Discover our carefully curated selection of vintage tops and T-shirts: silk blouses, printed tops, archive logo T-shirts, tank tops, bustiers and rare collector pieces from the world's most celebrated houses. Every piece is hand-evaluated by our team on avenue Louise and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Because the right top is not an afterthought — it is often the most considered piece in the wardrobe.
The top as fashion statement: from silk blouse to archive T-shirt
The top — in all its forms, from the spare silk blouse to the graphic printed T-shirt — occupies a curious position in fashion history: simultaneously the garment type most dismissed as simple or secondary, and the one most frequently used by designers to make their most precise, most concentrated creative statements. Coco Chanel's original jersey tops of the 1910s and 1920s, borrowing from the male wardrobe to liberate the female torso, were as radical as any of her later and more celebrated creations. Yves Saint Laurent's transparent chiffon blouses of 1968 caused international scandal. And the archive logo T-shirt — from the original Rolling Stones tongue shirts to the Comme des Garçons PLAY heart logo, from the first Supreme box logo to the Helmut Lang deconstructed jersey — has become one of the most actively traded categories in contemporary vintage fashion.
At Les Enfants d'Edouard, our tops and T-shirt selection spans the full range of this category: from precisely cut silk blouses from the Phoebe Philo era of Celine and the Raf Simons era of Jil Sander, to printed and embellished tops from Dries Van Noten, to archive graphic T-shirts from Comme des Garçons PLAY, Jean Paul Gaultier and Issey Miyake. Every piece is chosen for the quality of its design, its condition and its relevance to a contemporary wardrobe.
Our tops and T-shirts categories
Silk and fine fabric blouses
The silk blouse from a great fashion house — particularly from the Hermès archive, the Celine Philo era, or the refined Italian houses — represents one of the most enduring and wearable propositions in vintage fashion. Made from silk of a quality rarely found in current production, cut with a precision that allows the fabric to drape correctly around the body, these pieces reward the investment of attention they require for care.
Printed tops
Dries Van Noten's printed silk tops, Pucci's signature geometric prints, Leonard's florals and the archive printed pieces of Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood represent the richest territory in our printed tops selection. Print quality — sharpness of registration, depth of colour, stability of dye — is among the primary criteria we apply in evaluating these pieces.
Archive graphic T-shirts
The archive graphic T-shirt has become one of the most actively traded categories in fashion resale. Comme des Garçons PLAY heart logo tees, Jean Paul Gaultier sailor and trompe-l'œil prints, Issey Miyake pleated jersey pieces, and early brand logo pieces from the houses who began producing them in the 1980s–2000s are all represented in our selection. Condition and print integrity are primary evaluation criteria for this category.
Structured and tailored tops
The structured top — bustier, corseted blouse, tailored shell — demonstrates the technical ambition that the greatest designers have brought to even the most apparently simple garment. Jean Paul Gaultier's corset-inspired constructions, Alaïa's body-conscious knit and jersey tops, and the precisely cut shells of Jil Sander and Lemaire all belong to this technically demanding category.
How to evaluate a vintage top or T-shirt
Evaluating a vintage top requires attention to several combined criteria. Here are the 7 checkpoints we systematically apply when selecting every piece in our collection.
1. The label and attribution
Every piece carries a clear attribution, verified against our reference database for label design, format and era-appropriate detail.
2. The fabric quality
Silk should drape and feel unmistakably natural; fine cotton should be densely woven and opaque; jersey should have appropriate weight and stretch recovery. For T-shirts, the weight and quality of the cotton is a primary differentiator between an archive piece of genuine quality and a lower-quality vintage find.
3. The print quality (where applicable)
Prints should be sharp, well-registered and stable in colour — no fading, cracking or peeling. For embossed or embroidered pieces, the work should be dense and secure.
4. The construction
Even in apparently simple tops, construction reveals quality: the set of a sleeve, the finishing of a hem, the precision of any seaming. Silk blouses from great houses are finished to standards rarely visible in current production.
5. The condition
We grade every piece for condition, noting any staining, fading, pilling, structural issues or repairs. Print integrity is a particular focus for graphic T-shirts.
