The Best White T-Shirt At Every Price Point
The basic white t-shirt has been a wardrobe staple for generations, but with so much choice out there today, it can be difficult to find the best bang for your buck. No need to fret however, as I’ve found the best white tees you can buy at every budget.
JOHN NICHOLS
MARCH 26, 2021
Marlon Brando, James Dean and Steve McQueen. Three icons of old-school cool. What did they all have in common (apart from stunning looks)? Their love of the plain white t-shirt.
These three elevated the white tee from an undergarment to an instant classic. Even to this day, it’s the pinnacle of casual chic – from wearing at home to a casual date, its versatility and cool-factor is undeniable.
I’m looking for the best value white tee – as good a balance between quality and price as possible – at a variety of different budgets. I can’t promise these will turn you into a Hollywood star, but they may help you to look the part!
Budget: Fruit of the Loom - £3
Forget about Primark’s thin, flimsy tees – if you’re on a tight budget, Fruit of the Loom is the way to go. Cut in a medium-weight cotton, it is surprisingly wearable considering the price. Whilst not the most durable, it’s a fantastic low-cost option.
Staple: Uniqlo - £10
Durable, heavyweight and with a rugged but comfortable feel, this is an easy go-to choice. Designed by Christophe Lemaire, the cut is relaxed, forgiving and flattering, tucked or untucked, and like any piece of quality clothing, it wears in, not out, getting better with every wash.
Trailblazer: Community Clothing - £19
Made from sustainable cotton and manufactured in the UK from start to finish, this is the new kid on the block, punching well above its weight. With a fitted, slim cut in a medium-weight, this is the trendy, feel-good purchase that is an ideal casual tee for the slimmer man.
Chic: Trunk - £45
Coupling a soft, mid-weight cotton with slimmer sleeves and a fitted neck results in a tee that looks equally as good paired with jeans as it does a sport coat. The little details, such as the small v-cuts at the hip seams and higher neck lie made this the ideal choice for the style enthusiast.
Icon: Sunspel - £70
Perfected over 100 years of production, this is the iconic white t-shirt. A classic fit, with a sumptuous softness, wonderful comfort and a durability belayed by its lightness, even at this upper-end in price, it’s worth every penny.
At the same price, Sunspel also offer the same cut in a mid-weight, slimmer profile, originally designed for Daniel Craig as James Bond, allowing you to take the tee-and-jeans look into the cooler months with ease.
Honourable Mention: ASKET - £30
If you want to make the most earth-kind choice, the Impact Receipt with this purchase will reassure you. A verified, transparent record of exactly the impact your shirt has made on the planet; from raw material to your hands, the true cost of your purchase is laid bare through their so-called Impact Receipt.
Quality-wise, it’s a vintage-esque classic in every aspect – a classic fit, heavy-weight and no-nonsense styling combine to create a wholly versatile, principal item – think Uniqlo, but with fully-traced green credentials.
What you choose to wear with your white t-shirt is up to you, but now you know the very best choices no matter how much you have to spend!