Shirts for Women
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unique and creative tops for ladies of all ages
- African women and children by kwaraw
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The Definitive History of the T-Shirt
Today the modern T-shirt has spawned a vast textile and fashion industry, worth over two-billion dollars to the world's retail trade. The unlikely birth of the t-shirt was a rather unspectacular event, however this humble piece of attire was set to change the styles and fashions of cultures for generations to come. Eventually the T-Shirt would be used as a political tool for protest and in certain times and places in history, a symbol of revolution and change.
At the very beginning the t-shirt was little more than a piece of underwear, an extremely utilitarian one at that. In the late 19th century the union suit, (also colloquially known as long johns), was in its hey day, worn across America and northern parts of Europe. Popular throughout class and generation, this modest knitted one-piece covered the whole body, from the neck to the wrists and ankles. The designs pièce de résistance featured a drop flap in the back for ease of use in the old outhouse. As cotton became more and more widely available, underwear manufacturers seized the moment to create an alternative to this mainstay and rather cumbersome design. Knitted material is difficult to cut and sew seams and thus with cotton a radical shift towards mass-made fashion could begin.
In Europe times were changing, as the Americans continued to sweat and itch, a simple "T-shaped" template was cut twice from a piece of cotton cloth and the two pieces faced and stitched together in a lowly European workhouse. It was half a pair of long johns, but it soon took on a life of its own. As the Industrial Revolution reached its inevitable conclusion, Henry T. Ford created the world's first production line, the ideas of functionalism, efficiency, and utilitarian style entered the mainstream consciousness of societies across the world, and Europe in particular. Many began to question the Puritanism of the past, Victorian buttoned-down ideas of modesty were starting to give way to scantier and scantier swimsuits, ankle-bearing skirts, and short-sleeved shirts. As World War One loomed upon the horizon, the t-shirt was about to be conscripted to the army.
Historical researchers define the first recorded incident of the introduction of the T-shirt to the United States occurred during World War One when US soldiers remarked upon the light cotton undershirts European soldiers were issued as standard uniform. American soldiers were fuming, their government were still issuing woolen uniforms, this wasn't fashion, it was practically a tactical military disadvantage. How could a sniper keep still and aim his rifle with beads of sweat pouring in his eyes, and an itch that just wouldn't go away? The US army may not have reacted as quickly as their troops would have liked, but the highly practical and light t-shirt would soon make its way back to the mainstream American consumer.
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Women in History
Abigail Smith Adams (1744-1818) | Jane Addams (1860-1935) | Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) | Marian Anderson (1902-1995) | Susan Brownell Anthony (1820-1906) | Josephine Baker (1906-1975) | Ida B. Wells Barnett (1862-1931) | Clara Barton (1821-1912) | Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955) | Sarah Bolton (1841-1916) | Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971) | Mary Elizabeth Bowser ( 1839-?) | Belle Boyd (1844-1900) | Margaret "Molly" Tobin Brown (1867-1932) | Eliza Bryant (1827-1907) | Abbie Burgess (Grant) (1839-1892) | Martha Jane "Calamity Jane" Cannary (1852-1903) | Rachel Carson (1907-1964) | Rebecca Carter (1766-1827) | Mary Ann Shadd Cary (1823-1893) | Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947) | Cassie L. Chadwick (1857-1907) | Bessie Coleman (1893-1926) | Dorothy Dandridge (1923-1965) | Isadora Duncan (1875-1929) | Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) | Mary Fields (1832?-1914) | Diana Fletcher (circa 1830's) | Dorothy Fuldheim (1893-1989) | Lucretia Rudolph Garfield (1832-1918) | Zelma Watson George (1903-1994) | Emma Goldman (1869-1940) | Julia Boggs Dent Grant (1826-1902) | Charlotte Forten Grimke (1837-1890) | Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977) | Florence Harding (1860-1924) | Caroline Lavinia Scott Harrison (1832-1892) | Lucy Ware Webb Hayes (1831-1889) | Sally Hemings (1773-1835) | Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, USNR (1906-1992) | Hedda Hopper (1890-1966) | Adella Prentiss Hughes (1869-1950) | Jane Edna Hunter (1882-1971) | Zora Neale Hurston (1903-1960) | Anne Hutchinson (1591-1643) | Mahalia Jackson (1912-1972) | Rebecca Jackson ( 1795-1871) | Harriet Jacobs (1813-1897) | "Mother" Mary Harris Jones (1837-1930) | Sissieretta Jones (1869-1933) | Barbara Jordan (1936-1996) | Elizabeth Keckley (1820-?) | Marie LaVeau (1796?