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Most iconic T-shirts of all time revealed – do you own one of these top designs

The Rolling Stones' iconic tongue comes out above even Che Guevara and Just Do It in poll of top fifty tees

From Frankie Say Relax to the Rolling Stones' famous tongue these models show off the world's greatest ever tees

THE ROLLING Stones' ‘tongue and lip’ logo is the most iconic t-shirt design of all time, according to a poll.

The famous motif was created in the 1970s and was said by designer John Pasche to resemble Mick Jagger’s own lips and capture the band’s rebelliousness.

The Rolling Stones' insignia, designed by John Pasche, topped the chart of the most iconic designs to wear across your chest
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The Rolling Stones' insignia, designed by John Pasche, topped the chart of the most iconic designs to wear across your chestCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

It beat off competition from the well-known silhouette of Che Guevara, which came in second, and the popular Hard Rock Cafe logo in third.

The Nike ‘Just Do It’ motto bearing the famous Nike ‘Swoosh’ placed fourth.

The research of 2,000 UK adults was commissioned by  a dry wash, dry shampoo for clothes.

A spokesman said: “Our research has shown we’re a nation obsessed with tees.

“Since the US Navy first wore them under their uniforms in the 19th century, they have become a staple in our wardrobes, and our lives.

People are still keen to wear Superman's S on their chest - even if there are fewer phonebooths around these days
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People are still keen to wear Superman's S on their chest - even if there are fewer phonebooths around these daysCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

“But while it’s clear we have an emotional attachment to them, we were surprised to find that so many Brits will actually go out and buy a new t-shirt because it’s easier than washing one they already own.”

Also appearing in the top 10 were the Superman S logo, the 1980s ‘Frankie Says Relax’ design popularised by the band Frankie Goes to Hollywood and the classic ‘I Heart NY’ print.

Other popular t-shirts include the triangle refracting light, also seen on the cover of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, and the Batman logo.

The yellow smiley face beloved in rave culture, Harley Davidson’s logo and the classic ‘...and all I got was this lousy t-shirt’ design also feature in the list.

THE 50 MOST ICONIC T-SHIRT DESIGNS OF ALL TIME

1. Rolling Stones 'tongue and lip'

2. Che Guevara

3. Hard Rock Cafe

4. Nike tick/Just Do It

5. Superman

6. Adidas (with stripes on the sleeves)

7. Frankie Say Relax

8. Mickey Mouse

9. I 'heart' NY

10. Coca Cola

11. Batman

12. Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon)

13. FCUK (from early 2000s)

14. Union Jack

15. Yellow smiley face

16. Harley Davidson

17. AC/DC

18. Nirvana (smiley face)

19. Star Wars

20. Peace sign

21. Guns 'N Roses (Appetite for Destruction)

22. Ghostbusters

23. Bob Marley

24. David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust)

25. Jack Daniels logo

26. "...and all i got was this lousy t-shirt"

27. NASA

28. Led Zeppelin

29. Choose Life

30. Pepsi logo

31. Ramones (presidential seal)

32. KISS

33. Planet Hollywood

34. John Lennon's New York City t-shirt

35. Red Hot Chilli Peppers

36. Woodstock Festival

37. The Godfather

38. Chanel

39. Anarchy symbol

40. Gucci

41. RUN DMC

42. FBI

43. Aerosmith (as worn by Garth in Wayne's World)

44. Thundercats

45. Austin 3:16 (wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin)

46. Punisher skull

47. Transformers - Autobots

48. “Hello, my name is...”

49. Save Ferris

50. CBGB

The study also found Brits typically buy five new tees a year and wear their favourite on average five times a month.

However, one in six admit to buying a completely new t-shirt on occasion rather than washing one they already own.

A third of those polled, via OnePoll, said their t-shirts hold lots of important memories for them and 36 per cent feel sad if they have to get rid of one given to them by a loved one.

One in three still wear their favourite t-shirts even when they have holes in or are damaged.

The Frankie Say RELAX t-shirt inspired by the 1984 hit by Frankie Goes to Hollywood remains as iconic as ever
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The Frankie Say RELAX t-shirt inspired by the 1984 hit by Frankie Goes to Hollywood remains as iconic as everCredit: SWNS:South West News Service

Men are the most sentimental about their beloved tees with a quarter never throwing them away - no matter how old they get - compared to less than a fifth of females.

It also emerged the average Brit typically wears a t-shirt only twice before washing it and put an average of three washes of clothing on per week before spending 43 minutes a week doing the ironing.

The Day2 spokesman added: “Day2 is the perfect solution to our laundry dilemmas, transforming a creased tee that’s been left on the chair-drobe into looking just-ironed, feeling just-washed and smelling fresh in minutes.

“Beyond that, it’s helping to banish that throwaway attitude to clothes that’s being fuelled by the rise of fast fashion, encouraging consumers to re-wear, wash less and show their clothes some love.”


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