It's a Baby Tee Summer

Long live a tiny vintage novelty tee

I shared my tips on styling a vintage tee last year but it’s worth revisiting the topic, because t-shirts are suddenly everywhere. More specifically: baby tees, which we all thought went away in the late ‘90s and early aughts but came roaring back with a vengeance in recent weeks.

How did this happen? It always starts at the top. The Row introduced a kid’s logo tee, which was seen on Leandra Medine Cohen before promptly selling out.

As she does with everything, Leandra made a humble (can we call a $220 child’s shirt “humble"?”) t-shirt look downright chic and innovative. She also made me scour the internet for t-shirts that offer the same look — very shrunken, lived-in, “oh this old thing?”

I am an avid collector of vintage novelty tees (due to having the name “Virginia,” I never say no to a shirt with my name on it, so I’m always on the hunt for Virginia Slims merch or just tourist shirts from the state itself). They are classics for a reason and there are myriad ways to style them.

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With Shorts

poplin boxer shorts, Acapulco vintage tee, metallic leather sneakers, Sotheby’s hat, waxed cotton jacket, red paracord necklace, lab-grown sapphire necklace, leopard crossbody bag

Worn with boxer-like shorts, this outfit feels like pajamas. But you can chic it up with a barn jacket or a cardigan plus some platform sandals that feel more intentional (or a fun sneaker). FYI: These shorts are quite literally a holy grail for me. The most comfortable, most flattering “boxers” ever (these are wide at the bottom, so they don’t hug your thighs like an actual pair of men’s boxers would).

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With Flowy Pants

ivory drawstring pants, vintage white tee, white drawstring pouch, mesh balconette bra, charm necklace, mesh slippers

Similar to the Leandra look above, a flowy pant skews the tee in a more sophisticated direction. And there is nothing sexier than a threadbare vintage tee with a black bra showing through.

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With Resortwear

1975 baby blue Rock Dreams tee, crochet knit miniskirt, paracord sandals, SPF tinted lip balm, recycled bronze fish necklace, multicolored mesh tote

This is just a very Cool Girl outfit. A mesh tote, vintage rock tee, crochet mini… ideal to throw on over a bathing suit or great on its own, for lunch.

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With Jeans

vintage Pearls Are the Only Thing tee, tapered jeans, oversized blazer, lab-grown sapphire necklace, black loafers, soft suede clutch, hydrating lipstick

The most obvious choice, sure, but it’s also so oppressively hot right now I’m not going near my jeans at the moment. But come cooler temps, I’ll be pairing my baby tees with slightly baggy jeans, sneakers, aviators, and blazers, to replicate a suit.

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With a Skirt for Day

Arte shirt via the Choose app (use code VCHAMLEE for $20 off), multicolored skirt, paracord sandals, red paracord necklace, SPF tinted lip balm, gold hoop earrings, bouclé striped knit bag

I love a baby tee with a choker, a midi-length skirt, gladiator sandals, and a slicked-back bun (with hoops). Something about this is so sexy to me. The above shrit is actually not vintage but I ordered it via the Choose app (everything on the app is discounted beyond what you can find it for online, plus you can use the code VCHAMLEE for $20 off). Add a swipe of SPF tinted lip balm and you’re golden.

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With a Skirt for Night

vintage black tee, silk sheer midi skirt, snakeskin printed heels, lip and cheek stain, wood clutch with tassel, lab-grown sapphire necklace

I loooooove the sheer skirt trend and this one (under $150) is great to pair with a shrunken tee and a sexy pair of heels.

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How to Shop for a Vintage T-Shirt

• Check the tag: Obviously, if it’s a brand name you recognize (Old Navy, any of the Target brands), it’s a re-print of a vintage tee. But if the tag looks old (faded, with dated font) it might be vintage. Sometimes tags also include the date of printing.

• Check the stitching: Generally speaking, new t-shirts will have two stitching lines on the sleeves, rather than just one. So a single-stitched sleeve is a good indicator that the shirt is older.

• Check the seams: Vintage tees almost never have seams on the sleeve, because they were made from fabric that came in tubes.

• Check the fabric: Hold a shirt up to the light to see if it’s worn (i.e. if light comes through). Older, vintage tees are much less starchy and stiff than the modern variety.

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ODDS & ENDS

• I can’t stop thinking about this shell-shaped clutch.

• I’ve been using the Dr. Diamond Metacine products (gifted) and I regret to inform that they are incredible. The technology is fascinating and my skin has never looked better. And I haven’t done a facial or laser or anything in a long while so I know it’s the product. My skin is clearer and visibly more plump. So expensive but I fear I am now addicted. I am using the trio but I do feel the Plasma is the real draw here.

• The reincarnation of the baby tee has also heralded in other Y2K fashion staples: like the anklet, the new iteration of which is decidedly chic (I have this one).

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