* * * Official baller T-SHIRT thread * * *

[GoldenTribe]

In 2009, The Hunt For LA’s Most Expensive T-Shirt ended with Giorgio Armani's signature cashmere tee for $1,850. Since then, we've seen a nearly identical price tag on a (women's) plain green cotton tee with holes in it thanks to Balmain.

Cotton T-shirts are one category where a brand's price point really shows. Leather can be torn off an endangered alligator, artisanally aged and distressed, blah blah blah. With respect to cotton, I don't think you can do anything all that impressive except grow it in Zimbabwe; organic is nice when it's available (not often), and Fair Trade couldn't hurt if that even exists (Edun?). At least when it comes to jeans there is the extra craftsmanship of construction and the character of denim itself (with all sorts of finishes, blends, linings, quirks [slub/selvedge], etc.) to differentiate one design from the next and justify exorbitant pricing.

But in terms of t-shirts, what separates the four-digit variety from the contents of those Hanes three-packs your mother used to buy? There's the cotton sourcing/labour, as above; the "quality" of construction (anyone want to discuss what that encompasses or how much it matters in a tee?); and the design.

Most designs are prints, and most t-shirt designs visually tend to fall into a few simple categories: (1) small design on left chest, (2) big design centered on front, and (3) all-over print -- so I like it whenever designers subvert this. I came up with a few examples of "embellished" tees with more than just a print: a Margiela with snap-button armour, a quilted Jil, sequin-beetle-embellished Lanvin, a Gaspard Yurkievich with asymmetrical shoulder dart detail, and an indescribably textured Raf tank (EDIT: added a few more).

Here are some baller t-shirts to get things started:

Alexander McQueen

I guess he has a thing for feathers




Yohji Yamamoto

Jil Sander

Undercover

Vivienne Westwood

Christopher Kane

Balenciaga

Neil Barrett

Raf Simons

Burberry Prorsum

Dior Homme

Gaspard Yurkievich

Lad Musician

Lanvin

Margiela

Comme des Garcons (SHIRT)

I think this was an undershirt, actually (it was on Yoox), but I like the print, it reminds me of bacterial cultures, microbes, that sort of thing. (Don't know if that's what it's supposed to be though or if it's just "paint splats" / abstract)

Armani

One of those $1400+ cashmere numbers:

Balmain

Unknown

 

[iroh]

i am looking for fitted white v neck and crew neck t shirts that thick and not see-through, suggestions?

 

[clark kent]

this thread is going to kill me. i've always wanted a christopher kane shirt.

 

[brad-t]

Wow, when I said we should have a baller t-shirt thread I did not mean this baller ... just wanted a place to discuss non basic t-shirts really haha

Some cool stuff there.

 

[sipang]

Impressive selection, always been a sucker for the Kane prints

 

[GoldenTribe]

I didn't manage to get my hands on one of the space tees this season, but in a stroke of luck yesterday I stumbled upon a Christopher Kane sweater languishing on deep sale at Opening Ceremony and it was my favourite print -- in 85% silk/15% cashmere, no less. So I picked it up (FYI, there are two more silk space sweaters still on sale.), but how insufferably douchey is this model!?

 

[brad-t]

One of mine, bleached black jersey by Shellac:

 

[impolyt_one]

I have an old MMM bias-cut pocket tee with a subtle drape and deconstructed neckline I bought about 5 years ago, cost about $400 at the MMM store. I believe it was a season to season piece but I never saw any again in recent years. Was a good tee though. I should modify it and make a version of my own.

 

[Lionheart Biker]

This thread needs moar Balmain. Dopest tees ever!!!

 

[hoozah]

i'd wear all of those, at the same time.

 

[Lane]

wow list of ugly, why only graphic ts?

 

[Edris]

Have to mention this

 

[Xhale12]

Awesome thread.

 

[RegisDB9]

I'd buy way more "baller" t's if designers would make more V and U necks. Right now all my t's are just Geller/MMM/N. Hollywood and some JL

 

[kook]

I like Sunspel... baller enough?