Old socks, in used and mint condition, are leaving their own footprints on the vintage clothing community. Men’s 1950s socks regularly fetch between $10-$50 when sold through eBay auctions. Looks like “this little piggy” now goes to the online marketplace. A pair of used black socks featuring a gold-colored toe panel recently sold for $350. That little piggy should consider picking up a few extra shifts. 

The most popular pairs are those detailed with a classic 1950s pattern that runs the length of the sock. Even the plain ones are being snapped up because most of the socks produced around that era contain a rare blend of cotton and rayon. This combination of fibers provides the best of both worlds in foot comfort.

Contrary to popular belief, rayon isn’t an artificial fiber like polyester. However, it also doesn’t occur naturally like cotton. Instead, cellulose is derived from wood pulp using elaborate processing. So it’s classified as “manufactured” yet still a by-product of something natural. This fact makes it one of the most unique fibers around. It was originally produced in the late 1800s as a less expensive alternative to silk because of its similar smooth properties.  In today’s greener world it isn’t fashionable to produce rayon because the process to create it is very un-environmentally friendly. Today, if a garment contains it, it’s usually in a lesser percentage and complimented by nylon and other synthetics. 

While searching online for old socks you’ll most likely find some dirty laundry to sort through. Even regular pairs of socks are being photographed on attractive models then offered for sale via auction, or directly from specific adult sites. One can only assume those with foot-related fetishes are pulling the prices of these socks up.  

Check out the vintage sock action on eBay by clicking here.

Each week we feature an interesting vintage tee that’s currently on the eBay auction block. Please feel free to link us if you create or discover an auction we might like.   

Description: VINTAGE RUN DMC SWEATSHIRT ADIDAS SWEATER TEE SHIRT M

Measurements: Not provided

Sold by: everyonesenemy

What the Seller Says: This vintage “run dmc” released around the 1980s, so it is impossible to find now. As you can see in the pictures below, the sweatshirt does show some minor stains and its kinda ripping on the lettering, but hey its VINTAGE!

What we Say: This is an iconic shirt on so many different levels. When “My Adidas” played over the airwaves in 1986, “we need a rapper to mention us in a song” has been played out in marketing boardrooms ever since.    

To view the auction click here.

Final Price: $158.72

This week’s strange and unusual eBay auction comes from an entrepreneurial Motley Crue fan (left) who claims her tank top is detailed with Nikki Sixx’s saliva. It all began at a Crue concert in 2005 while she was rocking out from the third row. After turning her head for only an instant Sixx launched his corn syrupy secretion with pin-point accuracy. 

Despite the detailed account of the event, the story is still hard to swallow. With thousands of eye witnesses, nobody saw a thing, including the people beside her…or even her for that matter. We shouldn’t rule out the possibility of a second spitter, Keith Hernandez better have a rock solid alibi.  

The best part is that she believes auction could raise enough money to purchase a Sleep Number bed. I wonder if you can set those things to 666? That’s the only way she’ll be able to sleep at night knowing she purchased it using the proceeds from sham spit.

The opening bid is under a dollar! View the full auction by clicking here.

I had absolutely no clue the world of hip hop fashion was the driving force behind Ralph Lauren’s surge in vintage value. Maybe that’s because I haven’t purchased a hip hop album since they stopped making them on cassette tapes. Maybe it’s because I use terms like, “cassette tapes” - a red flag that my radar on “hip” deteriorated when the data went digital. 

Still, who would have thought a Ralph Lauren sweater featuring a cute bear on skis would be pursued by those on the cutting edge of hip hop fashion? Not me, but I like it, I like it a lot. I am obviously behind any movement that appreciates and promotes the styles of yesterday. Certain shirts, sweaters and jackets are commonly selling on eBay for up to 10 times their original value and Ralph Lauren isn’t getting a dime of it. It’s all going to the savvy vendors of vintage clothing who somehow manage to get their claws on it.

