Just like a worn-in pair of shoes, vintage t-shirts provide an enigmatic feeling of comfort and reassurance that a pristine shirt simply cannot provide. Initially designed as one of many, each is now a rare commodity, making them all the more charming. A vintage shirt can be many things to many people; a symbol of status, an ode to their favourite band, a nostalgic comfort or an encapsulation of the essence, that is their personality. To find a vintage tee is like striking gold- where through passionate perseverance or pure chance, you came across your the shirt– your shirt. Whatever your style of a vintage tee, or reason for wanting one, here are the best online vintage men’s t-shirt stores.
Best Vintage T-Shirt Online Shops at a Glance
- Best overall: Etsy
- For cheap vintage T-shirts: eBay
- For fast shipping: Depop
- For rare vintage tees: Lost Boys Vintage
- For vintage band t-shirts: Wyco Vintage
1. Etsy
As far as online shops go for vintage tees, Etsy isn’t the first place we would look. The e-commerce store is full of replica vintage shirt look-alikes where you would be hard-pressed to find a genuine second-hand tee. This being said, if you are looking for an affordable alternative to the pricey genuine shirts, Etsy is a reliable source.
2. Depop
The peer-to-peer clothes swap and sell site feels incredibly genuine and offers an extensive range of vintage tees for every budget. Even the lower-budget items provide a vintage look and feel, with prices starting as low as $10 and ranging to over $1,000. Depop is thrift shopping on a global scale, making finding the perfect vintage t-shirt to match your personal taste so much easier.
3. eBay
It’s a second-hand heaven for anyone looking for anything with a bit of pre-owned charm- a history if you will. Ebay is another ‘something for every budget’ e-store that has quite the selection of men’s vintage tees. For this reason, we recommend going in with an idea of what you’re looking for to save time and decision fatigue in picking a random shirt just for the hell of it.
4. Grailed
Grailed is where we start to get a little more niche. If you know your fashion a bit more than the average bear, Grailed may be your destination. The site offers a more curated selection of vintage wear that leans towards a more moody style. As for their tees- they offer a capsule collection of graphic vintage t-shirts, which feel exclusive and highly unique.
5. Official Vintage
Focused on 90’s pieces in particular, Official Vintage is an online and physical store that hand-picks all the best vintage pieces from around the world to sell in one place- no bullshit. Official Vintage is ideal for those looking for an easier find but still want authentic vintage pieces. Want it easier again? Purchase one of their Mystery Boxes in your size for three effortless editions to your wardrobe.
6. Lost Boys Vintage
From Toronto, Canada, Lost Boys Vintage offers a diverse collection of genuine vintage t-shirts beyond your classic sports team and university hoodies (although you will still find them). Their impressive range of brands certainly provides something for every taste, including old-collection designer brands, iconic Souvenir Tees, cartoon classics and band merch (of course).
7. Kissing Booth
For a clothing piece to be featured on this site, it must be more than just vintage. Kissing Booth is operated by a small team of friends who aim to create a curated, educational, vintage experience. They meticulously source their vintage pieces with an eye for contemporary, looking for references, basics, and oddities that can become a long-time treasure to their new owner.
8. OTC Vintage
The OTC Vintage feels like you’ve stepped into your dad’s closet- all original and from at least ten years ago. The vintage cord, party shirts and 90’s check button-ups are undeniably a highlight, alongside their healthy collection of vintage graphic tees. As far as trustworthy sources go, OTC Vintage is undoubtedly one of them.
9. Wyco Vintage
Home to the world’s largest selection of authentic vintage t-shirts, Wyco has sourced the best of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and 2000s to create a truly remarkable collection. The website has excellent searchability, making it easy to find what you want. Their ‘The Perfect Fit’ feature also helps you buy correctly for your size instead of taking a stab in the dark like you would on most online vintage stores. Their assemblage of quality vintage shirts is profound and beyond impressive.
10. Black Market
Targeted to the culture-conscious customer, Black Market has been a Toronto fixture since the 80’s. Their up-cycled goods are curated for those who appreciate a one-of-a-kind piece, with only a small collection of men’s vintage tees available for purchase online. However, don’t let this stop you from keeping a regular eye on their page, as what you do find may be something truly special.
11. Mothfood
Vintage fiends are not the only ones shopping from Tommy Dorr’s vintage showroom and e-commerce store- Mothfood. Celebs, stylists, actors and musicians alike, are frequenters of this cult favourite based in the Mount Washington neighborhood of LA. Their clothes may be modelled by a female, but Mothfood is for all, and is the crème de la crème of the vintage clothing category.
12. Select Vintage
It’s a nook of nostalgia that gives a bit of everything. From vintage sports and biker tees to late 90s Pokemon prints, you can’t do wrong with Select Vintage. Their vintage men’s shirt collection is robust, and their Instagram following even more so- which is always a sign of an excellent vintage spot.
13. Wrestling 4 Sale
As the title suggested, this online store has a lane, and they’re sticking to it- wrestling. Their speciality may sound unusual, but we have only respect for the self-proclaimed ‘The King of the Ring Merch’. Wrestling 4 Sale encompasses old-school wrestling nostalgia that even non-WWF fans can get around. Don’t go anywhere else to find the best Steve Austin, The Rockers and all your favourite WWF star merch.
Things to Consider for Vintage Tees
When it comes to buying a vintage t-shirt, it bears reminding that the process can be a little different than simply buying off the rack. There are a few key considerations to keep in mind.
Expect Wear and Tear
Like anything pre-loved, there is always a greater chance of wear and tear, naturally due to their age and pre-use. This may just call for a little extra care when cleaning.
Styles
- Graphic Tees – Graphic vintage tees can be anything from your favourite cartoon series, iconic advertisements, moments in history, political movements or just the outright bizarre. Depop provides an extensive variety of vintage graphic t-shirts for almost every interest.
- Vintage Tour Tees – Think ACDC, Metallica and Nirvana, tour tees take up a big chunk of the vintage t-shirt space with their often grunge, oversized aesthetic. Wyco Vintage, in particular, offers easy-to-find selections of your favourite band.
- Sportswear – You don’t need to be a team supporter, or even sports enthusiast to wear these tees, for they hold meaning nonetheless. Sweaters are a common choice of sports merch, but vintage sports tees give a vibe of their own. Official Vintage is a good place to start this style of men’s vintage tee.
How Much Should You Spend on Vintage T-Shirts?
Value is in the eye of the beholder, and so is style. Who are we to dictate how much you should spend on a shirt you love? However, to ensure you’re not spending your dollars on a dud, you should look at the material, tag, stitching, new prints on old shirts, licensing/trade mark, price of the shirt and store reputation.
How We Chose This List
When it comes to our list of the places to buy vintage t-shirts online, it goes without saying, that expertise is key. We purchased shirts from almost every retailer on this list, but for those we haven’t, we’ve turned to reviews from the public, along with analysing the quality of the range, shipping times and customer service ratings.
These days, we have access to more than our neighbourhood thrift store with so many online re-sell and vintage stores to choose from. Which online store you should choose is likely going to be based on your budget, location and personal style.
Value is in the eye of the beholder, and so is style. Who are we to dictate how much you should spend on a shirt you love? However, to ensure you’re not spending your dollars on a dud, you should look at the material, tag, stitching, new prints on old shirts, licensing/trade mark, price of the shirt and store reputation.
