“I hate white t-shirts,” said no one ever. To the contrary, “It will look great with a white t-shirt” is one of the most oft used phrases in fashion. What doesn’t look good with a white t-shirt? The classic white tee was practically invented by Marlon Brando and James Dean, then fully endorsed by Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Hutton, and practically everyone because….everyone looks great wearing one. Now, how to find and wear your best bright white tees is a little more of a mystery than a romance but our Hall of Famers are all here to guide you.
We all have our criteria for judging a perfect t-shirt. This one situation where being judge-y is not only condoned, but heartily encouraged. Perfect for one is someone else’s second best, so all the smallest details should be considered. Is the sleeve hitting at your best bicep or is a long sleeve more your comfort zone? Round or a more hipster v-neck? We’ve overheard passionate debates on the stitching of a ring band collar and some people are super aware if a shirt is too sheer, necessitating a fully lined brassiere (or not). Go ahead and insist on a heavier blend of cotton or a touch of lycra.
But after you’ve found one of the elusive perfect white T-shirts, buy another one, or two, because they won’t last forever. And something as essential as the perfect white tee is bound to be worn, loved, lived in, and at some point covered in yellow hot dog mustard. Thank goodness these tees are all within our grasp and that Clorox still works wonders.
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.
