One of the most popular ad campaigns of all time, the “I heart NY t-shirt” slogan has been used as an advertisement for New York City since the 1970s, and it was even turned into a song! Originally created by graphic designer Milton Glaser, the “I heart” idea has been used in thousands if not millions of different contexts, and it has played a big role in shaping the “New York state of mind.” Most of the variations on this slogan are pretty boring advertisements for different locations that just rip off the original idea, but here are a few t-shirts that took this clever concept to another level. So let’s get right to our top five funny “I Heart” t-shirts!

5.

I Dyslexia Heart T-Shirt

4.

I Love Pixels T-Shirt

3.

I Love Polygamy T-Shirt

2.

I Only Like New York as a Friend T-Shirt

1.

I Heart Accuracy T-Shirt

I love New York City. I truly do. With some many people forced to exist is such close proximity to so many others its expected that we’re all constantly bombarded with crowds of people all trying to do the same thing. Human beings want to be unique creatures so naturally one’s self-image is constantly being refreshed and rethought. This innate desire to be look at as special and as a unique being is clearly manifested throughout the jungle that is the New York City fashion scene.

To truly appreciate NYC clothing one has to go beyond the I Love NY t-shirts. One has to see how urban culture and living has impacted the design of graphic tees. One has to draw parallels between hot and crowded subway cars and the almost frenzied desire to wear light and breathable cargo shorts. NYC clothing is unique because its constantly in demand and in order to stay ahead of the pack designers have to see clothing trends developing weeks in advance and then plan their clothing lines accordingly.

NYC clothing is all about standing out in a crowd and still being able to travel across the city comfortably and easily. The speed and quality of NYC fashion is present in all the boroughs but a native New Yorker can pick apart someone’s outfit, demeanor and the speed in which they walk down our crowded city sidewalks and almost immediately determine whether or not someone is from NYC. Its important to remember that wearing the proper clothes is only part of what it means to be a New Yorker, its also very important to walk with confidence and to walk fast!

New York City boasts some of the trendiest, most impressive clothing in the world. As a major center for culture, this city of over 8 million people offers everything from lavishly chic haute couture down to amazingly cheap thrift shop vintage. Yet, the beauty of New York clothing is that you can always find something fabulous, no matter where you go or what the price. Every clothing store display window exhibits all of the season’s hottest trends, screaming “buy me!” to every consumer walking in its path who dares to take a gander.

You can’t deny that fashion is ubiquitous in New York. No matter what neighborhood you are in, you will undoubtedly see unique and edgy style in the hundreds of people who peruse the streets every day. For instance, a casual stroll through the East Village will expose you to every trend from hipster to preppy to bohemian. You can find anything from the tightest skinny jeans you’ve ever seen in your life to wildly-colored knapsacks and fedora hats. Virtually every person, male or female, carries a bag whether it’s a messenger bag, designer satchel, or purse made out of men’s trousers. New Yorker’s seem to love toting around a ton of stuff. On a sunny day, it’s likely that you’ll see almost everyone sporting a great pair of shades, whether they’re purple-framed aviators or retro cat eye sunglasses. Yet, the best part of New York clothing is there is always a definite sense of eccentricity.

If luxury brands are more your style, a visit uptown to the more opulent part of town will typically flaunt the more sophisticated and extravagant side of New York clothing. This is where you will find many of the famous designers and fashion houses that are renowned by luxury brand aficionados all around the world. Wide-leg jeans and classy blazers are a prevalent sight among both men and women alike. Ruffles, bows, and sheer materials are an upcoming trend among “fashionistas” who have a slightly more expensive taste for fashion. Top name boutiques line the streets of Madison and Fifth Ave, and it is not uncommon to see celebrities and popular socialites casually browsing their favorite stores. Along with Paris and Milan, New York is one of the biggest, most influential fashion capitals of the world.

No matter what your own unique fashion statement is, showing your New York pride will never go out of style. I Love NY t shirts and FDNY sweatshirts can be personalized with whatever perfect accessories you choose to compliment them with. Whether you are a downtown hipster or an uptown businessman, showing love for this amazing city will never get old!

“Barack Obama, the breakout hit of the summer” DNC News.

Maybe Im the only one who finds that hilariously accurate, but once I saw that quote on a graphic t-shirt, I just had to post about it. I found this blog called “tree hugger” the other day and amid their posts about eco-loving and environmentalists of the USA that express moving concerns for wildlife, there was a small and yet poignant post: Mother Lovin Obama. The graphic as seen above can stand on its own as a poster, desktop wallpaper, or even your trendy iPhone background. If youve been keeping up with this urban fashion blog, then Im sure youve noticed that Ive been on a tangent of Barack Obama and his relation to todays youth fashion. I should of course make it clear I have no actual political affiliation. If McCain or Barr had graphic tees, canvas bags, and backpacks as cool as Obama Paraphernalia I would be more than happy to write about it. But this is very far from reality so youre stuck with Obama as my prime example of politics and fashion. The 70s funk feel on this t-shirt is reminiscent of the Good Ol Days where having fun was okay and people were inclined to believe in things like hope, change, and human integrity (as well as a little dance part-ay now and then). The Obama graphic tee capitalizes on not only appealing to the white hipster demographic, but it also appeals to the urban fashion community and successfully melds itself within the fashion grassroots effort by the Obama campaign. The t-shirt was design by Aron Kressner of Vivavi.

As is usual with most images that become very famous, the origin and designer of the I [heart] NY T-shirt logo are often forgotten. Since we sell these t-shirts, here is a little bit to remind everyone what they are all about.

The origin:

The iconic I Love NY T-Shirt began as a marketing campaign by the NY State Department of Commerce in 1977 to promote the New York. Today it tends to be associated with New York City more often than the state. It is considered by some to be ‘the most frequently imitated logo design in human history’.

The man behind I (heart) NY:

The logo was designed – for free – by Milton Glaser, founder of Push Pin Studios, designer of New York Magazine, and of many well-known images. Glaser recently designed a special “I Love NY More Than Ever” logo following the September 11 terrorist attacks in NYC. He placed a black spot on the heart in honor of the Twin Towers.

Today:

The I Love NY T-Shirt has become a symbol for America abroad, but has also been re-appropriated and remixed in various ways. There is a St. Patrick’s Day Clover version in green, an Arabic version, and many other unlicensed I love NY T-shirts versions out there to deliver various messages, completely unrelated to promoting the state of New York.

(Above images: Wikipedia.org and MiltonGlaser.com)