You know that weird moment. You’re scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, and suddenly, you see someone wearing the exact same obscure graphic tee you bought from a thrift shop in 2019. It’s a mix of "hey, we have great taste" and "wait, am I less unique than I thought?" This specific feeling has crystallized into a very niche, very online phrase: i have that shirt too kinda. It’s more than just a comment. It is a digital nod, a way of signaling belonging in a world where fast fashion and viral aesthetics make us all look a little bit alike, even when we’re trying to be different.
Honestly, it's funny. We spend so much time curate-ing our "personal brands," yet the algorithm eventually pushes us all toward the same check-out buttons.
Why We All Say I Have That Shirt Too Kinda
The phrase popped up as a reaction to the hyper-specific nature of modern fashion. It isn't just about owning the same H&M basic. It’s about those shirts that feel personal—maybe a niche band tee, a specific souvenir from a vacation spot, or a drop from a streetwear brand like Supreme or Online Ceramics. When you see someone else with it, you aren't just seeing a garment. You’re seeing a mirror.
But why the "kinda"?
That’s where it gets interesting. Maybe yours is a different colorway. Maybe yours is a knockoff from a site that rhymes with "She-in." Or maybe you don’t actually own the physical shirt, but you possess the exact same vibe. You’ve inhabited that aesthetic so thoroughly that seeing the shirt feels like looking at your own closet. It’s a linguistic "vibe check" that bypasses formal fashion criticism.
The Death of the "Gatekeeper" Mentality
In the old days—let's say 2012—if you saw someone wearing your favorite underground band's shirt, you might have felt defensive. "Name three songs," the gatekeepers would sneer. That energy is mostly dead. The i have that shirt too kinda movement is the opposite. It’s inclusive. It acknowledges that in the 2020s, everything is accessible to everyone all at once.
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Digital fashion communities on Reddit, specifically subreddits like r/streetwear or r/thrifting, have fostered this. Instead of mocking someone for having the same "unique" find, users celebrate the coincidence. It’s a communal high-five.
The internet is a massive place, yet it feels tiny when the same vintage "Iron Maiden" tour shirt keeps appearing on your feed across three different continents. We are all shopping from the same global digital rack.
The Logistics of the Viral Wardrobe
Ever heard of "The Amazon Coat"? A few years ago, a specific Orolay down jacket went so viral that you couldn't walk a block in New York City without seeing it. That was the precursor to the i have that shirt too kinda phenomenon.
What's happening now is more fragmented. It’s not one coat; it’s a thousand different "micro-trends."
- The Algorithm Factor: Pinterest and TikTok don't just show you what you like; they show you what people like you are buying. If you bought a "Cowboy Carter" style shirt, the algorithm will ensure five of your "mutuals" see it too.
- The Resale Loop: Apps like Depop and Poshmark mean that one specific "rare" shirt can cycle through five different owners in two years. You might literally have that exact shirt. Kinda.
- The Dupe Culture: Let’s be real. A lot of us have the "kinda" version because the original was $400 and the tribute was $25.
Fashion used to be a top-down industry. Designers told us what to wear. Now, it’s lateral. We tell each other what to wear by simply existing in the same digital spaces. When a shirt goes viral, it’s usually because it hits a very specific "core"—cottagecore, gorpcore, barbiecore. If you subscribe to the "core," you probably have the shirt.
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Is Our Style Actually Getting More Boring?
Critics argue that this "I have that too" culture is the death of individuality. If everyone is saying i have that shirt too kinda, does anyone actually have a style of their own?
There's a nuanced take here. Fashion historian Amanda Hallay often speaks about how fashion is a reflection of societal shifts. Right now, our society is hyper-connected but deeply lonely. Finding someone with the same shirt is a low-stakes way to feel a connection. It's a "Twin Where Have You Been" moment for the wardrobe.
While the items might be the same, the styling is where the "kinda" comes back into play. You might wear that oversized graphic tee with biker shorts and New Balance sneakers. Someone else might tuck it into a pleated skirt with combat boots. Same shirt, different soul.
The Psychology of "Social Proof"
Psychologically, seeing someone else own what you own validates your choices. It’s "social proof." If that cool creator has that shirt, then your decision to buy it wasn't just a random impulse—it was a move toward a specific cultural identity.
We are tribal creatures. In the past, tribes had specific warpaints or beadwork. Today, we have "I Have That Shirt Too Kinda." It’s our modern tribal marking.
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How to Lean Into the Shared Closet Trend
If you find yourself constantly seeing your wardrobe on other people, don't panic. You don't need to burn your clothes and start over with hand-woven hemp. Instead, use it as a starting point for better style and better shopping.
- Ditch the Gatekeeping. Next time you see someone in "your" shirt, give them a compliment. It’s a great way to actually meet people who share your interests.
- Focus on the "Kinda." Make the outfit yours through accessories, tailoring, or unexpected pairings. The shirt is the canvas, not the whole picture.
- Invest in Longevity. If a shirt is so popular that everyone has a version of it, try to find the high-quality version that will last ten years, rather than the fast-fashion version that will fall apart in ten washes.
- Track the Source. Use tools like Google Lens to see where these "viral" shirts are coming from. Often, you’ll find a small independent creator who is being ripped off by big brands. Buying from the source makes the "I have that shirt" comment way more meaningful.
The internet makes us feel like we’re part of a hive mind sometimes. And yeah, maybe we are. But if the hive mind has a really cool taste in vintage-inspired tees, is that really such a bad thing?
The next time you’re about to comment i have that shirt too kinda on a stranger's post, remember that you’re participating in a weird, global, accidental fashion show. It’s a tiny thread connecting us in a very loud digital world. Embrace the "kinda." It’s where the personality lives.
Actionable Steps for Your Wardrobe
Stop worrying about being "basic" and start focusing on being authentic. If you love a shirt that happens to be popular, wear it anyway. Check the fabric composition—aim for 100% cotton over polyester blends so your "shared" shirt actually lasts. Most importantly, look at how you can mix that "viral" piece with something no one else has, like a vintage belt or a handmade piece of jewelry. That’s how you move from "I have that shirt too" to "I have that shirt, but I made it look like me."
Look at your closet today. Identify the one piece you see everywhere. Instead of hiding it, challenge yourself to style it in a way you haven't seen on your feed yet. That is how you break the algorithm's hold on your personal expression while still enjoying the fun of a shared trend.