Ask anyone who works in fashion and they’ll you the same thing: the white t-shirt is the Holy Grail of every wardrobe. For a basic, it’s anything but. The perfect white t-shirt should fit you in the right way and feel comfortable. Not to mention it can’t be too expensive, because you will spill on it.
First step: identifying the ideal fit for your style. Do you like your t-shirts a little oversized but still structured? A little tighter for tucking in? Longer and looser? Maybe even a little shorter and boxier?
Let’s start with an absolute workhouse of a white t-shirt: the u-neck from Uniqlo. An affordable 100% cotton option that’s tailored to the body but doesn’t cling to it, you can stock up on these in white but also 11 other colors. Everlane is another reliable sorts for stylish basics, and their Cotton Crew is so good they built their whole fashion empire on it. You know that special kind of cozy, washed-a-bunch-of-times-already soft? J.Crew’s Essential T-Shirt is like that from the first wear.
If you like a bigger t-shirt, can I introduce you to Everlane’s Air Oversized Crew Tee? It comes with longer sleeves and is made with super light cotton, so you get a drape-y relaxed fit. Even more relaxed is this jersey tee at Nordstrom. On the other end of the spectrum, this sustainably made shirt has just enough structure to it for the perfect French tuck, or pair with especially slouchy jeans for a more polished look.
Slub cotton is a little on the clingier side, and about as comfortable as you can get. This one from ATM is really well-cut. I like tucking them in to high-waisted trousers and colorful midi skirts. Dress it up with heels or down with sporty sandals.
Shop our favorite white t-shirts below:
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.
