Shirt

"Oh, you mean the guy with the 70-year-old head and the 20-year-old body-builder body? That picture has got to be Photoshopped." Dr. Jeffry Life smiles when I tell him about the general reaction I get about the famous picture of him with his shirt off, the shot that turned a mild-mannered doctor in his mid-60s into a poster boy for super-fit aging and controversial hormone replacement Appearing in medical-clinic ads in airline magazines and...

Concerned citizens have taken to blogs, Twitter and Facebook to post their concerns about the case of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teenager slain by a neighborhood watch captain in a Florida townhouse development. They have also, famously, posted them on their backs. The Trayvon Martin protest T-shirt has become a staple at rallies across the country, and it's difficult to think of another item of clothing more representative of the nation's twitchy zeitgeist in April 2012.

Bob Baffert and Wayne Lukas were sitting next to each other at a recent racing function when Baffert said to Lukas, "Everyone used to hate you. Now they hate me." It's as clear as a giant flowered hat, and just as ugly. At rowdy Churchill Downs today, the only thing more quietly despised than Bob Baffert will be a Breathalyzer. The 128th Kentucky Derby will feature 19 horses, 150,000 fans, and one villain. Baffert will saddle longshot War Emblem.

Football coaches wear them on the sidelines. Toddlers sport them on trips to the park. They are what we grab when we run to the market or head out in the cold to walk the dogs. Yet somehow the humble hooded sweat shirt has evolved from basic, everyday apparel to a sinister symbol of urban terror. It has become a touchstone in the conversation about the death of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teenager who was wearing a hoodie when he was fingered as "suspicious" and shot by a Neighborhood Watch patroller.

A T- shirt a day has kept unemployment at bay for an American man who is making about $85,000 a year by selling advertising space on his torso. Jason Sadler, 26, a former marketing professional from Florida, founded his own company, www.iwearyourshirt.com, in 2008 with the idea to wear a T-shirt supplied by any company and then use social media tools to promote the firm. For his human billboard service, Sadler charges the "face value" of the day so January 1 costs $1, while December 31 costs $365.

A follow-up to Bob Flint's letter on Oct. 25: Having coached youth sports for 15 years, I wear a shirt reminding my parents that "I Coach, You Cheer." Matthew D. Kerster Gardena

For lovers of (little) pets, the Cuddle 'N Carry Shirt may be barking up just the right tree. The cotton-polyester blend sweatshirt has a pouch sewn into the inside front of the zippered chest section that lets you keep your animal companion close to your heart - literally. A small dog, cat, ferret or any creature under 10 pounds can snuggle inside with their head free to look around. The Cuddle 'N Carry can be machine-washed and machine-dried and comes in black, blue or camel.

As a cinematographer and a "clotheshorse," I enjoyed "Once They Were Clotheshorses," by Glen Freyer, So SoCal, March 26). However, I have two comments. Given the ubiquitous nature of the T-shirt, a true iconoclast would wear a jacket and tie. And perhaps Freyer would garner more respect from the crew if he knew that it is the first assistant camera person's job to rack focus. The "second second" is a member of the assistant director's staff. David Trulli Los Angeles

After an 8-5 victory over Oakland on Tuesday night at the Forum, Blade Coach Bobby Hull Jr.'s record reads: one victory, one loss, three shirts. The coach of the roller hockey team had been so angry about his team's lethargic play in Anaheim that he had to change shirts at halftime. Tuesday, Hull was happier because Tony Gruba, Steve Bogoyevac and Steve Ross each scored twice. "The shirt made it," said Hull. "We played a lot better tonight, but I think we're still at about 80%.

If there was ever a time to think big when you think about menswear, this is it. Especially when you think about shirts. The latest shapes are oversize to the point of being colossal. The newest fabric designs are so big and bold that they could be wallpaper prints. And colors strong enough to glow in the dark are the last word for spring. This is a year of major fashion revisions for men. And if you want to buy into it, a big shirt could be a good place to start.

