Fact: a plain white T-shirt is the building block of any great capsule wardrobe. From Hollywood A-listers to Chanel’s creative director of past and present (see: Matthieu Blazy’s debut collection for Chanel), they all have made a compelling case for it. The appeal lies exactly in its simplicity – a blank canvas capable of transcending dress codes and settings like few other garments can. Whether you’re layering for the office or styling them solo, a basic white tee’s potential for greatness is quite literally endless.
It’s precisely that same quality that makes any minor flaw so easily noticeable. Every subtle, fine detail contributes to what makes a simple T-shirt great, fueling the challenges hunting for one bring. And when you do find the perfect one, it’s almost worth an announcement or celebratory post – take this TikTok post for example, which has gained 1.9M views as of press time, where the comment section is filled with questions about the white tee featured in the video.
That’s the true measure of its success: a quintessential smart and stylish uniform for virtually any occasion imaginable. When done right, a humble tee effortlessly serves as an anchor to any outfit. Given that the hunt for the ultimate white T-shirt can feel like a true never-ending pursuit, we’ve curated a selection of our favourites across every budget. Scroll for more.
1. Muji Cotton-blend T-shirt, $12.90
Muji is widely known for its simple and affordable household goods with amazing quality, which is why their apparel line is just as great. Made of soft jersey, their crew neck T-shirt has great fit, feel, and priced below $15. Win-win-win.
2. Uniqlo Cotton-blend T-shirt, $14.90
If you can agree that the perfect mini tee has to have ample space on the sleeves and just enough length between the hem and waistband of your pants, then this Uniqlo T-shirt is exactly what you’re looking for and more.
3. Mango Cotton T-shirt, $19.90
Mango’s sleeveless shirt features a rounded neckline and shorter sleeves for days when you want to switch the silhouettes up a little bit.
3. COS Organic cotton T-shirt, $27.60
COS’s white T-shirt is a true classic: structured and crisp that makes for a great layering piece and stuns when worn by itself.
4. Arket Cotton T-shirt, $42
An oversized T-shirt that doesn’t drown you can be hard to come by, fortunately, Arket knows how to do that well. Thanks to its hefty cotton material, the shirt holds its shape well without ever looking too slouchy or wide.
5. Everlane Organic cotton T-shirt, $61
This Everlane option is great as your go-to everyday T-shirt that pairs with any trousers you already have in your wardrobe.
6. The Frankie Shop Cotton-blend T-shirt, US$85 (S$109)
For a more structured fit, go for The Frankie Shop’s Laval Sculpted T-Shirt. True to its name, the fit gives you a sharper and more sculpted look.
7. Flore Flore organic cotton T-shirt, $161
Made of 100% organic cotton, Flore Flore’s baby tee delivers a soft feel, and body-hugging fit that does not suffocate and is perfect for petites.
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