Thank you Brandon and Chris. Chris, sending a PM.
Ideally, I want a basic store in which each product is a design like the Brumos RSR below. Shoppers can select shirt make (Beefy T vs. Anvil fashion fit), sleeve (long or short), color of t-shirt and size. I've always been a big fan of SQL-driven drop-down boxes (colors, sleeves against make selected), which will probably be phase 2.
Right now if the RSR on a grey Anvil short sleeve is a different product pane than a Beefy T, that's fine. Total number of sku's will most likely not be above 200, and if they are, we can afford to have a major store developed.