Graphic tees you'll actually want to wear right now — and all the reasons why

The graphic tee: such a polarizing topic. While some stand by them and wear 'em loud and proud, others find them juvenile… maybe even tacky. I land somewhere in the middle. It's safe to say we've moved past the cliches like "I'm with stupid", and the offensive slogans, like "FBI = female body inspector." I'm also not really a fan of "punny" tees… If your shirt says "ALCOHOL YOU LATER", we can't sit together. But there are styles of graphic tees that I stand behind, and it's my public duty to share them with you here.

The hometown glory tee

Remember when Avril Lavigne wore a Home Hardware tee on SNL (just me?) and it became a worldwide phenomenon? It's always cool to represent your hometown on your t-shirt. So hit up your local hardware stores, gyms, flower shops and libraries to stock up and show off your hometown pride. If you're opposed to leaving your AC this summer, Drake General Store has a great line of Canadiana for sale on their website.

Toronto Public Library tee, $38.00, drakegeneralstore.ca

The band tee

Band tees are a great conversation starter. Music is supposed to bring people together, and so should our t-shirts. My favorite kind of band tee is the authentic merch you can only get at the artist's concert, with the tour dates on the back. But if you can't deal with those long line-ups (or sky-high prices), dig through vintage shops and your siblings' closets for some. A lot of retailers have also jumped on this trend and have started making repurposed band tees. This is fine, but my only advice is to make sure the tee is authentic to your (music) taste. Please avoid the Rolling Stones shirt if you can't sing along to a song. And on the flipside, don't be afraid to promote yourself as a die hard Dixie Chicks fan.  

The Rolling Stones American Flag Lips Tee, $42.00, urbanoutfitters.com

The cool kids tee

Walk through any "hip" neighborhood in your city and you'll probably see the kids wearing t-shirts with hearts all over them. No, they aren't promoting world peace, they're promoting a Japanese clothing brand called Commes Des Garcons. And now that you know, you can get in on the fun too! CDG is known for avant garde designs on the runway, but their ready-to-wear line called PLAY has gained popularity amongst all the fashion-y people in North America. The eyes in the heart are really adorable, and everyone will be asking you where you got it (feel free to give my name).

Commes Des Garcons tee, $139.50, nordstrom.com

The really expensive tee

Let me start by saying that this tee definitely isn't in my budget, but this story isn't about me. In the event that someone like Gigi Hadid is reading this (hi!) I need to have my bases covered. About a year ago, this was THE t-shirt to wear if you could afford to drop a grand on a thin white piece of cotton. Celebrities like Margot Robbie, Kendall Jenner and Halsey have all recently been spotted wearing it, which proves it's still a must-have item. (If you don't want to spend that kind of cash, search "gucci logo tee" on Esty - but you didn't hear that from me.)

Gucci logo tee, $705.00, gucci.com

The anti-discrimination tee

Why not be a walking advocate for a good cause and promote positivity with your t-shirt, like this one from Urban Outfitters. If you can make even one stranger on the street think twice about being judgemental or non-inclusive, then I'd say this is worth every penny! This design from Urban Outfitters has a casual fit - perfect for tucking into a skirt, or your Mom jeans.

Positivity Only Tee, $42.00, urbanoutfitters.com

The environmental tee

Did you know that you can save the environment by wearing a graphic tee? It's true, thanks to a company called Ten Tree. It's a Canadian company (that was once featured on Dragon's Den) who promise to plant ten(!) trees for every item purchased. Their products are made from organic and recycled materials, and their designs are perfect for the outdoorsy crowd.

Rooted in Nature tee, $40., tentree.ca    

The pink tee

If you're tired of hearing everyone telling you to wear pink… sorry, it's happening again. Love it or hate it, pink is still the color for SUMMER '18. Any graphic tee you can find that's pink will be on trend, even if the slogan is slightly cringe-worthy. If you must where something "punny", we'll be more forgiving if you think pink.

Pink print tee, $7.99, zara.com

The NASA tee

For some reason, the NASA logo is cool with the trendy people, and I'm not against it. (Editor's note: Because space is cool, Jason.) Gigi Hadid, Anne Hathaway and Cara Delevingne have all helped the trend take off. If your graphic tee will give you the illusion of a boosted IQ, go for it. You'll start seeing a lot of retailers using this symbol on their tees and sweatshirts. One of my favorites is this one from H&M with reversible sequins (brush them up or down for the effect).

Reversible Sequin NASA tee, $14.99, hm.com

The cultured tee

Everyone's favorite store, UNIQLO, believes that a graphic tee is "a direct expression of the wearer's individuality and values". Agree. So they've released a carefully curated (and always updated) line of graphic tees that provide you the ability to do just that - express your cultural interests. Cinema, art, nature, cartoons, toys - there are endless nostalgic graphic tees to choose from, so let yourself get lost on the website. If you're artsy, you'll love this one featuring art by Jean-Michel Basquiat.

NY Basquiat tee, $19.90, uniqlo.com

The Patagonia tee

Patagonia is no longer just for Dads and mountain climbers. Since celebrities like Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner and Jake Gyllenhaal have been spotted wearing the environmentally-conscious brand, trend-lovers have fallen in love with the logo, and you can now find the brand everywhere from Nordstrom to Urban Outfitters. Their graphic t-shirts are simple in design and made to be both durable and comfortable. If they're strong enough to scale a cliff in, they're strong enough for your ladies' lunch. Being on trend has never actually felt so good.

Patagonia Shop Sticker Tee, $47.87, nordstrom.com