-1863?) | Edmonia Lewis ( 1843-?) | Ida Lewis (1842-1913) | Mary Todd Lincoln (1818-1882) | Jenny Lind (1820-1887) | Juliette Gordon Low (1860-1927) | Clare Boothe Luce (1903-1987) | Barbara Mabrity (1782-1867) | Dolley Madison (1768-1849) | Biddy Mason (1818-1891) | Rachel Agnes Mason (1867-1903) | Flora Stone Mather (1852-1910) | Ida Saxton McKinley (1847-1907) | Maria Mitchell (1818-1889) | Louise Nevelson (1899-1988) | Annie Oakley (1860-1926) | Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) | Louella Parsons (1893-1965) | Alice Paul (1885-1977) | Mrs. George (Hannah?) Peake (1755-18??) | Molly Pitcher (Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley) (1754-1832) | Eleanor Anna Roosevelt (1884-1962) | Rebecca Rouse (1799-1887) | Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) | Rose Bianco Salvatore (1900-1993) | Belle Sherwin (1868-1955) | Margaret Skapes (1892-1968) | Bessie Smith (1894-1937) | Valaida Snow (190?-1956) | Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)
Belle Starr (1848-1889) | Susan McKinney Steward (1848-1918) | Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896) | Annie Sullivan (1866-1936) | Helen Herron Taft (1861-1943) | Susie King Taylor (1848-1912) | Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954) | Sojourner Truth (Isabella Baumfree) (1797-1883) | Harriet Tubman (1820?-1913) | Elizabeth Van Lew (1818-1900) | Rosetta Wakeman (1843-1864) | Madame C.J. Walker (1867-1919) | Hazel Mountain Walker (1900-1980) | Katherine Walker (1846-1931) | Mary Edwards Walker (1832-1919) | Mae West (1892-1980) | Phillis Wheatley (175?-1784) | Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) | Victoria Woodhull (1838-1927)
-Learn more about them on this Women in History Website.
Fabulous Women's Shirts
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Bebop's Place
... original photography and designs on cards and more...1 point
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those cool animal t-shirts
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Mandala Magic
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Blair Peacock Creations
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Lollercoasters
Cool and funny shirts for women.0 points
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Kerri's House of Fractals
Interested in fractal/ abstract art? Looking for t more...0 points
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T-Shirt Designs by Jeff Bartels
Wide variety of shirt designs including Aztec, sku more...0 points
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LUCKY PINKIE - Share Luck With Your Loved Ones: clothing: Zazzle.com Store
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http://www.zazzle.com/bahama_mama_t_shirt-235790650813169801
24 Hour Shipping on most orders. Bahama Mama t-shi more...0 points
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Deb's Digs: Ladies Tees: Zazzle.com Store
Inspired by nature and the arts.0 points
23
Teepossible Gifts for Women and Girls
T-shirts and gifts for women and girls from I'll W more...0 points
24
http://www.zazzle.com/lucky_pinkie_valentines_day_ladies_spaghetti_top_tshirt-235196525171019264
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Vintage Crown T-Shirts by Jennifer Stuart Design
Cute and trendy vintage crown design in several co more...0 points
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animotaxis: womens: Zazzle.com Store
0 points
28
http://www.zazzle.com/kakigori/tshirts#products
Fresh and cute designs, characters & illustrat more...0 points
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TMK Original T-Shirt Shop
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Lens Love Widget
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What do you wear T-shirts for?
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TMKtshirts
Feb 28, 2012 @ 11:02 pm | delete
- Interesting lens! I wear a T-Shirt when I need to move around.
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Kakigori
Feb 25, 2012 @ 10:49 am | delete
- Really lovely lense :)
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prosepine
Feb 23, 2012 @ 8:10 pm | delete
- Great Lense!
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animotaxis
Feb 23, 2012 @ 4:49 pm | delete
- Everything, I have nothing else.
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DebinSC
Feb 22, 2012 @ 5:10 pm | delete
- Just about anything if I can get away with it! :)
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by Hafapea
Single mother, full time college student & artist/owner of Designs by Hafapea Gift Shop, purveyor of unique gift ideas on Zazzle.
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