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Just How Offensive Is This Vineyard Vines Occupy T-Shirt?

If you think Jay-Z‘s Occupy All Streets shirts got people pissed off, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Jay’s shirt was meant to support the movement, and the source of controversy was that the proceeds from the sales were not to given to the effort. Conversely, a Vineyard Vines t-shirt we stumbled upon is pure mockery.

The Martha’s Vineyard-based company is the clothier of choice for a certain type of one-percenter, with its critter ties and ribbon belts. The tee in question has the word “occupy” and the brand’s signature pink whale on the front pocket. The back depicts a person in a tent on a desert island surrounded by flip flops and a guitar and protest signs that read “More ice for the cooler!”, “More time on the water!” and “More cheeseburgers”. “Every day should feel this good” reads the line at the bottom. It retails for $35.

Is this a lighthearted swipe at the movement? Or is it totally offensive? (For the record, we’re going with seriously uncool.) Tell us your thoughts in the comments.



  • Anonymous

    so nowadays word ‘occupy’ became offensive?

  • LookingAtME

    Julia Rubin – shut up. It is not offensive – are you that worried about job security that you have to find anything to write about? They are shirts – - by a privately owned organization, depict them as you want. Enough.

  • LookingAtME

    Why was my comment deleted. Because it was true?

  • LookingAtME

    Censorship.

  • http://www.styleite.com Verena von Pfetten

    Your comment was deleted because it violated the Comments section of our User Agreement (found here: http://www.styleite.com/user-agreement/). We welcome your opinion, but please don’t attack our writers, editors, or other users personally.

  • Mcconner

    I think it’s hilarious. Stylite, I love you, but you are way too PC. You get offended by everything! Just take a big breath and count to three.

  • Anonymous

    Cute T-shirt.
    But considering it’s the T of the 1%’ers, it does smack of elitist snobbery.

  • Often

    Actually this T actually provides more advertising for the occupy movement. This is the only way that this movement would get on the fashion page. Power to the people.

  • http://twitter.com/thisfishcanswim matt fisher

    It’s a joke lightheartedly mocking the “1%”

    jeesh

  • Debwalsh

    I think it’s offensive. Who can afford a $35 tee— only the 1%. Everyone should boycott Vineyard Vines.

  • Occupy Wall Street Now Please

    i dont usually ware vinyard vine but i would like to buy this t-shirt to show support for occupy movement its very important movement we can change the world and prevent evil corporation from screwing everyone over 1 step at a time this t shirt will be helpful first step

  • I_worked_for_my_money

    1. That statement is completely ridiculous. The OWS website even doesn’t deny that many of its members wear a bunch of expensive designer clothes and have iPhones etc, so they could probably afford a $35 tee. 
    http://occupywallst.org/forum/answer-to-protesors-are-wearing-designer-jeans-usi/
    2. How is this shirt offensive? It purports to mock a bunch of smelly, unkempt hippies who want government handouts for just about everything (a guaranteed living wage regardless of employment, really??). It doesn’t mock a race or ethnicity, religious group, sex or sexual orientation or even socioeconomic class as some libs have been whining about.3. I’m more angry that the liberal media was able to coerce VV into taking the shirt down; I wanted to buy a few of them.

  • mike

    the 99% will the 1% will keep them afloat

  • hardwork=success

    ok so let me get this straight…your saying no one can afford a $35 tshirt (most likely their most affordable product) and then in the next sentence proposing that everyone boycott those products? last time i checked in order for a boycott to work it has to be against a product you would have been able to afford in the first place….looks like its back to the drawing board. oh and way to go i_worked_for_my_money. maybe these OWS people will follow suit. a little work ethic wouldn’t hurt over there.

  • nantucketlax

    Thank you so much for saying that. I wanted one so bad!

  • Carol

    its a joke and its funny. get over it.

  • Sarah

    Ummm I’m going with seriously COOL. I want this shirt

  • Theban

    Great shirt. I wish I could find one to buy.

  • Therealdeal

    The odor of the un-employable occupy hippies is what’s offensive. They are the real 1 percent. 1 percent who are too lazy and stupid to get a job and move out of their parents’ house.

  • http://www.candida-albicans.co.uk/ Yolande

    we can change the world and prevent evil corporation from screwing
    everyone over 1 step at a time this t shirt will be helpful first step

  • get over it

    how about it means “occupy” the beach because the beach is a great place to be on the vineyard.  Get over it people, if you can’t afford the t shirt don’t complain about it.  get a job and stop making us that have jobs support your butts in the park because you’re protesting the “99%”  Put down the iphone and print out a resume!

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