Real Clothes: A design of pure genius

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more

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The white T-shirt is the single item of clothing that just about everybody owns. Lots of folk don't wear jeans, or possess a leather jacket (the other two "staples"), but nearly everyone has a white T-shirt of some description (even if it is almost hidden under football insignia).

Although the white T is a classic that, in its purest form, no one has messed with since it came into being - just after the First World War - sometimes it's nice to have something a little different too.

Thankfully we've moved away from the hideous logo T-shirts of the Eighties ("Relax", hand prints on breasts, etc) and logos in the Nineties have been much more subtle. My favourite of the moment is the rose one from Boyd (pictured). It's quite expensive but very cute and, unlike cheaper ones, its proportions are just right.

This week's fashion was shot in Kenmare, Co Kerry, a stupendously beautiful little town in southern Ireland, where there are only two streets: Main Street and Henry Street. The Kerry "name" is O'Sullivan, hence the proliferation of it on these pages. To avoid confusion between one O'Sullivan and the next, people are given nicknames such as "Marie the Groover" which is what one O'Sullivan is affectionately known as. Our models - all real people - were asked to model a T-shirt and give their thoughts on the most popular item of clothing in the world.

Styled by Annalisa Barbieri. Thanks to the people of Kenmare, Co Kerry, Sheen Falls Lodge and, in particular, Jennifer Connery.

Joe O'Sullivan, 60

Maintenance man

Joe wears "I love snogging" T-shirt (one size), pounds 45, Toby, The Cross, 141 Portland Road, London W11. The Square, 5/6 Shires Yard, Bath BA1. Whistles, 18 Balfe Street, Dublin 2.

(tel: 0171 727 7244).

"I don't wear T-shirts. Shirts yes, but T-shirts just aren't me. This one would be perfect for my teenage daughter though. She'll be really jealous. And yes, I do love snogging. What sort of question is that?!"

Sean Gleeson, 21

Lifeguard

Wears a Harley-Davidson T-shirt (one size), pounds 25, Warr's Harley-Davidson Motorclothes Store, 125 King's Road, London SW3 (tel: 0171 376 7084).

"I always wear my T-shirts tight, but perhaps not quite this tight. I have loads of them. They go with my combat trousers, my tracksuit bottoms - everything."

Marian O'Sullivan, 42

Co-owns Mickey Ned's cafe on Henry Street, with her husband, ex-footballer Mickey Ned

Wears an "I have nothing to wear T-shirt" (one size), pounds 45, Toby, The Cross, 141 Portland Road, London W11. The Square, 5/6 Shires Yard, Bath BA1. Whistles, 18 Balfe Street, Dublin 2 (tel: 0171 727 7244).

"I always wear white T-shirts under something like a suit - but never for work."