For those worried about Ralph’s financial situation, don’t feel too bad; he’s certainly benefiting from plenty of free endorsements. Hip Hop icons like Raekwon are frequently photographed in his vintage gear, producer Just Blaze reportedly has the largest collection of it in the world, and Thirstin Howell III has a song titled, “Polo Rican” biggin’ it up and basically saying FU to FUBU. 

How long will this trend continue? It all depends on whether or not Ralph Lauren can keep his hand out of the cookie jar. Can he pass up the big bucks that would result from re-issuing these popular designs? If so, the trend could tread water for years to come. If not, it could be sunk.

A similar phenomenon occurred in 2004 when vintage Lacoste was flying off the shelves of thrift stores and being gobbled up online. Preppy 1980s throwback was in, and the Lacoste corp. was missing out. They quickly started producing shirts with their original logo and gator to capitalize on the trend. They mass-produced it, over-priced it, and were ultimately responsible for extinguishing it amongst the true fashionistas. When the market was flooded with the new shirts, the trendsetters lost interest and in certain circles, it was see ya later alligator all over again. Lacoste shed a few alligator tears and then it was back to business with their extinct no more dinosaur and reinvigorated label. If Ralph follows suit, expect the market for bear sweaters to become a bear market in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.

Before you go rummaging through your old rags, let’s break down what Polo items are the most sought-after. Unfortunately it’s not the shirts with the little guy on the horse, or we’d all be rich. It’s mostly the clothes that fall under the Polo Sport brand which became defunct in 1998. I have provided concise eBay searches in the links below to highlight the various incarnations of Polo Sport and their approximate value.  Who knows, maybe you’ll even pick up something frilly for yourself. 

• As mentioned previously, the “P-Bear” and his multiple incarnations (skiing, golfing, in a tux or just hanging out) are hugely popular in sweater form.
• Anything “P-Wing,” which is basically a track and field symbol (a shoe with wings) on sweatshirts and jackets.
• Any of the elaborate “P-Wing”, “Stadium” polo shirts with all-over prints featuring various types of sports.
• Anything with “cookies” on them - which is an embroidered circle containing Polo branding.
• Jackets and hoodies that read, “Snow Beach,” or have an Indian head or tiger.
• Pretty much anything with a USA flag, or any combination of the above features. 

And the Holy Grail of vintage Ralph? Get this: the 100% silk polo crest shirt recently fetched more than $2,300 on eBay.

More on vintage t-shirts.

Fool us once (Batman Forever), shame on you Hollywood. Fool us twice (Batman & Robin), shame on all of us. After the final ticket had been tabulated and all the profits divided amongst the Hollywood elite, a new super-villain was born. The Joker was the least of Batman’s worries as “The Disgruntle Moviegoer” now threatened Bruce Wayne’s entire empire. Comic books, action figures, anything bat-collectible was plummeting in value.  

Seven years pass. 

Enter hero: director Christopher Nolan and his dark prequel-esque flick, Batman Begins. It exercised our demons of bats past and had us all wishing they made Underoos in adult sizes. Now Nolan’s follow up, The Dark Knight, is only days away from release. And with plenty of early Oscar buzz for Heath Ledger, there’s never been a better time to go throw-back bat.

I created a custom eBay search to eliminate as many evil reproductions as possible and highlight the true vintage heroes. Take a peek by clicking here.

The shirt below is what someone should be wearing to the premiere. Frank Miller (also of Sin City fame) created The Dark Knight Returns comic series in 1986. While the new film is not based on Miller’s version, it pays homage to it in the title, and holds true to the gritty vigilante overtones which ushered in a darker comic book era.

If you are interested in viewing the listing for this shirt and/or other Batman shirts we have in our store, click here. 