6. The fit architecture
Tops designed around the body's specific contours — structured bustiers, body-conscious jersey pieces — should be assessed by actual body measurements rather than label size alone.
7. Design significance
For archive and designer pieces, we assess the broader design significance of each top — its connection to a specific collection, its demonstration of the designer's creative approach, and its relevance and wearability within a contemporary wardrobe.
Our method: at Les Enfants d'Édouard, every top and T-shirt undergoes a three-stage examination — visual inspection, technical verification and design assessment. Every authenticated piece comes with our certificate of authenticity.
Size guide for vintage tops and T-shirts
| FR/EU | IT | UK | US | Bust (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 38 | 6 | 2 | 80–83 |
| 36 | 40 | 8 | 4 | 84–87 |
| 38 | 42 | 10 | 6 | 88–91 |
| 40 | 44 | 12 | 8 | 92–95 |
| 42 | 46 | 14 | 10 | 96–99 |
Sizing notes
Tops require the same vintage sizing awareness as all other vintage categories — pre-1990 pieces typically run smaller than their label size suggests. Silk blouses are often cut with specific ease or drape allowances that can make their fit counter-intuitive. For body-conscious jersey and knit pieces, actual chest and waist measurements against the garment's flat measurements are essential.
Why invest in a vintage top
The vintage top — and particularly the vintage silk blouse or archive graphic T-shirt — represents one of the most accessible and practically useful entry points into vintage fashion. A silk blouse from the Hermès archive or the Celine Philo era, found in excellent condition at a fraction of its original retail price, will outperform any equivalent current production piece in terms of material quality, drape and longevity. An archive Comme des Garçons PLAY tee or a Jean Paul Gaultier printed sailor top is both a wearable daily piece and a culturally significant object with a genuine resale market.
For those wishing to sell a vintage top or T-shirt, we offer an expert consignment service.
Our tops and T-shirts selection in Brussels, avenue Louise
Our boutique Les Enfants d'Édouard, 175 avenue Louise, 1050 Brussels, carries a curated selection of vintage tops and T-shirts, sourced from European collectors and private consignors. We welcome you Tuesday to Saturday and offer private appointments outside regular opening hours.
Care and maintenance of vintage tops
For silk blouses, hand wash gently in cold water with a silk detergent, or dry clean. Iron on a low setting while slightly damp, using a pressing cloth. Store hanging in a breathable cotton cover.
For graphic T-shirts, machine wash cold inside out to protect the print. Avoid high heat in drying. Store folded — prolonged hanging can distort the neckline and shoulders of lighter cotton pieces.
For structured tops, dry clean at a specialist. Store on appropriate hangers that support the garment's internal structure.
Frequently asked questions about vintage tops
Which vintage tops are most sought-after?
Archive Comme des Garçons PLAY heart logo tees (particularly early 2000s examples), Jean Paul Gaultier printed sailor and trompe-l'œil tops, Hermès and Celine Philo-era silk blouses, Issey Miyake Pleats Please tops in collaborative prints, and any documented designer graphic tees from the 1980s–2000s.
How do I care for a vintage silk blouse?
Hand wash in cold water with a silk-specific detergent, gently squeezing rather than wringing the fabric. Roll in a clean towel to remove excess water, then hang to dry away from direct sunlight. Iron on a low setting while slightly damp, on the reverse of the fabric or under a pressing cloth.
What warranty do you offer on vintage tops?
Every piece sold by Les Enfants d'Édouard is guaranteed as described, with a certificate of authenticity for signed pieces and 14 days to return (return shipping costs excluded).
Discover also
- Dresses: from day to evening, across the great houses
- Shirts: the essential wardrobe foundation
- Knitwear: cashmere, mohair and considered warmth
- Jackets and coats: the outermost layer of great design
- All our clothing: our full ready-to-wear selection
- Journal: our guides and advice
Looking for a vintage top or T-shirt?
Browse our full tops and T-shirts selection or book an appointment with our team for a private viewing on avenue Louise.
- ✓ Guaranteed authentication: every piece verified
- ✓ Secure delivery: Belgium, France, Europe
- ✓ 14-day returns: satisfaction guaranteed
- ✓ Boutique at 175 Avenue Louise: 1050 Brussels