Please Join My Cult (It’s Mostly About T-Shirts and Snacks
Let me tell you about the T-shirt that converted me. Not to any real cult (don’t worry, Dad), but to the idea that one silly, well-designed piece of cotton can make you feel like an entire vibe.
It started the way all great stories do, with a scroll. I wasn’t looking for a shirt. I was just passing the time, half-thinking about laundry, half-distracted by the vague notion that I might someday need a new white tee. And then—bam—there it was.
Pink construction paper. Masking tape. Childish scrawl that read:
“Please join my cult.”
And below that, a yellow smiley face, the kind doodled in the margin of a math test before the teacher confiscates your notebook and gives you a look.
It was absurd. It was perfect. It made me laugh-snort. I bought it immediately.
This creation, made by the team at Imogene + Willie in Nashville, TN, is not just a graphic tee. It is a mood, a wink, a micro-performance of gleeful irreverence.
According to their site, the tee was “patterned, cut, and sewn in the USA from 100% cotton” right there in the I+W studio. Which means it wasn’t churned out in a sweatshop. It was made. On purpose. By possibly weird, wonderful people who understand the importance of just the right amount of chaos.
Why I Fell for This Tee
It’s rare for me these days to go for graphic tees. My style tends toward the simple—plain tees under a blazer or button-down, maybe jeans, maybe a skirt if I’m feeling whimsical.
Lately, I’ve been leaning into quieter pieces—ones that whisper instead of shout. But sometimes a girl needs to scribble all over the page. And this shirt hands you the crayons.
Wearing it feels like letting the kid version of me dress me for the day. The one who smeared on layers of Dippity Doo to make her hair look more like Nick Rhodes’, who stayed up late playing “Fortune Cookie” over the phone, and who thought the height of sophistication was wearing ill-fitting parachute pants to a Friday night football game.
When I put on this tee, I feel funny. Edgy. A little groovy. (Way groovier than the kid in the parachute pants. But I still love that kid’s zest for style.)
For the purposes of this post, and a quick errand run, I styled it with:
Light-colored, raw-edged, cropped jeans (they just feel like urban sunshine)
Sporty striped socks (because why not)
Black ankle booties (for edge)
A cropped wide-wale corduroy top (because textures deserve to play, too)
It’s a look I imagine wearing to a basement concert that may or may not be legal. Or, more likely, to the grocery store. Or a museum. Honestly, anywhere. That’s the thing about T-shirts these days: they can go anywhere. We’ve entered the era of the elevated tee. And this one has climbed all the way to the top of my favorites list.
The Joy of Handmade (and Slightly Unhinged) Design
There’s something special about wearing a piece that someone planned, designed, and made themselves. Not programmed, not mass-produced. Made.
The people at Imogene + Willie make jeans and tees that feel like love letters to the creative process. They’re not afraid to get weird, and it shows. This shirt is a vibe. A conversation. A spark.
It reminds me that fashion can be funny. It can be personal. It can look like a fourth grader made it and still feel like you’re wearing art.
A Little Cult of Joy
If there were a cult attached to this shirt, though, I imagine it would be made up of:
People who quote Monty Python and Mister Rogers with equal reverence.
People who have strong feelings about fonts.
People who accidentally start craft projects while cleaning.
People who hear “Please join my cult” and think, “Depends on the snacks.”
Our cult would meet irregularly. There would be cookies, possibly a pie. The uniform would be optional but encouraged.
In all seriousness, this tee reminded me how good it feels to wear something that makes you laugh. Something a little skee-whiff, as they say. A little off. Quietly loud. Definitely me.
It’s a bit of a left turn from the more subtle, structured pieces I’ve been reaching for lately—but honestly, that’s part of the fun. Style isn’t a fixed identity. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure. And on this particular page, I’m joining the cult.
One last thing before I go:
If you’re curious, you can find the exact tee here and browse more of Imogene + Willie’s handmade designs here. They have stuff for guys, too. (These aren’t affiliate links, by the way. Just a love letter to people making cool things with care.)
And if you’ve got a shirt that makes you feel this kind of joy—tell me about it. Seriously. Leave a comment, shoot me a note, send me a photo. Let’s build this cult of joy one ridiculous tee at a time.
