Cupcake Bites

Cupcake pattern T-shirt

Though variety is said to be the spice of life, sometimes having too many choices can be overwhelming. My husband feels like this when confronted with restaurant menus that contain too many items; with so much to choose from, he finds himself unable to make a decision.

If only ordering food was as simple as ordering this cupcake pattern tee from the cute institute! Rather than ask customers to choose a single cupcake, they've eliminated the decision-making process completely and given us 25 cupcakes in 19 different flavors neatly arranged and printed on a variety of T-shirt styles for men, women, and children.

Cupcake and crossbones sheer V-neck

Since only a cupcake could coax me into wearing a skull-and-crossbones design, I don't mind seeing another take on an idea that I attribute (mistakenly or not) to Johnny Cupcakes.

Assuming the ominous-looking cupcake shown at right is an original creation by TheCandiedThread, who offers the artwork on a fitted sheer V-neck ($28) and other styles, I'll say that the colored-pencil look, shading, and skull cherry are all really working for me.

Catfox Design Kawaiidoscope Cupcake clothing

Great news! My search for the cutest cupcake characters ever created is officially over.

Please stand as I introduce the achingly adorable Kawaiidoscope Cupcakes by Catfox Design. The current cast is made up of an impressive 25 cupcake characters, each with their own distinct look and unique name. One of my favorites is Orange Tabby, the sweet cupcake shown here that features candy orange slice "ears" and orange frosting striped with chocolate. The design can be printed on all kinds of clothing available through Zazzle, including this ladies basic shirt ($29.25), and CafePress.

Check out all the Kawaiidoscope Cupcakes below.

Cupcake vintage-inspired hostess apron

If your craving for dessert-themed merchandise isn't completely satisfied with cupcake gear, then you may be interested in what sister site Ice Cream Bites has to offer. A few weeks ago, for example, you would have been introduced to the ice cream variant of this retro SWEET TEMPTATION cupcake hostess apron ($42), a 19.5" apron handmade by chic to chic out of "the finest quality designer fabrics."

A standard apron has a 21" x 2.25" waistband and 35.5" ties, but other measurements are available via special order. The pink rick rack trim is a nice alternative to the red pom poms used on the ice cream apron, don't you think?

Irish cupcake women's V-neck shirt

Depending on how you look at it (and maybe also your heritage), donning this Irish cupcake v-neck tee from SuzyQ Shirts either makes you several weeks late or nearly a year early for St. Patrick's Day.

You could easily argue that any day is suitable for celebrating Ireland, three-leaf clovers (what kind of good luck is that?), and cupcakes. And depending on who you ask, you'd probably be right. But what's more likely to happen, however, is that someone will wrap up a calendar for your birthday. Written on the card? "You obviously don't know what day it is."

Available in black and heather gray for $27.

Ugly muffins T-shirt makes cupcakes seem smug

Although the real difference between a muffin and a cupcake is more complex, the simplified sentiment printed on this Ugly Muffins Tee ($19) from Hot Topic is probably shared by many a cupcake fan.

The forlorn muffin (which looks more like an acorn to me) sits apart from the trio of ultra chic and heavily frosted cupcakes, who all seem blissfully oblivious to their fellow baked good's existence. Why the smiles that are somehow enhanced by the peacefully closed eyes? Because "muffins are just ugly cupcakes," of course.

Chocolate cupcake chenille baby hat

Since babies are already blessed with that intoxicating "baby smell," someone decided to make them even more irresistible by covering their heads in a scrumptious cupcake. A chenille one. You know chenille, right? It's that crazy-soft fabric that few can keep their hands off of (even if they're not the ones wearing it). Poor baby. Make sure she has a really strong neck before going out in public with this on.

The cupcake baby hat is available in sizes small/medium (0 to 6 months) and large (6 to 12 months) for $24.

Colorful cupcake flip-flops

We don't use the word "flip-flops" here in Hawaii (we say "slippers"), but since that's what most of the world calls the summer footwear, I'll go along with it and show you these cupcake flip-flops that are available for only $5 from Hot Topic. They've got frosted green straps and brightly colored cupcakes, complete with coordinating liners and cherries, printed all over where your feet would cover them.

The slippers (I can't help it!) are fashioned out of "man-made materials" (they're usually made of rubber here) and are only available in size small. What that translates to in American sizing is unclear, but for $5, I'm willing to take a chance.

Cupcake demi bra

Soon after hearing about Cupcake Bites, my oldest sister grabbed her mining gear and set out to dig up some of the most obscure cupcake items she could find. Among the long list she sent me the following day was this Lace & Cupcake Bra ($9.99) from Tilly's.

The fully lined demi bra features padded cups, standard hook and eyelet closure, and adjustable straps. I'm sure there's more than a handful of jokes about the "slight push-up" cupcake bra that could be made here, but none are worth racking my brain over.

Cupcake T-shirt for those who really like cherries

Here we have a cotton T-shirt emblazoned with a plump and juicy cherry . . . with a cupcake beneath it. I mean, seriously. Could the cherry on top of the heavily sprinkled cupcake be any bigger?

The skewed scale and the way the topper is off-centered to give the impression that it was carelessly tossed onto the cloud of frosting certainly ups the cuteness factor, though, doesn't it?

The shirt comes in 17 colors and is available for both children and adults for the same £18 (about $36) price from Mr. Cloud.

Cupcake daffodils apparel design

Freelance artist Kristina Sacci created this whimsical cupcake daffodils design for I See France, makers of "cute underthings," back in March 2006.

The enchanting piece is listed on the artist's apparel page as "concept work," so it seems that the delectable daffodils never made it onto an undershirt or camisole. Who made that silly decision? Because I don't know about you, but I would like nothing more than an entire wardrobe screened with this design.

Sacci's latest cupcake creation is a wrapping paper concept that looks quite lovely (assuming that all nine squares make up a single-block pattern). It's dated February 2008 and since she's usually baking cupcakes when not making art or sleeping (so says her about page), it's obvious that the slighted cupcake daffodil design didn't affect her great taste.