The Summer of Ripped-Up T-Shirts: Fashion's New Luxury
This summer, the trend of worn-out T-shirts has gained significant traction, highlighting a growing appreciation for clothing with a story. According to Vogue, at a seaside dinner, a journalist's tattered navy T-shirt stood out against newer ensembles. Influential figures such as Isabella Burley, CMO of Acne Studios, and model Connor Storrie are embracing this style. Designer Martine Rose advocates for distressed apparel, while Mahoro Seward sports a deteriorating Eckhaus Latta tee. The trend has historical ties to Vivienne Westwood’s designs from the '70s and Martin Margiela’s work in the '90s. The allure lies in genuine wear, with Seward referencing the impact of rave and rock cultures, signaling a cultural shift towards valuing authenticity over sleek perfection.
Key facts
- The trend of wearing ripped-up, threadbare T-shirts has become popular this summer.
- Isabella Burley, former Dazed editor-in-chief and Acne Studios CMO, lives in a Minnesota Athletics tee from Scout vintage store in Los Angeles.
- Martine Rose described a worn Boy London T-shirt as 'the definition of luxury' in a 2021 interview with Gilded Birds.
- Mahoro Seward, Vogue's fashion and style editor, owns a disintegrated Eckhaus Latta tee bought on eBay at age 20.
- Historical precedents include Vivienne Westwood's punk T-shirts, Rei Kawakubo's 'Comme des Garçons lace', and Martin Margiela's 'la mode destroy'.
- John Galliano's 'Hobo' collection (spring/summer 2000) was criticized for aestheticizing homelessness.
- Connor Storrie was photographed wearing a T-shirt with a 'cobweb of holes'.
- The trend is linked to a broader cultural shift towards authenticity and hedonistic abandon.
- Tattered tees reveal flesh, making them sexier than strategically cut-out vests.
- Storrie told Emma Chamberlain at the 2026 Met Gala that he wore the same five outfits for three years.
Entities
Artists
- Isabella Burley
- Martine Rose
- Mahoro Seward
- Connor Storrie
- Vivienne Westwood
- Rei Kawakubo
- Martin Margiela
- Hussein Chalayan
- Robert Cary-Williams
- John Galliano
- Emma Chamberlain
Institutions
- Acne Studios
- Dazed
- Climax Books
- Scout
- Vogue
- British Vogue
- Gilded Birds
- An Excellent Fit
- Boy London
- Eckhaus Latta
- Jean Paul Gaultier
- Saint Luis
- Vogue Vintage Sale
- Met Gala
Locations
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Melrose Avenue
- London
- United Kingdom
- New York
- Paris
- France
- Mediterranean