Here is a roundup of alleged cons, frauds and schemes to watch out for. Personalized T-shirts — The Better Business Bureau is warning that a company that sells made-to-order T-shirts has pocketed consumers' money without delivering the goods. The consumer group said it has received more than 100 complaints from consumers who said they paid Personally Yours for personalized T-shirts but did not receive them and could not get refunds. "When making online purchases, the best recourse consumers have is to pay by credit card," said Robert Crockett, chief executive of the BBB serving Southern Nevada.

Personalized T-shirts - The Better Business Bureau is warning that a company that sells made-to-order T-shirts has pocketed consumers' money without delivering the goods. The consumer group said it has received more than 100 complaints from consumers who said they paid a company called Personally Yours for personalized T-shirts, did not receive them and could not receive refunds. “When making online purchases, the best recourse consumers have is to pay by credit card,” said Robert Crockett, chief executive of the BBB serving Southern Nevada.  “In the event of fraud, non-delivery or non-communication with a business, consumers can dispute charges with their credit card company to try and receive refunds.” Ponzi scheme - A federal grand jury in San Francisco has indicted two people on charges related to a $129-million Ponzi scheme.

Stuck here at Staples Center on Valentine's Day night, I might have been inspired to cite everything I love about the Lakers. Except right now that would be nothing. Before the Lakers' 86-78 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, ushers handed out T-shirts that read, "I (heart) Lakers. " I don't. Not right now. I don't heart them. I don't soul them. I would, however, like to brain them. How could they go from one of the most exciting shows in sports to the third-most exciting team in their own building?

For lovers of (little) pets, the Cuddle 'N Carry Shirt may be barking up just the right tree. The cotton-polyester blend sweatshirt has a pouch sewn into the inside front of the zippered chest section that lets you keep your animal companion close to your heart - literally. A small dog, cat, ferret or any creature under 10 pounds can snuggle inside with their head free to look around. The Cuddle 'N Carry can be machine-washed and machine-dried and comes in black, blue or camel.

Now that a guy no longer needs a linebacker's physique, a Rat Packer's swagger or cartoon bags of money to justify the purchase of a made-to-measure dress shirt, here are a few local options - at different levels of wallet strain - worth exploring: Anto Distinctive Shirtmaker Anto has been a maker of truly custom shirts (along with neckties, robes, pajamas and boxer shorts - but no suits) for Tinseltown's well-heeled for more than five decades. Clients have included Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas, Johnny Depp (at the recent Golden Globes)

Custom-made men's dress shirts were once considered the privileged peacockery of the moneyed set -- a dash of sartorial swagger that could be afforded only by Hollywood A-listers, Wall Street bankers and monocle-wearing aristocrats of a bygone era. But today, thanks to advances in technology, a competitive market and consumer demand, custom clothing has moved within the barrel-cuffed arm's reach of the common man. Click a button in Burbank and...

A college student was convicted of harassment and fined $250 Friday for wearing a Marilyn Manson T-shirt to a community festival called Tater Days. "I think it was like stepping back into the days of a Salem witch trial," said 20-year-old Venus Starlett Dust Morgan. The shirt included an obscene phrase from one of the band's songs. Several mothers with children complained to authorities.

An 11-year-old boy appearing in Juvenile Court for violating terms of a sentence was ordered locked up for a night because he had refused to wear a tie. The unidentified boy appeared in court Tuesday wearing a T-shirt and shorts, in violation of Judge Robert Foster's dress code. The boy returned to court Wednesday in the proper attire.

At Sevenly, a business started by young entrepreneurs in Orange County, a key to the operation is the number seven. Each line of T-shirts and hoodies designed by the company goes on sale for exactly seven days. No more, no less. The Fullerton company donates to seven causes: anti-slavery, hunger relief, clean water, medical help, disaster relief, anti-poverty and miscellaneous aid. And for every item sold, Sevenly donates — you guessed it — $7. "It's a great number," said co-founder Dale Partridge, who holds the title of chief world changer.

Four years ago, when John was a first-year head coach for Baltimore — fresh off his job as Philadelphia's defensive backs coach — he wanted to do something to remind Ravens players they were a blue-collar crew. Then, it hit him: He had a blue, short-sleeve, button-down shirt made for each player, the kind mechanics wear, with the player's first name on a patch over the breast pocket. So Flacco had "Joe," and Lewis had "Ray. " His brother, then Stanford's coach, loved the idea.