Classic Rock Tees: How Much Would You Pay for Vintage Band Shirts?
Images courtesy Pinterest
Experts in vintage fashion define “vintage tee shirts” as having lived a life already, not mint-condition and fresh out of plastic wrap. We’re talking single-stitched, cracked texture, very soft and lived-in. Vintage tee shirts have the allure of its patina - the story that piece tells. You’ll find that experts and vintage enthusiasts alike saying, “meaning outweighs monetary value.” You may be wondering why some tee shirts can cost between $10-$50 while others can cost more than $600. One reason is due to the demand for a vintage tee; the price will go up if more people want it. Others buying or selling agree with those who prefer meaning over monetary value; the tee is an authentic from 1980, so you won’t just sell it for $10. This isn’t too uncommon as many tees, especially those of rock bands, can go for up to $1,200+ on resell sites.
The vintage tee shirt market has a wide range of pricing for both authentic and modern reprinted vintage. On a resell site like Ebay you can find the one-of-a-kind, authentic vintage tee shirt from a decade it was first printed and sold, many with bids up to $500. Whereas on a site like Depop and Old School Tees you can find modern manufactured vintage tee shirts that are not necessarily authentic, but are replicas of those from decades ago. Celebrities rock these manufactured tees in Instagram posts and in paparazzi photos, leading fans to find replicas on sites all over the internet.
Want to add an authentic vintage tee to your closet? Strict budget or not, here are some great options from a wide range of pricing to add a vintage vibe to yours.
$0 - $100
DEPOP
American Vintage Queen Tee
Depop is one of the most popular resell websites to get both authentic vintage and reprint vintage clothing. This is official merchandise sold in 2019; a casual vintage tee shirt sold on a third-party website. You’ll notice this on the resold and reprinted tees are sold for cheaper and often on those third-party sites like Depop and Etsy. Although, if you’re looking for the real deal, there are plenty of authentic vintage items on Etsy as well.
eBay
RARE Vintage Marilyn Manson Tee XL
This 1994 Marilyn Manson Winterland tee is a rare item that retails for $175. Like most products on the site, a handful of people are watching the bidding for the shirt, currently sitting at $50.00. Want to bid more and add it to your collection? Click the “$50” price box above to check where the bidding is at right now!
Etsy
Vintage Metallica Tee XXL
This pre-owned, vintage Metallica tee is being sold for $65 on eBay, but buyers can also give their best offers to get it for a lower price.
$101 - $250
eBay
Vintage Def Leppard Shirt
This XL Black Adrenaline tee is for sale right now for $107, originally being posted at $120. The price can go up or down at any moment if someone posts their best offer, or if the seller continues to lower it! It’s pre-owned from the 1990s.
Grailed
Vintage Judas Priest Tshirt
One of the best parts about resell sites is that you can purchase vintage tees in bundles. This authentic lived in tee is in good condition, which you can purchase as part of a bundle or individually.
Grailed
2000s Incubus Lotus Hand Tshirt
This shirt is from the Incubus Concert World Tour. It’s another authentic, lived in item for sale with no holes or stains. One great feature of the Grailed website is that they offer a price comparison, so you know if you are getting the best deal on your purchase.
$251 - $500
Star Struck Vintage
Original 1970s Led Zeppelin Tshirt
Websites like Star Struck Vintage feature original vintage items from eras like the 70s, offering rock band merchandise to add to collections. This is a time-crunch item because only 1 is available!
Wyco Vintage
1988 Guns N Roses Tshirt
For an original 1988 Appetite for Destruction tee, $300 is a great price. This shirt isn’t a modern reproduction so it is true vintage!
High Class Hillbilly
RARE Original 1977 Led Zeppelin Tee
This type of shirt has been reprinted and resold many times, but this one linked above is an ORIGINAL from 1977. It is in overall good condition, perfect for your collection!
$501-$750+
Wyco Vintage
1981 Iron Maiden Sweden Concert Tshirt
This original 1981 concert tee from Iron Maiden is true vintage and not a modern reproduction. It comes laundered and ready to wear, just like all tees on this website!
eBay
1990s Alice in Chains: Dirt Album Release Tee
This pre-owned tee shirt is a merch item from Alice in Chains’ Dirt album release in September 1992. Considering it is lived in and over 30 years old, it’s in very good condition! This item is a great example of some of the best authentic vintage items sold on resell sites. Plus: no one has placed a bid yet which means it could be yours!
Grailed
1990 Red Hot Chili Peppers feat. The Cramps & Weirdos Tee
This vintage XL Red Hot Chili Peppers tee is lived in but in great condition. It's been authenticated by the Grailed in-house experts or trusted partners, so you know you’re purchasing the real deal!
Edited by Kiki Kitsinis
