Cool Graphic Tees from Mini Shatsu

Over the years, I've seen a lot of boys' t-shirts, and my reaction to most of them is meh. Because most of them feature the same old tired motifs: cars, sports numbers, dinosaurs. I'm not against dinosaurs or soccer balls--just as long as the designer does something fresh with them.

Once in a while I run across a tee (or tees) that make me think, "Now, that's cool!" And that's what happened when I saw Mini Shatsu's 80s inspired collection of graphic tees & twofers featuring guitars, microphones, old school turntables, cameras, balloon animals and even a fanny pack (sized 3 mos.-8)!

For fall/winter 2010, Mini Shatsu (Shatsu means "shirt" in Japanese) is introducing denim jeans, corduroy and French terry pants, and jackets along with their popular tees and hoodies, including my favorite, the Alien Abduction hoodie, right (this is the back view). Seriously, how cute is this hoodie???! (click on the pic for a closer look). For a list of retailers click here.

Make it Personal with Hopscotch Tees

My boys are really into anything personalized right now. So I was excited to come across Hopscotch tees, which takes personalization to a whole new level.

Seattle mom and designer, Shana Perrina, has created an awesome collection of boys' tees that can be personalized with not only your son's name, but his town and even the year he was born! So even if you live in, say, a nondescript suburb like we do, having the name on a shirt will make it seem like a pretty fab place.

Our favorite is the Roboman, left, ($22-27 depending on size and sleeve length) but we also love the Tackle Shop tee. Hopscotch tees are available in infant sizes (the perfect baby shower gift!) up to adult!

Hopscotch tees are 100 percent cotton & made in the U.S. My unboring boy adores his RobomanNick shirt and wears it all the time. It washes up great, and it never fails to get a reaction when we're out and about. The shirts do run small, so I would order a size up to make sure it won't be outgrown for a while, since it will definitely become a favorite.

Mix it up with Kool Kid Legs from Mamarunswithscissors (plus giveaway!)

The layered look, or twofer, is a simple but revolutionary idea--take a tee shirt and sew on long sleeves in contrasting colors. Twofers remain a top trend and are now a staple of most boys' wardrobes. While sleeves in unexpected (or even clashing) colors make otherwise ho-hum tees look cool, prints, plaids and stripes make them look even cooler. Which is why I was thrilled to run across Kool Kid Legs by Mamarunswithscissors.

Kool Kid Legs are handmade arm/leg warmers that can be mix-and-matched with any tee to create something unique, one-of-a-kind, and a little wild. I LOVE the argyle print and the Tim Burton-esqe black and red stripes, above. Kool Kid Legs are super cozy, stay put, and save money too, because adding long sleeves extends the life of pricey designer tees. They are the perfect accessory for spring, when it starts out cool in the morning and gets warm later. If your boy gets too hot on the playground, he can just slip off his sleeves! For those of you with baby boys, Kool Kid Legs are great to pair with onesies.

Mamarunswithscissors is giving away a pair of 14 inch Kool Kid Legs to one lucky Unboring Boys reader! Just visit Mamarunswithscissors' shop, then email unboringboys@yahoo.com with KOOL KID LEGS in the subject line and tell us what design you like. We'll draw a winner at random February 28th. U.S. residents only, please. Good luck! In the meantime, Mamarunswithscissors is offering free shipping on all orders through 2/28 for readers. Just use the keyword "Unboring" when ordering.

BoyMom Designs Giveaway!

Amy Williams, owner and designer behind BoyMom Designs, admits she didn't really understand the opposite sex until she had boys of her own. Creating her own line of limited edition t-shirts was a way for her to celebrate her sons and to "capture the interesting journey of mothers who love their boys for exactly who they are."

BoyMom Designs carries a fun collection of t-shirts for moms, boys and babies. Our favorite design is their signature We Fight Bad Guys, above, for moms, but we also love the I Fight Bad Guys tees and onesies for kids. As if their designs aren't cool enough, a portion of every sale goes to provide orphaned children in Southeast Asia with food, shelter and medical supplies.

We have three tees from BoyMom Designs up for grabs for THREE lucky Unboring Boys readers, including a fabulous "We Fight Bad Guys" burn-out tee (women's size Large), an "i fight bad guys" short sleeved tee in size 3T, and a gray Army Man short sleeve tee in 3T (for more about sizing, click here). All three shirts are incredibly soft and made in the U.S.

