Taylor Swift Anti Hero Pigeon Shirt from PizzaSlime Sparks Viral Fashion Craze

The Anti Hero Pigeon Shirt from Taylor Swift's Music Video

Taylor Swift's latest single "Anti-Hero" from her record-breaking 10th studio album Midnights has sparked an internet frenzy over the gray pigeon graphic t-shirt she wears in the music video. The eye-catching tee featuring a cartoon pigeon design has been identified as coming from the brand PizzaSlime, created by designer Nicky Ottav. Let's take a closer look at this viral fashion piece and how it ties into the themes of Swift's "Anti-Hero" track.

PizzaSlime - The Brand Behind the Pigeon Shirt

PizzaSlime is an underground streetwear clothing brand founded in 2016 by designer Nicky Ottav. Known for using graphics with ironic or self-deprecating themes, PizzaSlime tees have been spotted on major celebrities like Rihanna, Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid. However, it was Taylor Swift's decision to wear the pigeon design in her "Anti-Hero" video that truly thrust the brand into the mainstream spotlight.

The PizzaSlime pigeon shirt features a light gray cotton tee with a white graphic print of a cartoon pigeon in flight. The pigeon design is simple yet eye-catching, using clean lines and thick black outlines around the bird silhouette. Crisp and casual, it's an easy graphic tee to pair with jeans or layer over long sleeves, as Swift demonstrates in her music video outfit styling.

Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" Track and Video

As the lead single off Swift's latest album Midnights, "Anti-Hero" offers vulnerable lyrics and themes examining the struggles with self-perception and battling your inner critic. In the song, she reveals her deepest insecurities through lines like: "I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser. I wake up screaming from dreaming one day I'll watch as you walk away."

The music video builds on these themes visually, depicting Swift alone at night battling various dark thoughts, demons and doppelgangers representing her self-judgements and flaws. At one point, one Swift clone even shouts criticisms like "You're the problem" and "Stop making that surprised face, it's annoying."

The video is highly symbolic, using dark imagery and multiple Taylor clones to represent the exhausting struggles with self-love, imposter syndrome and wanting to appear perfect. This is where the pigeon tee comes in as a way to tie together the visual theme and messaging.

The Significance of the Pigeon T-Shirt

Why a pigeon though? The bird is commonly seen as a street scavenger, often viewed negatively as a pest or 'rat with wings'. However, pigeons are also one of the most loyal, affectionate and intelligent bird species. Beyond their bad reputation, they possess admirable qualities and care deeply about their mates and offspring.

Swift wearing the pigeon design seems symbolic of those contrasting perceptions. It represents the flawed parts of herself that she has learned to accept, embrace and reclaim power over - similar to the way pigeons are misunderstood but ultimately loving, family-oriented creatures. The shirt directly ties to the track's themes of overcoming self-judgement and making peace with one's imperfections.

In a behind-the-scenes YouTube video on the making of the "Anti-Hero" video, Swift explained the shirt choice herself, stating: "I wanted to highlight someone society deems as 'dirty' or a 'pest' or a 'rat', but make them beautiful, delicate and complex."

She intentionally picked the pigeon motif to align with the messaging of her song - taking ownership and control over the parts of yourself you used to criticize. As she sings in the bridge: "I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser. I wake up screaming from dreaming one day I'll watch as you walk away."

Owning the 'anti-hero' or shadow side of yourself that you feel ashamed of, and still seeing the beauty in it - that is the core theme Swift is conveying through this viral fashion piece.

The Anti Hero Challenge on TikTok

Once fans identified the PizzaSlime pigeon shirt, the #AntiHeroChallenge exploded on TikTok with Swifties replicating her music video look. TikTok creators rushed to purchase the tee, which quickly sold out on PizzaSlime's webstore due to massive demand from the challenge.

Fans filmed themselves lip-syncing to the song's lyrics, dressed in gray sweatsuits or pajamas like Swift, with their hair in messy buns and thick black winged eyeliner. The signature pigeon tee completes the viral DIY costume. Even Taylor Swift's official TikTok account posted an #AntiHeroChallenge clip with the singer acting out meme dances from her music video.

This fan challenge represents Swift's close connection to her supporters, as they embrace the vulnerable themes of "Anti-Hero" that resonate with so many people. The pigeon tee lets listeners literally wear Swift's message of self-acceptance. As she sings, "Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby and I'm a monster on the hill." Her fans are saying - we all have an inner "anti-hero" side of ourselves.

The Merchandise Potential

It didn't take long for Swift to capitalize on the viral pigeon shirt frenzy and release official "Anti-Hero" merchandise. Just days after the music video premiered, her online store added several t-shirt options featuring the PizzaSlime pigeon graphic along with lyrics from the track like "I'm The Problem" and "Sexy Baby."

These quickly sold out too, showing the commercial potential of meme fashion pieces that take off online. For artists like Swift with massively engaged fanbases, associating official merch with viral sensations like the pigeon shirt can provide a lucrative additional revenue stream. It also allows fans who missed out on the original PizzaSlime tee due to it selling out to still purchase the official version.

Swift even partnered with online retailer Etsy to curate an "Anti-Hero" collection selecting handmade items referencing motifs like the pigeon design. This provides another way for her global fanbase to participate and buy into the musical era's aesthetics.

Why Viral T-Shirts Make an Impact

When a musician like Taylor Swift wears an underground or up-and-coming designer piece like the PizzaSlime pigeon tee, it validates the smaller brand and propels them into mass awareness. Fans eagerly try to identify and purchase the items their favorite pop culture icons wear, like hunting for Easter eggs.

A single viral t-shirt moment can provide invaluable exposure for lesser known labels looking to break through the noise. It also allows fans to literally buy into the messaging or aesthetics of a particular artist they admire. Clothing and accessories become a way to physically display musical tastes, opinions and community.

In many ways, the pigeon shirt's explosion of popularity brought the themes of Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" full circle. A song about making self-acceptance mainstream sparked a fashion craze that transformed a niche brand into a staple of stan culture practically overnight. This memeification process from obscurity to omni-present reveals how today's internet and pop culture ecosystems operate.

For Swifties, the PizzaSlime pigeon tee will likely remain one of the most symbolic visual icons from Midnights and the "Anti-Hero" era. And for anti-hero pigeons everywhere - your time to shine is now.

FAQs

Where can I buy the Anti Hero pigeon shirt?

The original shirt is by the brand PizzaSlime and was sold on their website, but it is currently sold out. Taylor Swift's official merchandise store has released several tee options featuring the pigeon design along with "Anti-Hero" lyrics.

What does the pigeon shirt represent?

The pigeon shirt ties into the themes of self-acceptance and embracing your flaws in Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" song. She chose the pigeon design to symbolize taking control of the parts of yourself that society deems as "pests".

Why did the pigeon shirt go viral?

After fans identified the PizzaSlime shirt Taylor Swift wore in her "Anti-Hero" music video, demand went through the roof. Swifties rushed to purchase it and recreate her video look for the #AntiHeroChallenge on TikTok, causing the tee to quickly sell out.

What is the #AntiHeroChallenge?

The #AntiHeroChallenge is a viral TikTok trend where fans lip-sync and dance along to Taylor Swift's "Anti-Hero" song dressed in gray outfits and messy buns like her video look. Wearing the pigeon tee helps complete the DIY costume.

Did Taylor Swift make her own pigeon shirts?

Yes, shortly after the video premiered Swift's official store released several t-shirt options featuring the PizzaSlime pigeon graphic along with lyrics from "Anti-Hero." This allowed fans to purchase the design even though the original sold out fast.