In addition to an impressive assortment of real, vintage concert T-shirts, posters, and memorabilia--did someone come across a defunct promoter's stash at one of those storage unit auctions?--Wolfgang's Vault has also reproduced a small-but-tasty collection of vintage rock concert-inspired designs on kid-sized T's and Onesies, too.
How vintage are we talking about, though? The of the five kids' shirts, four--Hendrix, Cream, one Led Zepellin, and The Doors--are from concerts in 1968 or '69. [The other Led Zep shirt is from 1977.] Same with the Onesies: three from 1968-9, and one Stones design from '72.
So what, you say? Didn't all these concerts take place before most of today's crop of new parents was even born? Or at least before we started going to rock concerts? I know my first concert wasn't until like 1975, and that was still the freakin' Osmond Brothers. [Wait, did I just cop to attending an Osmonds concert? Not how I wanted to start the week.]
No, in order to project our own concertgoing experience on our kids, we have to go to the actual vintage kidswear. Springsteen, the Dead, Journey...or this insane lineup from a 1983 Concert On The Green in Oakland: The Police, The Fixx, Madness, Oingo Boingo and Thompson Twins. [$45, roughly a contemporary size 6x, whatever that means].
Or for even more variety, why not break out a sewing machine and make a kid's bodysuit from an authentic, adult-sized vintage concert T? Then your kid could roll around a modded Sammy Hagar outfit [minus the tequila]. And what better way to share with your offspring the enlightened, formative giddiness of your Greatest Summer Job EVER, than with his very own Yanni Crew '94 jumper? Turns out you can buy memories like that--for $28, check the sizes.
Wolfgang's Vault [wolfgangsvault.com via dt reader josh]
previously: Old School OC: 80's Punk Flyers on Onesies
My first concert was Rick Springfield. wooo-hooo!!!
posted by: naomi at October 9, 2006 4:08 PMThe Wolfgang's Vault story is nuts. The guy basically had a gut feeling that the stuff was out there, and followed the sale of the company for years until he thought he had a chance and bought the whole thing, site unseen. Building, inventory, etc. I think he paid $5million for everything. He estimates about $60million in product without breaking a sweat. And who knows how much more in licensing deals...
posted by: Andy at October 9, 2006 4:38 PMThe Willie Nelson Picnic, 1973. I was only four, but I have vague memories of playing on blanket, eating, and listen to music.
posted by: How About Two? at October 9, 2006 5:18 PMI recognized that shirt! I was at that day on the green concert in 1983. Senior year of high school. Great concert, and sort of a last hurrah with the HS friends that I never really saw again.
Day on the green was a great concert series. I saw The Who, the Clash, Bowie, the Police and many others. I have some hearing loss to this day from standing WAY too close to the stage!
posted by: Richard at October 10, 2006 11:13 AMThose are so cool! If only I could get my husband to relent on his "the kids clothes shall have no words on them as that is the slippery slope to wearing advertisments which supports the evil materialist empire" policy.
posted by: Henitsirk at October 10, 2006 10:08 PM