Vintage t-shirts run a wide spectrum. On one end are the late nineties familiars: D.A.R.E. tees, aggressive sports team graphics. In the middle there’s the conspicuous vintage: Ringers, stripes, poly-blends. And then, at the other end, are my personal favorites: Graphic tees from the early 80s and older. What Anthony has here is from that era. Paper thin, mounted collar, tubular construction, and a one-of-kind graphic from a legendary cartoonist. Read the letter below.
Hi Anthony,
Thanks for subscribing to Comma, the vintage menswear subscription service! Here’s what you get:
A Big Mac Workshirt: There are a lot of things designed for functional work needs that never make it into mainstream fashion—think full-body zip-up onesies many mechanics wear. Then there are shirts like this: Single color workshirt with two flap pockets made to look presentable while maintaining functionality. Big Mac has made work wear for a long time, and given the wear on the care tag, I’d wager this shirt has been around for a long time, too. Features a great slim fit that’s hard to find in today’s workwear.
A Shenandoah National Park T-Shirt: If you haven’t been there, I recommend it. A gorgeous strip of woods and mountains less than two hours from DC. This shirt features a bright print with Bald Eagle and pine trees. Few things scream 1993 more loudly.
A Bill Gallo T-Shirt: This one actually has some great age to it. Bill Gallo was a cartoonist for the New York Daily News, and he was known for images like this one. Not sure how you feel about tennis, but I hope you appreciate the history here and the age of the shirt. Based on the care tag, the mounted collar, and the fact that it’s tagged a large but fits like a small, I date this to the 1970s. Really a cool piece.