror; friends and acquaintances you interface with all day won’t see it. It’s only for the benefit of anonymous observers behind you that you’ll never meet and won’t think about you twice.
It also is more antisocial. It’s natural to comment on a graphic when you’re face to face (pointing to chest, “oh you also like [Band]?”) and hard to broach a conversation from behind when they’re probably engaged with something else ("[Band]? Oh right, the shirt, yeah…").
It’s possible to pull it off, but in general I’d rather see someone confidently rocking a 3 wolf moon shirt than an incredible print drifting down the street on some anonymous back.
It’s natural to comment on a graphic when you’re face to face
This might be why I feel like front graphics are more trashy. You are picking a thing and putting it in peoples faces, and it feels like a stand in for actually saying something and expressing ones self. Versus on the back, it functions more as an out of the way vibe that supports the way you want others to see you, but still allows you the lions share of expression
Guess I don’t see it like that. To me both are serving the same function of fashion, but on the back is cheekily pretending it’s not and is therefore more disingenuous.
I also have a strong bias toward aesthetic over statement. There’s no reason my T needs to “say” anything any more than a striped or patterned shirt needs to “say” anything. I can just like how it looks or compliments my outfit.
I’m never going to wear some generic Coca-Cola or beer brand or “I speak sarcasm” shirt. If it’s an obvious legible statement (like a local band or charity) then that means it’s really important to me and I don’t mind looking like a trashy geek.
Counterpoint, wearing a graphic on the back feels shallow and self-aggrandizing. You’re never going to get to see the graphic you like in a mirror; friends and acquaintances you interface with all day won’t see it. It’s only for the benefit of anonymous observers behind you that you’ll never meet and won’t think about you twice.
It also is more antisocial. It’s natural to comment on a graphic when you’re face to face (pointing to chest, “oh you also like [Band]?”) and hard to broach a conversation from behind when they’re probably engaged with something else ("[Band]? Oh right, the shirt, yeah…").
It’s possible to pull it off, but in general I’d rather see someone confidently rocking a 3 wolf moon shirt than an incredible print drifting down the street on some anonymous back.
This might be why I feel like front graphics are more trashy. You are picking a thing and putting it in peoples faces, and it feels like a stand in for actually saying something and expressing ones self. Versus on the back, it functions more as an out of the way vibe that supports the way you want others to see you, but still allows you the lions share of expression
Guess I don’t see it like that. To me both are serving the same function of fashion, but on the back is cheekily pretending it’s not and is therefore more disingenuous.
I also have a strong bias toward aesthetic over statement. There’s no reason my T needs to “say” anything any more than a striped or patterned shirt needs to “say” anything. I can just like how it looks or compliments my outfit.
I’m never going to wear some generic Coca-Cola or beer brand or “I speak sarcasm” shirt. If it’s an obvious legible statement (like a local band or charity) then that means it’s really important to me and I don’t mind looking like a trashy geek.