There are over several hundred tops in the shop and each has a particular meaning or reference behind the phrase or image. There's the I Don't Know Her top referencing Mariah Carey's sly reply to Jennifer Lopez. We have the Mulder It's Me top referencing Dana Scully and her countless phone calls and messages to one Fox Mulder. (Side note: That last top reference is a very near-in-the future blog post about the origins of that top.) Then, we have the ICON(ic) tops which have dozens of meanings on one top alone. There are four icon tops in the shop. Let's discuss!
The ICON(ic) tops are some of my personal faves in the shop. I love the references behind the garment and more importantly, I love when shoppers try their hardest to guess what each icon means. The truth is that it's pretty subjective. The icons reference not only songs and albums, but artist moments too. Let's take a closer look.
The first ICON(ic) top: Prince. The purple one made his debut shortly after his untimely death. Honoring his slayage through original apparel.
Okay, look over the top. Find what you recognize. Take a mental note. Okay, here's how they were intended.
Name - P
Song - Bat Dance
Song - Diamonds and Pearls
Song - Kiss
Symbol - Electric Guitar
Name - R
Prince - Heels (Prince lurved his heels..)
Song - Purple Rain
Song - 1999
Song - How Come You Don't Call
Name - I
Song - Raspberry Beret
Song - I Wanna be Your Lover/Love Song (Madonna & Prince)
Name - N
Song - Little Red Corvette
Song - 7
Song/sketch - Breakfast Can Wait/Pancake sketch with Dave Chapelle
Song - Cream/Starfish and Coffee
Name - C
Song - Pussy Control
Song/Symbol - Purple Rain/Tear
Song - When Doves Cry
Song - Diamonds and Pearls
Name - E
Prince was (!) a phenomenal artist with a huge, animated catalog. The list for the Prince ICON(ic) top could go on, but this is where it lingered longest before making it's way to the the shop. From one diva to the next, the second ICON(ic) top took form very soon after this one for Prince.
The second ICON(ic) top in the shop was ICON(ic) Mariah Carey. Either unite or put up a fight for symbols that make or break the ultimate diva.
Again, look over the MC icons. Take a mental note of what you recognize. Now let' see if we agree:
Name - M
Song/Album - Infinity
Song/Album/Symbolic - Butterfly
Symbolic/fan base - Lamb(ily)
Song - Honey
Name - A
Song/Album - Through the Rain
Song/Symbolic - Love Takes Time/I Want To Know What Love Is/Etc...
Song/Symbolic - AIWFCIY/Queen of Christmas
Song/Symbol - Fantasy
Name - R
Song - Hero
Song - Vision of Love
Name - I
Album - Rainbow
Album/Symbolic - #1
Song - We Belong Together
Song - Heart-breaker
Name - A
Song/Fragrance - Lollipop Bling
Symbol - Queen, duh
Song/Album - Music Box
Symbol - Heels (dahhhhling, you know)
Name - H
Mariah is another great example of an artist with an immense catalog. There are lots of great icons that could be used for Mariah, but they're some for deep cuts that just wouldn't work. How do you convey "vanishing" on a small graphic. There's two more tops that make up our ICON(ic) series.
ICON(ic) Britney Spears was the third top added to the ICON(ic) series. Let's take a look.
This particular top in the series is the only one to have an icon switched out. Take a look and see what you recognize, then continue reading to see how the icons were intended to be interpreted.
Britney has a lot more symbolism in her videos and daily life than the names of her songs or albums. This top was the only one that had an icon switched out. In place of the "Slumber Party" icon was a miniature Magic Kingdom representing Britney's time at Disney. The reason it was switched was because it didn't mesh with every other reference on that shirt and desperation struck to include something form the criminally underrated Glory. If the third top was for the Princess of Pop, the final shirt in the series belongs to the Queen.
ICON(ic) Madonna is the fourth top in the series.
Like Britney, this top contains a lot more references to symbolic moments versus actual song/album titles. Take a look and keep reading when you're ready.
Name - M
Symbol - Rosary
Symbol - Queen of Pop
Symbol - Dance Icon/Most #1 Dance Billboard Dance Hits/Confessions on a Dance Floor
Name - A
Name - D
Movie - A League of Their Own
Song/Symbol - Take a Bow
Album - Hard Candy
Name - O
Name - N
Symbol/Album - Music
Symbol - 1982-era Madonna
Song - Burning Up
Name - N
Song - Ray of Light
Song
Symbol/Song - Like A Virgin
Symbol/Book - Sex
Name - A
Madonna is a total blast and of course there's many ways you could go with an icon top for the Queen. This group seemed to fit and feel best once pout together in its final stages.
There's three other contemporary artists that would be great to add to the series due to their extensive catalog. Of course I'm talking about Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and Rihanna. A slew of recognizable hits and a good sized catalog benefits the style of these tops best. With that said, who else needs an ICON(ic) top?