Regardless of the season, there’s one item of clothing that never goes out of style: the plain white T-shirt. This iconic, gender-neutral layering piece has stood the test of time since it shot into the fashion mainstream in the 1950s thanks to the likes of Marlon Brando and James Dean, and remains as ubiquitous as ever. That said, all tees are not made alike! There’s an art to finding the perfect plain white tee, and we’re here to help you find the one that’s best for you.
To get to the bottom of what exactly makes a plain white tee perfect, I sought advice from fashion designer Haley Thompson along with several of my colleagues here at HuffPost. Needless to say, everyone had very strong opinions on the matter.
Thompson noted that this particular style of shirt should be “versatile and effortlessly cool — something that you can just throw on and go.” It’s a trickier item to shop for than you might think, as the fabric and cut can completely change both the look and feel of the shirt, and the last thing you want is to appear frumpy or dated. “Even though styling a white tee shirt is relatively simple, the silhouette can make or break the aesthetic,” she told me. “Fit and the quality of the material are super important.”
Below, I’ve compiled a definitive list of the best white tee shirts for men and women. They include options at a range of price points and a wide variety of sizing options. Find them at popular, accessible retailers like Target and Amazon as well as trend-forward destinations like Shopbop, Everlane and more.
"I live in these. I'm really fussy about tees because I have a short torso and don't like them to be too long — but I also don't want a crop top vibe because I am old. I find these to be absolutely perfect. I usually rock the pocket-less style, but think it's cool that you can opt for a pocket if that's your jam. It's crisp, fits like a dream and is perfect on its own or layered under a sweater." — Lourdes AvilaUribe, senior shopping writer
"85% of the time I am wearing a white Hanes undershirt. I love them. They are cheap, they fit really well (I wear XL boys and they hit me exactly right) and if they get pitted out, you just toss (or rip and use as rags) and wear a new one. And for five for $10 or $12 — you can't beat it." — Noah Michelson, head of HuffPost Personal
"Classic — I wear them in the summer." — Raj Punjabi, director of HuffPost Voices
"I also wear XL boys white Hanes tees and use them as dusting cloths when they're old." — Kristen Aiken, head of HuffPost Life
"I'm partial to the longer length and find the breezy slub fabric to feel luxurious and feather-light, perfect for the warm months or layering under a button down or sweater." — Haley Thompson, activewear designer
"Bylt [T-shirts are] good cuz they're affordable, hold their shape well, come in hella colors and have a longer length." — Benjamin Currie, art director
"I also love all Universal Standard white tees." — Punjabi
"This tee is ideal for a slimmer and more fitted look. It can even be worn tucked in and in lieu of a bodysuit while giving you the same silhouette and look." — Thompson
"I love the cropped baby tee length. It's casual, flirty and easy." — Thompson
"I love how versatile it is, the slightly longer length than a boxy tee, and how weighted and thick the material is. It has a heft to it that makes it feel more expensive than it is and maintains the shirt's durability. I am broad-shouldered and particularly love the flattering cut of the shoulders. I have three in white and two in black and live in them year-round." — Uribe
"I have three of this Uniqlo tee!" — Jianan Liu, art director
"Because I usually inevitably spill something on my white shirts (never on my dark ones) I buy these often. And they're nice under sweaters and cardigans. For $8, if you don't LOVE, it can become a layering piece or a night-time shirt!" — Greta Geiselman, HuffPost's director of office services
Promising review: "Great comfort, stylish cut, perfect fit! New favorite tee. Now I just have to replace all my other shirts! I prefer the Slub over the Pima; it is just slightly lighter weight, but not enough to make a difference in appearance. I have never owned a tee that fit me this well." — Matt N.
Before You Go
