T-Shirt Reviews Blog

Sex, Death, Heavy Metal and Nostalgia at Beautiful Decay

Posted: 22 Apr 2010 04:04 AM PDT

Beautiful Decay have just released a rather fascinating collection of new t-shirts for their Spring/Summer Collection. The fact that their latest designs feature everything from a 1930’s gangster to a 1960’s serial cult leader/murderer to the relentless obsession with plastic surgery that continues unabated across the globe comes as no surprise to me. BD can always be counted on to push the very boundaries of taste and invention in the world of fashion. Although it must be said they do still have a penchant for nostalgia, sometimes a design can simply look great, such as their recent addition Unknown Voyage t-shirt which must be the second t-shirt featuring our maritime past I’ve reviewed in a matter of weeks. I do think that when it comes to expressing the cultural Zeitgeist, out of all the areas of the fashion industry, it’s the humble t-shirt that most consistently performs the function of social barometer for society, and Beautiful Decay take full advantage of that fact.

With so many great designs to choose from I am literally spoilt for choice here, let’s go for the most controversial designs first…

Manson T-Shirt

One of the most notorious killers of all time, Charles Manson, although in truth the scandal surrounding the lunatic cult leader of “The Manson Family” centres more around his bizarre opinions, the self-inflicted Nazi scar on his forehead, and his unyielding power over his “recruits” to do his bidding and murder the victims such as the infamous killing of Sharon Tate and the LaBianca family. This psychopath has had a strong influence over modern culture, The Beatles wrote the song “Helter Skelter” about Manson, Marilyn Manson swiped his surname, and the movie industry continue to obsess about cult murders to the present day. As a design it is very powerful, yet there are those who will say that Manson shouldn’t be afforded any more publicity beyond the grave. One could argue it serves as a testament to the truth and a warning. The truth is that innocence died a long time ago, the warning is to be wary of those who fanatically enshrine any belief system, be it religious, political, or just plain crazy. The Manson T-Shirt available in sizes S-2XL in black for $29.95 here.

Greetings From N.Y.C T-Shirt

BD’s Greetings From N.Y.C tee features another notorious American, this time Al Capone, perhaps the most written about and dramatised gangster of all time. Throughout the history of Hollywood, the Mafia have been a pet subject for both writers and movie makers since the 1930s, actors including James Cagney, and almost everyone who ever worked with Martin Scorcese in the 1970s and 1980s have been influenced by organised crime’s vice-like grip over the USA’s psyche. I find it strange that America, an essentially prudish culture in regards to sex and sexuality, embraces violence and death so openly. I’m sure Sigmund Freud could work this one out, I’m damned if I can. Let Beautiful Decay make you an offer you can’t refuse – available in all sizes in white for $29.95 here.

Greetings From L.A T-Shirt

Talking of sex, here’s yet another phenomenon that many would rather sweep under the carpet. The media, peer-pressure, and social expectation have been the engine that powers the “beauty industry” since the very beginning. Much of Europe has begin to catch up with America’s obsession with physical perfection, plastic surgery must be at the top of the list of physical abuse that many willingly pay to have inflicted upon themselves. Plastic surgery can do great things, it can give burns victims a halfway reasonable chance of living a normal life, genetic deformities, many of which are highly disabling can also be treated to some degree, even breast reduction for those blessed/cursed with vast mammaries can do some good. But the tool has become a toy, something to play with, a pick and mix of promises that nearly always fall short of the truth. Hollywood has much to answer for, why has old age been banished from the movie and TV screens? We all age, we all die, live with it Hollywood. Get this tee available in all sizes in black/gold for $29.95 here.

Finally, the Bikes ‘N’ Roses T-Shirt. Even if it doesn’t quite serve as light relief, at least this one doesn’t feature a murderer or extreme vanity, just the love of the biker culture.

Bikes ‘N’ Roses T-Shirt

The Bikes ‘N’ Roses T-Shirt is a highly nostalgic look at the biker culture, something that for many seems less like rebellion and more like conformity these days. South Park, the quintessentially outrageous adult cartoon series has heavily laid into bikers in the past. The truth is it must have been exciting at some point, I even have an original Italian poster of the movie Easy Rider upstairs, we’re all party, in some way or another, to taking influences from the bikers. But the truth is that outside of the movies, there is no freedom on or off the road any more, the great unexplored has been explored, the open road is filled with commuters and tourists, oil prices debilitate the chance for anyone to ride off into the sunset. One day, in the not-so-distant future, we will all need to find an alternative, and it won’t be sexy. Here’s a glimpse into what our tepid fate might hold in store for us – The Sinclair C5. Get the Bikes ‘N’ Roses tee in all sizes in black for $29.95 here.

See the rest at Beautiful Decay Aparrel and never view the humble t-shirt in the same light again.

Lifestyle World

Thursday, 22 April 2010