The Shirt Off Your Back

Any girl with a colorful modern life has usually accumulated a vast cache of meaningful T-shirts. They are the never-returned T tossed on over the previous night's cocktail dress for an early morning walk-of-shame.  Or the official-issue work uniform for a now defunct hot-spot that proves you really were at the center of the universe for your 15 minutes of fame. Or that authentic vintage concert T stolen from an older one-night-stand who really "was there." (Or, if you are Madame Shock, it is all of the above and more.)

But one must admit that a stylish woman just can't wear T-shirts any more. Of course, of course, those tired magazine editorials will always advise you to spruce one up with boyfriend jeans, a belted grandpa cardigan, or a little boy's blazer from Brooks Brothers.  But no one is impressed, and certainly not if you are past the drinking age. It's still an ill-fitting T-shirt (mostly from the time before girl-fit Ts), with graphics and print that are distracting and out of proportion to your outfit. Even Kate Moss can barely pull it off.

Uncommon Goods Memory Quilt

What do mere mortals of creative chic do? We can certainly send them off for the traditional quilt-making endeavor. Uncommon Goods has a "Memory Quilt Kit" that is just lovely because you can choose one of two options: they'll send you a kit and all materials (except your Ts) OR you can just hand your Ts over to them and they'll do it.

Mais...in the beach house or mountain cabin a charming memory-T quilt can be quite delightful. But we expect a bit more oomph, a bit more...original chic...out of our possessions, non?

Angela Johnson Corset Cocktail Dress

Pssst. Come very close. Madame Chic is going to whisper. Gather up all those T-shirts and send them post-haste to Angela Johnson. She will whip you up the most scrumptious corset, Betty-Page-worthy 40s ruffle halter dress, or rollicking 50s ball gown...all with your own recycled T-shirts. (If you don't have your own, she can provide them and can even work with some theme/color requests.) Where most eco-recycling designers still seem to fall into the distressingly hippie realm, Angela has brilliantly worked her unstructured, preworn fabrics into super-structured, sexy shapes and silhouettes with rigid histories. Its a genius move, and incredibly well-tailored. (She has outfitted actresses for the Emmys and NY Fashion Week and Mad Men premieres, for goodness sake!)



Angela Johnson Ball Gown



Jag & Nevie Scarf



Never been to St. Barts or the polo match on ice at St. Moritz?  Oh dahling, not to worry, we'll never tell! We are here to provide you with a glamorous history, imaginary or real.  Run - run! - quickly to Jag & Nevie  and scoop up one of her fabulous shawls or scarves, reversible halter tops or flirty skirts.  They are all made from über-glam recycled t-shirts with various themes (as expected, Madame Chic adores the travel ones while Madame Shock favors the alcohol- and concert-themed selections).

Jag & Nevie Cape

Toddle off, now, schatzi - Madame Shock is too busy sorting through her memories. The "Club 55" T-shirt from St. Tropez? Yes. The fake Chanel T stolen from a high-school lover's mother for a walk-of-shame down 5th Avenue? Oui. The T declaring her a Teen Magazine Model Search winner? Ja. The secret-night-club staff t-shirt where she never made money but met all the models & movie stars? Oui. The t-shirt from her first concert - Sheena Easton's "Sugar Walls?" Oh yes! Dahlings, those were the days...