Vintage tee shirts and other collectible tees can sell for as much as $500. Cotton tee shirts have been a staple of the American wardrobe for decades. In the early 1900s, fashion plates wore sophisticated suits and classic sweaters; however, that all changed in the 1950s, when James Dean and Marlon Brando altered the aesthetic of the tee shirt with films like Rebel without a Cause and A Streetcar Named Desire. Tee shirts came to connote relaxation, comfort, and a devil-may-care attitude. Tee shirt designs have evolved over the years. The classic, all-American white cotton tee shirt has been popular since the 1950s. Starting in the mid-1960s, people started using tee shirts as placards to express political ideas and humor. So-called "joke" tee shirts contained funny messages, sexual innuendo, and quirky graphical depictions. These joke shirts competed with so-called classic V-neck and crewneck tees for marketplace attention. Fashion experts debate whether it's ever acceptable for men of good style (over the age of 32) to wear tee shirts adorned with writing. Traditionalists argue that men should never wear such shirts outside of the bedroom. Modernists contend that male wearers should be free to wear whatever they want, not just around the house, but also out in public. Recent research suggests that sports teams which adorn their players with red tee shirts play better and win more games. Scientists theorize that the color red may impart some primal motivation to competitors. While red tee shirts may be associated with competition and winning, earth tone and white tee shirts remain the most classic and popular choices. When shopping for tee shirts, err on the side of buying "too big," since cotton tee shirts tend to shrink a lot in the wash.
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