Puzzlement abounds

Vintage t-shirts kick ass. Now I'm not even going to try and discuss exactly what makes a t-shirt "vintage", but they kick ass. I myself prefer the ones that contain irreverent witticisms. Like Sasquatch Stole My Underpants.

Yes. I own one of those.

But let's be frank. T-shirts at places like The Cotton Factory only cost like $15-$20. So when you get the Jim Morrison or Jimi Hendirix t-shirt, it's pretty clear that it's not an original. No, the twenty-something hipster with the shaggy locks, pre-worn jeans and canvas sneakers did not, in fact, purchase that shirt at a Jimi Hendrix concert. He may not even own a Jimi Hendrix CD. But damn it if he doesn't look cool in the shirt.

Now I can't speak for the cool kids in New York or San Francisco, but I'm reasonably sure that most of those around these parts who dig these kinds of shirts pick them up at thrift stores, the internet or Hot Topic. That is to say, these shirts are affordable. I don't see a guy in a I Pity The Fool shirt and think "Lawyer" or "Doctor" or "Any kind of guy that can afford and would wear a t-shirt that cost more than 30 bucks".

Then I go and see this. This, in and of itself, doesn't scare me. I can see charging $1250 for a t-shirt signed by 27 of the performers from a massive concert event. But look again. Look right below the price.

Sizing directions.

What kind of person spends that kind of scratch on a signed t-shirt and wears it?

Now this is an extreme example. I looked at most of the shirts for sale. Lots were in the $50-$70 range. Much more reasonable, right?

I mean, who wouldn't want to wear an authentic t-shirt from the Jesse Colin Young Light Shine Tour?

Keeping it real is good. But not if it means paying $50 for a t-shirt. I can look a much better kind of cool for that kind of money.