Anne Taylor
If you want to get some cool pop culture merch that you aren’t embarrassed to wear in public, we’ve got your back.
Everyone has a book series, television show, or band that they’re completely obsessed with. When you’re a kid, representing your favorite book character or musician is as easy as wearing a t-shirt with Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender plastered across the front. While some people keep that aesthetic as adults, most people like to rep their favorite pop culture icons a little more subtly.
Fortunately, if you’re looking for pop culture gear that you can rock with some low-key vibes, there are some great places to score gear that’ll get you the knowing nod from fellow fans. We’ve rounded up some websites that carry cool and stylish shirts, pants, and accessories you can feel comfortable wearing anywhere. These are also great sites to bookmark, too—they’re just packed with great gift ideas for holidays and birthdays.
BoxLunch
This website carries lots of exclusive merchandise and collaborates with independent artists regularly. This means their inventory is full of cool clothing, bags, and accessories from a variety of pop culture universes. You’ll find references to movies, shows, and video games like Disney, Animal Crossing, The Office, Dragon Ball Z, and many more.
If you’re a Harry Potter fan, check out this BoxLunch exclusive handbag that is chic enough to take to work but features some magical details. Or, if you’re looking for a t-shirt for yourself or a friend, this Studio Ghibli shirt has a subtle Howl’s Moving Castle design you’ll only notice if you’re a true fan.
In addition to finding cool merch, you’ll feel good knowing that for every $10 you spend at BoxLunch, a meal is donated to a local food bank to give back.
TeePublic
This site deals exclusively with independent artists. That means you’re getting gear straight from the fans who know what you want. TeePublic carries a variety of clothing items, face masks, phone cases, stickers, and home goods like pillows and artwork.
You’ll find virtually any pop culture reference you can think of here, so it’s great to hit up if you want, say, a sticker referencing the song “Cornelia Street” from Taylor Swift’s Lover album. Or if you’re looking for a Disney shirt but don’t want a picture of Mickey Mouse, so you’d rather have a pattern from Epcot’s Spaceship Earth ride instead. Artists have their own pages that house all their designs, so if you like someone’s work you can check out their other stuff, too.
TeePublic frequently runs sales of up to 50% off their products, so sign up for their email list to stay in the loop.
Redbubble
Similar to TeePublic, Redbubble sells merchandise created by independent artists. You’ll find a wider range of home goods here including aprons, bath mats, puzzles, and throw blankets. They also have clothing, wall art, notebooks, stationery, and a lot more items to choose from.
Give a subtle nod to Attack on Titan with this logo t-shirt design. If you’re more of a Marvel person, this sweatshirt shows people what the best mixtape in history really looks like.
Also like TeePublic, each artist on Redbubble has their own profile. You can also message artists here if you’d like to request a commission or specific product. They also offer a student discount and have gift guides to help you find the perfect present for someone.
Etsy
The home of handmade goods has a solid pop culture niche. You’ll have better luck searching for more popular references here than some other website. (Think Harry Potter-, Friends-, and Ariana Grande-themed goods.)
Etsy makes it simple to message a creator before purchasing anything, which can be useful if you’re unsure about the item or want to request a customization. It’s also a great place to get hats, which not many pop culture stores carry.
Share your love of Lord of the Rings lore with this shirt or channel Alexis Rose with this “Ew, David” baseball hat. Make sure you check the shop location and shipping times if you’re in a rush. Many items are made to order and shops are located around the world, so you might not get something in time if you have a party or event in less than a week.
Always Fits
Always Fits is the shop for your friend who likes popular media mixed with offhand humor. Most of the references date to the ’80s, ’90s, and ’00s, but you’ll find some current pop culture on the site as well. They recently added t-shirts to their inventory. Most of the items you’ll find are home goods, mugs, cards, and books.
Let people know how much you love The Great British Baking Show with this shirt or spread good feelings with these fuzzy Bob Ross socks. You can get 10% off your first order if you sign up for their email list and a special offer on your birthday.
Hot Topic
More than black leggings and chokers, Hot Topic has a solid selection of official pop culture merchandise. They’ll be your go-to for band tees, and they stock a large selection of Disney merchandise. Some of the items here might be considered a little cheesy, but if you dig through their website for a while you’ll definitely find something cool.
Don this Pokémon hat before heading outside to show everyone you’re training to be the best, the best there ever was. Or keep these Naruto sandals handy for a run to the mailbox or convenience store. You can order online or find Hot Topic stores in many malls across the country.
Target
Your mom’s favorite store carries a lot more than toothpaste and candles. Target has a great graphic tee selection for men, women, juniors, and kids. The designs tend to give a retro vibe with faded designs and muted colors. This makes for shirts that are easy to incorporate into your daily outfit.
Target has a partnership with the Disney company, so you’ll see a lot of their merch included shirts from Star Wars, Marvel, and Disney parks. They also carry shirts referencing shows like The Office and video game consoles like PlayStation. You’ll have a smaller selection here than some of the other websites mentioned, but the prices are almost always going to be lower.
Rep your favorite bed and breakfast with this t-shirt from The Office or flex your fan power in this Star Wars muscle tank.
