OXEGEN 2010:Not yet sure whether to sport Julian Casablancas on your chest or Muse on your midriff this festival season? Fashion guru TONY CLAYTON-LEArounds up the 10 best T-shirts
TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB
VODAFONE STAGE, FRIDAY
One of many Irish bands playing Oxegen, but, you may well ask, why are they the only Irish act whose merchandise is featured here? The truth is that most Irish bands at Two Door Cinema Club’s level (on the up, but not there yet) don’t have the smarts when it comes to creative merchandising. That’s why this T-shirt is so good: it takes risks by not naming the band it promotes, yet when you see the image it sticks with you. Much like the band’s music, by the way.
Buy it at: twodoorcinemaclub.com
Price: £15
MUSE
MAIN STAGE, SATURDAY
Thumbs up to Muse for giving the most information for their T-shirts. This men’s item – titled Exogenesis Burnout – comes in a thin fabric that gives the effect of making it seem well worn. And thumbs up to Matt and pals again for letting us know that the T-shirts “come up small” when washed, so remember that when choosing a size. Muse’s T-shirts feature always interesting (if occasionally too fussy) designs, on fine, light material, with minimal branding. Ideal for on and off the summer festival pitch.
Buy it at: muse.mu
Price: £18
JULIAN CASABLANCAS
HOT PRESS TENT, SUNDAY
It doesn’t seem right that Casablancas is so ineffably cool: skinny, tall, hair just so, lips just waiting to be kissed. It’s fitting, then, that his T-shirts rock the cool look. This woman’s item comes with a scoop neck that’s perfect for showing off that necklace accessory. We also love the colours: cartoon-graphic and very NYC boho. Admit it, girls – you want his face on your chest, don’t you?
Buy it at: juliancasablancas.com
Price: £16
ARCADE FIRE
MAIN STAGE, FRIDAY
This men’s T-shirt is one of the best around – the sea-foam green colour is summer-cool, while the about-face band name engages with the intellect, messes with standard design preconceptions, and adheres to Malcolm McLaren’s rock’n’roll swindle principles of creating some kind of mystery about what you’re plugging. And what’s this? The least expensive T-shirt from one of the main headliners? More of this sort of thing, if you don’t mind.
Buy it at: arcadefire.com
Price: €14
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
MAIN STAGE, FRIDAY
One of the smartest bands around deliver one of the brightest T-shirts. The only problem here is that this unisex item comes in heavyweight material, making it a potential sweat sponge. That said, the colour palette of sky blue, white front and central sun logo is so this time of year it’s perfect. At $30 a pop, though, it’s probably one of the most expensive T-shirts featured, so – as our chums over in PriceWatch might say – you might wish to shop around.
Buy it at: vampireweekend.com
Price: $30
TEMPER TRAP
VODAFONE STAGE, SUNDAY
Mixing up little bits of sci-fi movie The Terminator, Aladdin Sane-era Bowieand clever yet discreet design principles of brevity and visual contrast, this Melbourne band – who wowed 'em down at Dingle's Other Voiceslast December – successfully nail down the weird yet tasteful look. This item will appeal particularly to those Oxegen fans who wish to see what their faces will look like come Monday morning, July 12th, if they're not careful.
Buy it at: thetempertrap.com
Price: £14
EMINEM
MAIN STAGE, SUNDAY
We all know that Mr Marshall Mathers is the main guy on the Main Stage, but in the past his T-shirts have been poorly designed and far too reflective of his laddish, loutish, lowest-common-denominator fan
base. This girls’ T-shirt, however (referred to as Drippy in the store of the rapper’s website) isn’t half bad, and by his standards is quite subtle, with a minimal colour palette of charcoal, red and white. Its album-title logo is apt for Oxegen, particularly the Monday morning trek home after the long few nights before.
Buy it at: eminem.com/store
Price: US$20
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS
VODAFONE STAGE, FRIDAY
They’re a little bit cheeky, a little bit chappy, and whole lotta cheery. UK band Scouting for Girls, proponents of chipper laddishness, have some very smart merchandise, as proven by this ladies’ T-shirt. Known as Swirl, this clever design references curvy 1950s-type pin-up models beloved by admirers of chaste erotica. The colours are cool, too, and very summery. Men can surely get away with wearing this one, also? Please say yes.
Buy it at: scoutingforgirls.com/gb
Price: £20
KASABIAN
MAIN STAGE, SATURDAY
We’re not huge fans of this much-touted UK band, and we’re also not a major fan of large lettering on clothing, but we like this men’s Sharp As Razors item because it reminds us of the graffiti aphorisms of Barbara Kruger. The lettering and wording also reflect the band: brash, in your face, totally up for it. And for once, the colouring (black lettering on an indigo background) is relatively calm.
Buy it at: kasabian.co.uk
Price: £19.99
KATE NASH
HEINEKEN GREEN SPHERES TENT, SUNDAY
She isn’t to everyone’s taste, but we have a soft spot for Kate – and it isn’t because she has an Irish mother or the fact that when The Ticket interviewed her a couple of years ago she was taking a bath. No, it’s because Nash is the right side of quirky, and because this T-shirt is blinkin’ perfect: simple colours, apt message, no artist name shouting at you. A scrupulously stand-alone piece of merchandising that’s appealing, amusing and just a little bit dotty. How very Kate Nash, then.
Buy it at: katenash.co.uk
Price: £15
