Does anyone remember Mad Libs? It’s that game where you filled in the blanks of a story with fun words, and then read the story aloud while hilarity ensued. Let’s play. Come up with:

  1. [a large number]
  2. [negative adjective]
  3. [article of clothing]
  4. [another article of clothing]
  5. [yet another article of clothing]
  6. [positive adjective]
  7. [positive adjective]
  8. [body part]
  9. [heavy object]
  10. [adjective]
  11. [negative adjective]
  12. [embarrassing verb]
  13. [positive adjective]
  14. [positive adjective]
  15. [article of clothing (plural)]

Awesome! Now you’re ready for the story…

For the past [a large number] years, my personal sense of fashion would have to be considered [negative adjective]. I could usually be found wearing an ill-fitting [article of clothing], an oversized [another article of clothing], and a fugly [yet another article of clothing], the combination of which I would have referred to as a/an [positive adjective] outfit.

Last year I participated in a/an [positive adjective] internship where I worked my [body part] off moving a/an [heavy object] from theatre to theatre. At the conclusion of this internship, I was told by a/an [adjective] woman that my personal sense of fashion was [negative adjective]. This made me [embarrassing verb] but in the end it was a [positive adjective] thing. Now I wear [positive adjective] [article of clothing (plural)].

Whew! Ok, I was going to keep going but that was harder than I thought it would be so I’m stopping now. But wasn’t that fun!?

I also just realized that Mad Libs played on the word ad-lib which is something I never caught back in third grade. Hooray for life’s little discoveries. But back to topic, and my intention with this post…

Since Louisville, my wardrobe has slowly begun to phase out the old sweaters, khaki pants, and T-Shirts of my past, and with them has gone a sense of personal history. Not a history bought, but a history gifted, won, and received over a long period of years. My wardrobe used to tell a story. Each of my shirts told a story. Now it just makes me look good. Or at least look better… ;P

And while I’m not complaining (I’ve even received a complement or two on the new look) I decided to create

THE T-SHIRT PROJECT

The Goal: To reflect on the clothes that have been left behind and preserve their story even though I’ve ceased to wear them.

What is it?

I’ll be bringing you one shirt per post, with photos of the front and back, and close-ups of the fun details. I’ll also share the story of how I came to own it, and the meaning it gathered over the years. It’s a big project, but I’m hoping to eventually get through all of my old shirts. If you have a shirt with a story I’d be interested in it too! Just let me know in the comments! And enjoy!