The Status T-Shirt: It’s Just Like High School

The New York Times just wrote about how certain fancy-pants destinations have their own locals-only (or those in the know) T-shirt hierarchy. Most recognizable example: the Black Dog shirt from the Martha’s Vineyard tavern of the same name. As I read about the various East and Southampton and Sag Harbor T-shirts, all I could think was that it feels like I’m back in high school and playing the old game of who had the newest, best, most unavailable T-shirt. The “Ditch Witch” tee (preferred by the Montauk elite) is almost akin to going to a Phish or Dave Matthews concert and buying the $40 tee —but never, ever wearing it at the concert in question—back in the day. (Well, in the little corner of tiny-town-ville of Long Island where I existed, anyways.) Bonus points for the H.O.R.D.E. Fest or other all-day musical extravaganza. And the only sartorially ruinous circumstance? Everyone else having the T-shirt, too. Which I guess is kind of the point of this otherwise pointless newspaper article. [If the recession has knocked out the weave, is a status T-shirt the new It bag? -- Editor] [NY Times]