Final Price: $124.00

The vintage Battle Jacket, or Kutte, was born when a metal fan disarmed his jean jacket and customized it with various sized band patches, studs, chains, ink and pins. Metal heads primarily preferred patches, while punks replaced or fused the denim with leather, adding studs and pins. Oh, and just so you know (because I didn’t), Kutte, or Kutten, is a German word that is specifically used to describe these jackets.   

The jackets are always do-it-yourself, with each one personalized according to the tastes of the “gentleman” who creates it. The biggest patch is placed on the center of the back, usually representing the band the individual favors. Around this patch, many smaller patches are placed, sometimes in a sort of hierarchy, but most times in a random formation. According to legend, the status amongst a particular group of friends could be determined by the detailing of their jackets - especially if the patches represented a band the wearer saw live.

While they are still made to this day, the true era of the Battle Jacket has long since passed. In the early 1990s the metal melted in to a mass of multiple sub-genres, the fashion followed and the jacket eventually faded due to the popularity of long-sleeved shirts, military and army fatigues.

Where are all these jackets now, you ask? Most likely still possessed by their creators, who will eventually take the relic to their graves. The closest you’ll probably get to the real deal will be by visiting tshirtslayer for the metal versions, and oxbloodoi for punk. Or if you’re in a hardcore-artsy-crafty kinda mood, eBay has a consistent supply of both vintage jean jackets and vintage band patches.

Thankfully, women never stopped wearing them. But recent bidding activity now suggests men aren’t afraid to show a little leg as well. The pair of men’s Adidas, pictured below, just sold for £55 (approx. $110 US). The shorts with sheen are regularly fetching big bucks especially if you compare the dollar to fabric ratio. Judging by the location of who’s offering them for sale and their winning bidders, the trend appears to be most popular in the UK. Are they back? I hope so. I’ve been waiting for this moment since Magnum P.I. went off the air. Take a look at the action by clicking here.

Each week we feature an interesting vintage tee that’s currently on the eBay auction block. Please feel free to link us if you create or discover an auction we might like.   

Description: VTG 70s RARE Harley Davidson T-SHIRT Old HD RUSSIA L

Measurements: shoulder-to-shoulder: 23″ length: 23″

Sold by: Wispersteppes Vintage

What the Seller Says: From my personal collection is this rare 1 of a KIND HARLEY DAVIDSON t-shirt from Russia-Old Soviet Union RARE RARE RARE. Features the sickle and hammer with the raised & clenched fist. Look into their symbolism, quite interesting…

What we Say: My guess is that they made more than one of these. On the other hand who knows how many of them were able to defect without being caught and sent to Siberia. RARE? Yes. I would be shocked if this shirt sold for the opening bid - just like Soviet government was when their people started cheering for Rocky during his bout with Drago.  

Final Price: $325.00

Every two weeks we scour through eBay’s past auctions and report which relics are fetching the big bucks. Even more reasons to raid your granny’s closet.

1. Jacket: Vintage WWI Aero Type A-2 leather flight $3798.33 sold by: skinnielapels
2. Jeans: Vintage 50s Levi’s 501XX Red Line $3012.99 sold by: rickykz
3. Hat: Vintage 50s St. Louis Browns Satchel Paige worn $650.00 sold by: jamesbar3
4. Shoes: Vintage 80s Nike Nite Trax silver $360.00 sold by: evelynamodifieddog
5. Jersey: Vintage 70s Adidas Germany Jersey $338.00 sold by: kobesamurai
6. Dress: Vintage Sex and the City Dress Lillie Rubin $1837.09 sold by: 4marvs

View all the previous auction action.

Is there value in vintage underwear? After spending only a few minutes searching eBay for old undies - it got creepy, quickly, I felt like Nicholas Cage watching that 8mm film. Going once, going twice, SOILED for $150? No, not that creepy, thankfully eBay doesn’t permit used undies on the system. Here’s a few guides on the subject of vintage panties and men’s underwear (the latter seems more like a confession). As far as value goes, here’s the naked truth: