Some thoughts on beer clothing
MS reader Brad S sent me an intriguing email the other day:
I recently had a discussion with my roommates about bar/beer/alcohol-based merchandise, such as shirts, hats and what have you.
I am of the opinion that unless it's a beer/brand of liquor that you couldn't live without, why flaunt it?
Also, even if bar merch is acceptable to most, is there a point where one could take their booze pride a little too far?
I'm talking Corona wear, here. I've seen people in rocking a Corona hat, tank top and multicolored corona shorts at the same time. To me it's tacky.
Here's what I think ...
Personally, I think rocking a dirty Budweiser ball cap sends a pretty clear message about who you are and where you're coming from (unless you're wearing it ironically).
Yes, wearing all that Corona gear is tacky and can make for a bad first impression. But wearing a T-Shirt advertising an obscure but delicious beer such as San Miguel is totally acceptable. At least in my opinion.
I see no need to support the alcoholic beverages I imbibe by purchasing T-shirts. I support them buy purchasing the products themselves.
However, I do have a Coors Light T-shirt, because it is made of super thin, super light and soft material.
Thoughts?
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I used to wear a shirt w/ Miller Beer logos all over it (The Champagne of Beers) and thought it was punk rock. Now I occasionally wear a pair of vintage pajamas with the Bud logo all over them and still think it's punk rock.
Posted by: d | September 20, 2008 9:32 AM
oops...that beer pjs comment was from me.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 20, 2008 9:33 AM
You do see folks wearing some ridiculous beer t-shirts at British Beer Festivals. A beer t-shirt is the mark of a plonker in my humble opinion!
Posted by: Paul Garrard | September 20, 2008 4:21 PM
Unless it's a beer you love AND they gave the shirt as promotional item, maybe, particularly if your in the mindset that you would also appear in public in a sandwich board with a billboard type advert on it.
To at least, to retain some semblance of taste, wear just one item with a small to modest size logo, otherwise it's tacky/dorky to the extreme. Unless, of course, your on their payroll and on the job..
You know, this is really a continuation of wearing a band T-shirt dicussion, just a different product.
Posted by: GDA | September 21, 2008 8:59 AM
Hey this Corona. Why isn't she wearing a crown.
Posted by: Stebbin | September 21, 2008 2:08 PM
I'm a fan of beer t-shirts from foreign countries. Since it reminds me of what I did there.
Posted by: Ted | September 22, 2008 2:06 PM
I agree that it depends on how cool/unique it is...but since we're on the subject of tacky t-shirts what about the really vulgar ones that are around..I saw a guy wearing one that said in BIG LETTERS:
I'm not mr.right but I will F*#*! you until he gets back.
and it wasn't edited... Please get this guy a tacky budweiser shirt!
Posted by: ellen | September 22, 2008 7:58 PM
When I lived in Wales, the local beer was called Brains and it was fun to wear hats and shirts with brains on them. As you might imagine, their ad campaigns were pretty funny.
Posted by: Pigtown | September 24, 2008 1:53 PM
Everyone loves a beer t-shirt... a nice vintage look for when you go out at night... here is a great selection!
Posted by: Jeff | September 25, 2009 4:54 PM