To enter, simply visit the BoyMom blog, then email unboringboys@yahoo.com with BOYMOM in the subject line and tell us which famous poet said "If I have a monument in this world, it is my son." (hint: you'll find the answer in Amy's About Me on her blog). Remember to tell us which tee you would like should you win. We'll randomly draw three winners on January 1st. U.S. residents only, please. Good luck!

For Unboring Boys Who Mean Business: Fat Tie Shirts

Can't you just see your little future captain of industry wearing this hip, retro-inspired Fat Tie shirt on his first day of school--and making a major impression?! These clever organic tees look like dress shirts but are so comfortable and cool that your unboring boy will want to wear them everywhere.

The ties are sewn on (so they won't get in his face while hanging upside down on the monkey bars) and the button details and little breast pockets (on some styles) smarten the look.

If that isn't enough to charm you, owner and designer Mari Gallen has cut prices to below wholesale to make room for new styles! And just for Unboring Boys readers, Fat Tie is offering an additional 10 percent savings over already insane low prices!!! Use discount code UB10 (in caps) to order through 8/31/09. This is a steal, people! So you'd better hurry. Styles and popular sizes are selling out fast.

Vanilla. Chocolate. Pirate. DogboneArt T-shirt Giveaway!

Those of you following Unboring Boys may remember my "Yo Ho Yawn" post back in September 09 where I basically wrote "enough of the pirate stuff already!" Then I saw this "vanilla chocolate pirate" tee by DogboneArt (2T-7T, $12) and what can I say? It's so darn cute!

It takes imagination and talent to create something brand new out of a done-to-death theme like pirates. But Laura from DogboneArt has done it, and her original illustration is catching on. Her adult-sized Pirate Cupcake tee was recently worn by Mary Alice on The Food Network's Ace of Cakes show.

We're giving away a child's pirate cupcake tee! Just visit DogboneArt's Etsy shop then e-mail unboringboys@yahoo.com with the word "pirate" in the subject line and give us the name of another cute, original DogboneArt character you found. We'll choose a winner at random August 10th and that person will be able to choose the size. U.S. residents only, please. Good luck!

Want to be the first to know about giveaways and exclusive discounts on hip clothes and accessories for boys? Follow us on Twitter or sign up for our weekly e-mail updates!

Edgy Yet Sweet Styles from Schatzi, plus an Exclusive Offer

Schatzi in German means "small treasure" and the t-shirt designs by this Canadian company are just that. Inspired by American edgy style, the two moms behind Schatzi have come up with a hip collection of boys' tees and tanks (in sizes 3-6 months to 12 years) that draw from fantasy, rock and roll, and mod 70s elements.

What boy wouldn't love to wear Schatzi's wicked Hot Schatz dragon tee, left? And how groovy is this Peace and Thank You tee, below? Though based in Canada, Schatzi ships to the U.S. for very reasonable rates.


Just for Unboring Boys readers, Schatzi is offering a fabulous deal to introduce their tees. Buy a tee at regular price and receive a FREE tank. You can choose from the World Tour tank or the Fairy Magic tank (for unboring girls!). Just enter the phrase "unboring boys" in the message box at the time of purchase along with your choice of design and size. Hurry! Offer ends June 29th.

Win it! Invisibility Shirt from Crazy Dog T-shirts

There are a lot of cool t-shirts out there for boys, but none that give them the power of invisibility!

Crazy Dog T-shirt's clever Invisibility Shirt (currently deactivated) comes in sizes 2T-4T, and youth sizes S, M, L for $14.99. (there's an adult version too)

(...now if we could just figure out how to activate it)

Our other favorites are the Never Forget dinosaurs shirt and Yes, I Wore This Shirt Yesterday tee.

Want to win one? We're giving away a free Crazy Dog kids' tee (2T-4T, or youth size S, M, L) this month to a lucky Unboring Boys reader. To enter, leave us a comment telling us which design out of the three you would choose if you won.

*U.S. residents only, please.

Tiny Revolutionary

Everyone I know these days is becoming more environmentally aware. We're using refillable water bottles and reusable shopping bags. These may seem like small things when we're bombarded daily with bad news about our planet. It's easy to feel helpless to do anything (there's even a term for it: eco-stress!).

How about some hopeful and positive messages for a change? Tiny Revolutionary carries a hip and progressive collection of tees & onesies for children with phrases like "I'll Change the World Someday" in baby, toddler and new youth sizes (above), and "Be the Change You Want to See in the World." Styles range from the environmentally-minded Save the Polar Bears to the more political War is Poop.

What could be better than shopping for cool tees for your unboring boy AND helping other children around the world? For every This Shirt Saved a Life tee sold, Tiny Revoluationary donates $20 to Africa Aid to help feed refugee children in Ghana.

All change begins small. That's Tiny Revolutionary's slogan and the perfect slogan for anyone trying to make positive changes to benefit the earth.

Tree Town Batiks Boy's Tees

At Unboring Boys we like to feature a diversity of boys' clothes and accessories for our readers, from big name companies to small emerging shops and designers.

Our latest indie discovery is Tree Town Batiks. We love their one-of-a-kind batik tees for boys. You'll find just about anything that boys would be into on them, from trains to robots to guitars, with some offbeat stuff thrown in like broccoli! Their youth shirts go all the way to 12, and they have a fun collection of bodysuits for babies, from 6 months up, plus some wonderful pieces for grown-ups, like our favorite peacock print. The process that designer Jerusha uses to make these shirts is fascinating; you can read more about it on her site. Right now she is offering 20 percent off long sleeve shirts when you buy 2 or more.

Readers, time is running out to participate in our giveaway for a free Little Ace necktie. Just leave a comment about the blog, what you like, what you want to see more of, or just tell us your favorite boys' clothing designers and shops, and on 5/31 we'll pick one name at random from all the comments we receive to win the tie. Thanks for your feedback! ~ Denice

Quirky Tees from MisNopalesArt

Unboring Boys is all about unique and this Parachuting Squirrel T-shirt from MisNopalesArt is definitely that.

I bought one for my boys and when people see it they can't help smiling. They don't know what to make of it!

MisNopalesArt's Etsy shop carries tees (for kids and adults) featuring whimsical, offbeat and original illustrations of animals with wings, including a pug and Flying Zebra, starting at $14. These shirts are so quirky and cute that I wouldn't be surprised if celebrity moms start buying them up.

Just a reminder that one lucky Unboring Boys reader will win a surprise pack worth $100 from Knuckleheads! Simply sign up for our e-mail updates in the box on the left through March 15. (see complete details below in our feature on Knuckleheads). Signing up for updates is an easy way to catch up with what's new on the blog.

One-of-a-kind Superhero Shirts from LittleOvercoat

When it comes to clothes, my boys and I sometimes disagree on what's cool. Take superheroes. I'll be honest, I'm not a fan of licensed characters on children's clothing. To my preschoolers, however, a Spiderman or Power Rangers T-shirt is the awesomest thing ever!

With LittleOvercoat's superhero T-shirts, I can compromise on theme without having to compromise on style. Check out this awesome Batman & Robin shirt (size 8-10, $28). It's handmade of recycled and new materials and is unique and colorful enough to stand out in the crowd.

Unboring Boys is all about what's unique and distinctive. What's really exciting about LittleOvercoat is that they have taken stock graphics and created something fresh and unexpected.

LittleOvercoat's shirts feature superheroes, classic bands, and even the Pillsbury Doughboy, and are available in sizes to fit baby to teen. We LOVE the bright colors, stripes, and patchwork-y designs.

You'll find all sorts of cool pieces for boys and girls--and moms, too--at LittleOvercoat's Etsy shop!

Featured Boutique: TotStops

It took less than a New York minute for us to fall in love with TotStops's fun and funky take on souvenir t-shirts.

The big city, bright lights-inspired tees are available in sizes 3-6 months to 4T. Designs are taken from original works by New York artists and illustrators. Our favorite is the Times Square t-shirt (left) featuring a design from an original painting by children's book illustrator Selina Alko.

One lucky Unboring Boys reader will win a Times Square short-sleeved t-shirt or onesie from TotStops, in the size of their choice! To enter the giveaway, sign up for our e-mail updates. The winner will be chosen at random in early January. Good luck!

TotStops's tees look great on boys or girls, but boys especially will love the taxis, skyscrapers, bridges, and subway trains.

Check out this adorable video, filmed during a TotStops photo shoot.

Not your ordinary construction tee

Diggers, bulldozers, dump trucks. We seriously didn't think there was anything new to be seen in the "construction equipment" category. But check out this awesome T-shirt from Kiki Kid's Wear ($16.99, sizes 4-8). I don't know about your boys, but mine go nuts when they see tower cranes in the distance. This would look great with a long-sleeved shirt layered underneath.

I've been told Kiki Kid's Wear will be adding some pieces for fall/winter soon and the new designs for boys and baby boys, inspired by works of art, sound really interesting. Give them a look.