beauty

Science has developed a white shirt even the messiest eaters can't stain.

Image: Elizabeth & Clarke.

Despite being a functioning grown-up with a tax file number and a job, I am an appallingly messy eater.

As a kid, my parents nicknamed me ‘Piglet’ in honour of my… let’s just say enthusiastic dining style, and I’ve never managed to shake it.

RELATED: The trick to having more self-control over your eating.

For this reason, I generally avoid wearing white when I know there’s a good chance I’ll spill something — coffee, dumpling broth, pasta sauce, wine — on it. This kinda sucks, because everyone knows a crisp, classic white shirt never fails to make you look like a polished adult lady.

Well, apparently scientists have heard the silent pleas of we clumsy coffee slurpers, because they’ve somehow developed an unstainable white shirt. Yes, I do mean a white shirt that CANNOT BE STAINED, even if your eating style resembles that of a particularly chaotic toddler. Challenge accepted.

This magical shirt, created by clothing company Elizabeth & Clarke, uses nanotechnology to fight off any water- and oil-based stains while still looking like a pretty flattering garment.

As you can see in the video above, spilt liquids like tea and wine will slide right off, while goopier things like mayo and tomato sauce are easily, tracelessly removed with some light water pressure.

RELATED: Is eating breakfast food for dinner bad for your health?

It’s a rare day that I don’t manage to get food on my face, in my hair (including eyebrows), or somewhere on my body. I’m always that person at dinner who manages to get food on the tablecloth or the floor, and when I stand up after a meal crumbs usually cascade from my lap, so this is pretty exciting news.

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Basically, this is me

The even better part? The 'Unstainable' fabric also works for sweat, marking the end of having weird yellow marks under your sleeves. Huzzah!

RELATED: Why do I sweat so much and how can I stop it?

Now, before we get all sciencey, let's stop and consider the possibilities owning this shirt would open up. Food fights! Eating and walking at the same time! Slurping spaghetti with no regrets! Messy hot lunches at work! (Post continues after gallery.)

Here's an explanation of how the fabric works, via the company's Kickstarter page:

"Using a proprietary garment finish that works at the molecular level, the finish zeros in on fabric fibres using tiny ‘whiskers’ that are 100,000 times smaller than a grain of sand. The treatment keeps water and oil-based liquids suspended above the fabric, never allowing stains to touch the silky fibres."

RELATED: Burning health question: Do I need to wash my scarves?

That's all very interesting, but what I really want to know is this: When can I get an entire unstainable wardrobe? One shirt ain't gonna cut it.

This is the 'Liz Lemon' unstainable T-shirt

 

The Unstainable White Shirt is currently available in four designs, including the 'Liz Lemon' plain T-shirt and the 'Arden' sleeveless blouse. Each top costs between $25-$40US depending on the cut, and you can order one through Kickstarter, the slight downside being that the orders won't be shipped out 'til September.

Until then, messy eaters, we'll just have to be careful slurping back all those winter soups and casseroles and stick to safe colours like navy and black.

Would you buy this shirt?