There’s nothing quite like the thrill of coming across the perfect vintage t-shirt or shirt. While there’s no shortage of options out there these days, the best vintage t-shirts set the bar for what your contemporary tee wants to be—it’s irresistibly soft, broken-in and harnessing a cool-factor inherent to finding a needle in a haystack. You probably already know that vintage t-shirts tend to be better quality, too. Considering that technically anything vintage should be at least twenty years old, if your tee was around when Britney Spears first crooned Baby One More Time and is still in good shape, odds are if you take care of it (like, hand wash), it’ll last you another twenty.
While I grew up frequenting a special stretch of Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles for vintage t-shirts (and underwear that my mom should have definitely not let me keep), with all of the stellar options online today, I rarely have to leave my couch when I’m in the mood to shop second hand. The majority of tees I’ve sourced in my roundup below are from trusted sources like Etsy, Vestiaire and Urban Outfitters, sites that I typically don’t have to scour for long. But, if you don’t have the patience to scroll even a little bit, I’ve also included a few options of *new-but-like-vintage* options that actually look vintage (because there’s nothing that drives me crazier than a new tee trying its hardest to have a patina).
From striped pocket tees a la Miu Miu to rugby button-downs and band tees, 33 enviable vintage shirts await.
Etsy
90’s Thelonius Monk T-Shirt
$175
A really good find if I say so myself.
Etsy
Vintage 80’s Land’s End Basic T-Shirt
$50
Did someone say Miu Miu?
Gucci
T-Shirt
$260$221
Oy vey I love this.
Urban Outfitters
Vintage 1970s Rio Brazil Windsurf Graphic T-Shirt
$130
Such a good vacation tee.
Urban Outfitters
Vintage 1990s Point Break Surf Graphic T-Shirt
$60
I seriously contemplated buying this for myself. If it’s gone by the time you read this…sorry.
Etsy
Vintage Grateful Dead Spiraling Bears 1991 Summer Tour
$90
Do yourself a favor and check out the back of this one.
Etsy
Vintage 1970’s/80’s rainbow Camp Comeca T-shirt
$30$24
This rainbow graphic is too cute.
ASOS
Reclaimed Vintage Unisex Wu-Tang Licensed T-Shirt
$51
A band tee that actually looks vintage for a fraction of the price.
Jean Paul Gaultier
Shirt
$230
This tank will make someone very happy one day.
etsy
NY GIANTS Football Raglan Pullover Top
$95
Not that into sports, but I would sport this.
Urban Outfitters
Urban Renewal Remade Tie-Dye Baby Tee
$49
I love that Urban Outfitters takes dead-stock vintage items and reimagines them with their Urban Renewal line. This tie-dye baby tee is a must in my book.
Burberry
Shirt
$56$40
A square-neck for your troubles.
Burberry
T-Shirt
$130$108
You’ll be hard pressed to find a contemporary Burberry bear tee in red.
Etsy
Vintage 1990’s ‘Aye Carumba’ Bootleg Bart Graphic T-Shirt
$45
‘Aye Carumba’ is right!
RE/DONE
Classic Tee Lets Be Friends
$160
I can always count on Re/Done for a good vintage-inspired tee.
Urban Outfitters
Urban Renewal Vintage Rugby Shirt
$59
Really into the cobalt blue stripes here.
Versace
Silk Blouse
$229$143
The sheen on this vintage Versace blouse is just right.
etsy
Vintage 80s Iowa State Cyclones Single Stitch T-Shirt
$57
It’s the color scheme for me.
etsy
BEST & CO. Striped T-Shirt
$99
Another tee I seriously contemplated buying for myself.
Damson Madder
Bon Appetito Shirt
$115
A new pick, but you could have fooled me.
Urban Outfitters
Vintage Western Embroidered Snap Button Shirt
$69
Yeehaw!
etsy
Short-Sleeve Collared Button-Up Shirt
$12$11
Bode, anyone?
Etsy
Los Angles 80s Summer Olympics Ringer Tee
$62
‘Tis the season.
etsy
Vintage Panda Bear Nature T-shirt
$30
If you’re a Bode fan, I’ll bet you’ve seen their panda t-shirt for 10x the price of this little guy.
D&G
Silk Corset
$206
Ok, this might be a corset, but how could I not include?!
etsy
Vintage 1970’s Adidas White Ringer T Shirt
$80
Buttery soft vintage tees are my love language.
Abercrombie & Fitch
Cropped Prince Graphic Tee
$40
In a surprising twist, Abercrombie & Fitch does a great vintage-impersonator shirt!
Abercrombie & Fitch
Short-Sleeve Matisse Graphic Skimming Tee
$40
Exhibit B.
urban outfitters
Vintage 1960s Distressed Spooner Graphic Shirt
$240
I’m a sucker for 3/4 length sleeves.
Courrèges
T-Shirt
$116
Another ringer tee you probably can’t live without.
RE/DONE
90s Baby Tee
$150
If you’re not familiar, Pamela Anderson wore the long sleeve version of this tee in an iconic 90’s spread.
Amazon
Oversized Striped Shirt
$29$27
Not quite vintage, but I’ll take it!
Dolce & Gabbana
Shirt
$251$214
