Drive the mullets crazy!

Back in 1984, I was busy buying Tiger Beat and Teen Beat with which to make my own wallpaper from the pictures of Duran Duran, Michael Jackson, and Rob Lowe. At 11 years old, I was completely open to the idea that men could wear makeup, have huge hairsprayed hair, AND sport high-heeled white boots. I knew nothing of gender roles as I asked God how He could make two such beautiful men, John Taylor and George Michael.

But there was one lone masculine hearthrob in those Teen Beats where the men were femme, and that was the strangely sexy Steve Perry, lead singer of Journey. Yes, Steve Perry had long hair, but it was long in the back, and short in the front, just like all of the high school rocker boys in my hometown. Steve's fashion sense was inexplicable—he wore dorky white Nikes, weird striped shirts, and the tightest jeans this side of Bruce Springsteen. Nonetheless, though I loved my pretty boys, I had a huge crush on Steve. Do I even have to say anything about Mr. Perry having the best big nose in the history of rock? (Sorry Cher!)

So, what better way to immortalize my favorite arena rocker than by making an undershirt and panty set that will have the heshers throwing horns!

Instructions:

I used iron-on paper for this project, which seems easy enough, and it is, BUT let me explain the difference between the the two types of paper first:

The iron-on paper for white shirts has a clear background and you apply the image face down on the shirt, but the paper for the dark shirts is applied with the image face up and has a white background. Make sense?

So, if you are printing any words, you need to reverse the lettering (and the image if you want) because your iron-on will be a mirror image of what you print. You can leave the image and lettering as printed normally with the dark shirt, because the iron-on is applied face-up.

Supplies:

- Fabric Iron-On Transfers for white shirts or for dark shirts. (Available at office supply stores.)
- Computer & ink jet color printer.
- Iron & ironing board.
- Blank T-shirt (the skimpier the better) and matching underpants.

How to:

1. Find your favorite Steve Perry image.
2. Doctor the image in Illustrator or Photoshop and print a test sheet to see if you like it.
3. Print the image on the blank side of the transfer paper. See instructions above for the differences between the paper for white & dark shirts.
4. Place your T-shirt flat on the ironing board with the location of the iron-on completely free of wrinkles.
5. Follow the ironing instructions for the transfer paper you are using. Don't hold the iron in one spot, but rather gently glide it over the entire iron-on.

Repeat process with matching panties.

Tip:

If you are giving this shirt as a gift, type up laundry instructions and give with the set based on the washing directions from the transfer paper.

Sources:

The best little T-shirt and boy-shorts sets are at American Apparel (go to their super-cool Web site at: http://www.americanapparelstore.com)
We especially like the Boy Beater Tank, $17, and for hot pants-esque bottoms, we like the Bum Bottom undies,$10.