ONCE UPON A TIME, CIRCA MARCH 22, 1982, ALEXA GALLER WAS BORN. INSTEAD OF A BLANKET, DR. FEINSTEIN DELICATELY WRAPPED HER IN A T-SHIRT. A SIGN OF WHAT WAS TO COME.

THROUGHOUT THE AGES, GALLER NEVER STRAYED FROM THIS BELOVED GARMENT. GROWING UP, SHE HAD A STRICT DRESS CODE- NO DRESSES, NO PINK, BOY HAIRCUTS, HE-MAN T-SHIRTS AND BRACES.

IN 4TH GRADE, THE GALLERS TOOK A TRIP TO THE MECCA OF FASHION- CHERRY HILL, NJ, TO VISIT THE CLOSEST GAP. HER SHOPPING SPREE CONSISTED OF OVERSIZED SWEATPANTS IN NEON GREEN AND PRIMARY ORANGE, AND, OF COURSE, A T-SHIRT WITH THE LETTERS G-A-P ON IT.

SHE ONLY DISCOVERED JEANS AT THE AGE OF 12, AND WORE THEM HIGH-WAISTED LIKE A MOM. HER T-SHIRT WAS A TUCKED IN ILL-FITTING OVERSIZED HANES.

IN HIGH SCHOOL SHE LOOKED MUCH BETTER, WELL, IF YOU CALL VINTAGE AUTO SHOP TEES COMBINED WITH POCKET LESS J. CREW PANTS COOL, THEN YES, SHE LOOKED AWESOME.

BUT IT WAS EARLY IN HIGH-SCHOOL THAT SHE DISCOVERED FASHION MAGAZINES, THE ROLLING STONES, NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE AND THE NOW DEFUNCT LOOK, IN WHICH SHE LEARNED THAT JENNIFER LOPEZ ONLY SLEEPS IN 5000 COUNT SHEETS. FROM IN STYLE MAG, SHE RIPPED OUT A PHOTO OF SHARON STONE WEARING A GAP TEE TO THE OSCARS.

IN 2000, GALLER ARRIVED NEW YORK CITY WHERE EVERY CORNER HAD MAGAZINES AND COFFEE-- HEAVEN ON EARTH. SHE FORWENT THE TRADITIONAL MAJOR AND MADE UP HER OWN, THE EXTREMELY BROAD THEME, DESIGN AND SOCIETY (AKA ART + COMMUNICATION). SHE BASICALLY LOOKED AT PAINTINGS ALL DAY AND BECAME OBSESSED WITH MINIMALISTS LIKE FRANZ KLEIN AND BAUHAUS ARCHITECTS. SHE ALSO DEBATED THE ROLE OF FASHION AS AN ART FORM, TO NO AVAIL, WITH HER 70 YEAR OLD MALE PROFESSORS WHO HADN'T BOUGHT NEW CLOTHES IN HALF A CENTURY.

AFTER GRADUATION, GALLER TOOK A JOB AT A COMPANY THAT MADE JEANS FOR WAL-MART. SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING THE EMBROIDERED, RHINESTONE ENCRUSTED BUTTERFLIES THAT WENT ON DENIM BACK POCKETS AND BABY DOLL T-SHIRTS. TO SAY THE LEAST, SHE WASN'T FULFILLED.

SHE BOUGHT A KNOTCHER, FRENCH CURVE AND A STUFFED TOMATO AND WENT TO STUDY FASHION DESIGN AT PARSONS. THERE SHE LEARNED TO DRAPE BODICES, SKETCH EXTRA SKINNY MODELS AND TO PRONOUNCE COMME DES GARCONS, MARGIELA AND LANVIN. SHE ALSO DISCOVERED THE FANCY $50 BASIC JAMES PERSE T-SHIRT, BUT INSTEAD BOUGHT FIVE $10 BLACK TEES AT URBAN OUTFITTERS. IT WAS ALL SHE WORE WITH BLACK JEANS TO EMULATE THE MODEL'S DAY-OFF LOOK, EVEN THOUGH SHE IS 5'0" TALL.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, WEARING BASIC TEES GOT BORING AND IN THE SPRING OF 2010 SHE STARTED EIGHTEENTH, A COLLECTION OF INNOVATIVE T-SHIRTS. NOW SHE HAS AT LEAST FIFTY EIGHTEENTH TEES SCRUNCHED IN HER CLOSET AND WALKS AROUND THE GARMENT DISTRICT IN STYLE.

AND SHE LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER.