Vintage T-Shirts for Men: The Best Online Stores to Shop the Coolest Secondhand Tees | GQ

Though we can (and do) rap endlessly about the nuances of a fresh tee, there’s nothing quite as satisfying as perfectly broken in vintage T-shirts for men. The faded colors, the mesmerizing cracked screen-printed graphics, the unparalleled softness to which brand new tees aspire (and marketing teams call “lived-in”). Vintage tees come with character that can’t easily be faked. They’re the antithesis of the pristine, vacuum-packed bulk buys you’ll find at big box stores. Wearing one is an easy way to imbue an outfit with personality. And that’s why we love them. Oh, and of course they’re a lot better for the planet. 

Flipping through racks and racks of busted clothes is part of the fun, but it’s not part of everyone’s idea of fun. As much as we’d like to get all philosophical and tell you that shopping for vintage clothing is about the journey and not the destination, we’re here to hand you the map and show you the shortcut. Because life’s too short and every vintage tee is a one-off. Whether you’re after novelty graphic tees, retro single-stitch blanks, or rare concert tour T-shirts, here are the best places to shop for vintage men’s T-shirts online. 

eBay sells literally everything making it both a wild place and the world’s largest vintage store. You may not get the ambience of a physical vintage store, but trawling through its endless pages trying to filter the wheat from the chaff is about as close as you can get to the real thing. There’s a digital Everest of vintage T-shirts on eBay and if you’re willing to make the harrowing climb, you could strike gold.

While eBay can feel like a jungle, Etsy comes off more like a curated flea market. There are vendors that sell their DIY crafts, others that sell vintage home goods, and and others that just sell tchotchkes. And like any flea market, there’s always a guy selling old T-shirts. It feels a little more polished than eBay and less daunting, especially since you don’t have to worry about getting into any bidding wars.

Grailed is the go-to place for the style-minded guys who know their Junya from their Jun as well as ravenous streetwear resellers. It’s also become a place for some of the coolest, best-curated vintage tees. That said, don’t hold your breath if you’re hoping to stumble upon a rare find for a crazy deal.

Vintage Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Crew Promo 1980 Shirt, $250

Vintage Grateful Dead Oakland New Year’s Eve Tie Dye 1992 Shirt, $400

Wyco Vintage is one of the most comprehensive places to buy the rarest vintage T-shirts. Their archive of band tees is like walking into a library where T-shirts are sorted by musical artist, genre, decade, and more. Grateful Dead grails, Led Zeppelin tees galore, with a good selection of rare hip hop tees, too. But you can also score hard-to-find Star Wars tees, tie-dye, and even a smattering of vintage streetwear. If you know what you’re after and don’t want to have to wade through a sea of unfiltered tees (isn’t that what thrift stores are for?), Wyco’s library of vintage is what you should check out.

70s/80s Pink Panther single stitch T-shirt, $30

Thrashed blank square pocket T-shirt, $45

Head over to Used Junk if you’re looking for a vintage tee that not only has a cool graphic, but also looks like it’s been through a lot. Crew necks, V-necks, thermals, blank cotton t-shirts, logo T-shirts—it’s all sun-faded and distressed to absolute perfection.

Vintage Coheed & Cambria Band T shirt, $150

Original Backstreet Boys Black & Blue Tour T Shirt 2001, $95

Metropolis Vintage does carry some Tupac and vintage ’90s boy band tees, but they specialize in classic Rock & Roll T-shirts. Odds are they have your favorite band on a once-upon-a-time-beefy, now-practically-diaphanous 100% cotton tee.

Vintage Cypress Hill shirt 1992 Pass the Blunt, $153

80s Reebok Fairmount 500 Eugene, Oregon single stitch T-shirt, $63

The Google-friendly name says it all. Sweet Vintage T-shirts is a cavalcade of tees organized into expected categories like band tees and sports as well as “fun & party,” “animal shirt,” and, simply, “iconic.” It’s a deep well, so prepare to scroll for a while.

1970s/1980s Collegiate Pacific “Camp Conrad Weiser” ringer tee, $40

Flavored & Distressed single stitch tee — 1970s, $45

In No Maintenance’s eyes, a little schmutz on a blank T-shirt isn’t a stain, it’s flavor. The vintage store has earned a dedicated fan base for its Russell Athletic sweatshirts as well as its stock of sun-faded and bleach-splattered blank T-shirts. But you’d better quick because each drop sells fast.

Office Pavilion Specmark / Herman Miller Shirt, $85

Spain Everything Under the Sun Tourist Souvenir Shirt, $70

Intramural’s aesthetic encompasses everything from furniture design to audiophile culture and beyond. The eclectic shop is the result of founder Bijan Shahvali’s sharp eye. Somehow, a vintage IBM mug, a Herman Miller cycling jersey, and a promotional Wrangler-branded ash tray all live in harmony under the same roof. If you love design, jazz, and cinema (Shahvali’s been tapped by A24 to curate their vintage offering), check out Intramural and its fine-tuned selection of graphic T-shirts.

Tenor Music tee, $68

70s Tae Kwon Do Studio Tee, $58

A frequent go-to source of inspiration for brands like Bode, Moth Food’s slate of vintage Americana is breathtaking. Their vintage tees span mostly from the ‘60s through ‘70s with less focus on the usual band tee fare and more on regional cultural artifacts, animals, and nature.

1990s single stitched painted blank tee, $25

1980s single stitched “Mid-Westchester Health and Racquet Club” long-sleeve tee, $130

Based in Los Angeles, Unsound Rags is known for its brooding aesthetic. You can count on them for vintage Levi’s and work jackets, but their esoteric stockpile of vintage T-shirts is among the best. Peep them if you’re looking for thrashed and sun-faded single-stitch blank tees, crude humor graphic tees, and rare shoegaze band T-shirts.

Vintage 2002 Honda Kent Stotz 3 Time National Champion tee, $50

Vintage single stitched L.L. Bean Outdoor Tradition tee, $80

Vintage New York Yankees and Mets tees will always be cool, at least to the Brooklyn-based store Select Vintage. But they’ll also stock vintage pro wrestling tees, video game tees, and promotional movie merch with a focus on the 1990s and 2000s, i.e., the sweet spot of millennial nostalgia.

70’s Tillamook Cheese tee, $70

70’s Led Zeppelin Swan Song raglan tee, $140

Kissing Booth focuses on vintage Americana, militaria, and workwear, so you’re likely to walk away with a sick pair of worn Levi’s or a chore coat. When it comes to their vintage tee shirt offering, you’ll find a grip of candy-colored graphic tees from the ‘70s including a generous helping of vibey ringer-style tees. But you’ll also find a smattering of blanks from the ‘60s and punk rock tees from the ‘80s and ‘90s.