The JERKS™ guide to the best 90s baby band tees

by Matt Sloane February 3, 2025

Discover the best 90s baby band tees from the JERKS™ archive

In recent years, women’s band tees—often referred to as “baby tees” with their signature tight, cropped fit—have surged in popularity for both men and women. With iconic graphics that often differ from their male counterparts, baby tees have become a cultural symbol in their own right.

Tight-fitting, cropped tees were part of the rebellious punk and rock scenes of the ‘70s, often DIY-styled or shrunken in hot washes to achieve that fitted look. They served as a countercultural statement, blending music, attitude, and personal style.

By the late ‘90s, as women-led rock bands began dominating the charts, the demand for more fitted, female-oriented merch grew—challenging the era’s trend of oversized XXL tees. Bands like Hole and Björk introduced baby tee-specific designs, allowing fans to support their favourite artists without being swallowed by oversized shirts. These baby tees, with their tight, cropped fit, became a symbol of being both fit-conscious and fashion-forward, aligning with the grunge and alternative styles that defined the decade.

Moving into the early 2000s, baby tees became a staple of the era’s aesthetic. Raglan-style baby tees, typically cut with round necklines, short cap sleeves with ribbed cuffs, and tapered silhouettes, were everywhere—paired with Cheap Monday skinny jeans. Simultaneously, vintage graphic band tees made a massive resurgence, blending retro influences with contemporary fashion. This fusion created a new wave of demand for baby tees, cementing them as icons of Y2K style and embedding them into the American Apparel-inspired hipster aesthetic.

Today, high-end brands like Heaven by Marc Jacobs have reintroduced the baby tee as a fashion staple, featuring slim-cut designs emblazoned with playful graphics like teddy bears and debossed logos in various colourways. The king of ‘90s cool, Jean Paul Gaultier, has also embraced the trend with monochromatic, throwback graphics and bold patterns. Alongside contemporary labels like Maison Margiela MM6 and Marni, baby tees are enjoying a full-fledged cultural comeback, proving that this once-niche style has firmly cemented its place in the fashion world.

Below are our top 10 baby tees from the late 80's, ‘90s and early ‘00s.

Massive Attack, Mid 90’s

On a Redwood tag, this beautiful mid 90’s olive green Massive Attack shirt features a tasteful and tonal logo print at chest, accompanied by a flame graphic, and Bristol England underneath. The kings of moody atmospheric cool, Massive Attack made some of the coolest merchandise throughout the 90s and early 00’s with its desirability only growing exponentially.

HOLE, 90’s

As leaders of the unapologetic and badass wave of female led rock groups that rose to notoriety throughout the 90’s, this 90’s HOLE shirt is the perfect channeling of uncompromising strong female energy. With a stellar white Wolf graphic at chest, alpha female definition underneath, and on a fitted blank its a perfect summary of what Courtney Love and HOLE stood for.

HOLE, 90’s

Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue, 1995

An unbelievably rare gem, this joint Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue shirt from 1995 was made to accompany the one off murder ballad Where the Wild Roses Grow. In a tasteful off white, the shirt features Nick Cave standing over Kylie as she lays on her side at chest, round neckline, and short tight sleeves.

Post era Bjork, 1995

In a heather grey this circa 1995 Post era Bjork shirt features a play on the classic Hyperballad logo in pink and orange with Hyper Girl text at the chest, short ribbed sleeves, and matching futuristic logo in pink on the back designed by Paul White. The colour scheme of this shirt perfectly matches the vibrant and lively design of the Post cover art.

Post era Bjork, 1995

Radiohead, OK Computer, 1997

This 1997 Radiohead Ok Computer tee on a W.A.S.T.E. Productions blank in a gorgeous powder blue features a yellow logo print at front, tonal ribbing, and circular logo print at back. The minimalistic and effortless branding of this tee perfectly matches the chic yet straightforward design of Ok Computer.

Radiohead OK Computer, 1997

Dinosaur Jr., Hand It Over, 1997

Featuring a striking bat dog animal from the back cover of 1997’s Hand It Over, this Dinosaur Jr. ringer baby tee features a tasteful beige contrast rib, printed figure at front, and child-like logo script at center. A rare and hard to come by shirt, this might be one of the best pieces of Dinosaur Jr. merchandise items to come through JERKS.

Deftones, White Pony, 2000

On a Giant blank, this 2000 White Pony era Deftones shirt features a classic star horse logo at chest in red, with matching Deftones Worldwide text underneath in white, and subtle fading throughout. A popular design of the time, the classic star horse logo was printed on Hoodies, Belt Buckles, and tonal mens logo T-shirts.

THE Cranberries, 1999

This absolutely adorable 1999 Cranberries shirt features an adorable orange plush teddy bear at chest with accompanying logo print, ribbed collar and sleeves, and copyright at the corner with PolyGram merchandising.

Black Flag, Late 90’s

This late 90’s Black Flag shirt features some of the greatest artwork ever conceived by Raymond Pettibon. On a Delta Pro Weight, it features the classic gloved hand and knife, iconic bars, red eyed figure, and is accompanied by bold MY WAR text underneath. This shirt is ensured to turn heads, as you proudly rep one of the greatest most unforgiving punk albums of all time.

Joni Mitchell Refuge Tour, 1983

From the Queen of effortless cool and eternal style, this 1983 Joni Mitchell Refuge tour shirt features a round neckline, short ribbed sleeves, multicolour city print at front, copyright at center, and to top it off is printed on a beautiful 100% cotton faded grey blank from years of love.