A white T-shirt: one of the simplest items in our closets, and yet it proves nearly impossible to find a truly great one. In the era of fast fashion and mass-produced cheap clothing, a well-made white T-shirt that fits comfortably, looks good and isn’t see-through is something of a fashion unicorn. Luckily, we know where to look — and who to ask.
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For Kevin Cortez, HuffPost’s daily sale editor, “finding the perfect white tee has been a lifelong journey for me.” He’s tested out a bunch of them, and has strong opinions on both the affordable options and the ones worth the extra splurge. Below, Cortez breaks down some of his favorite men’s (and unisex) white T-shirts with the attention to detail that this versatile, evergreen closet staple deserves.
A heavyweight pocket tee
“I prefer Ben Davis to Carhartt, and selfishly for mostly trivial reasons,” said Cortez. “Namely, one: it’s not Carhartt. Ben Davis is a classic old-school West Coast workwear brand that’s phased out of popularity of the last 20 years or so, but it still shares the OG boxy, oversized fit of Carhartt and Dickies. These tees are heavyweight and thick, which honestly makes them perfect for fall. I’m usually between a L and an XL, but I can wear an M in this basic.”
This heavyweight tee is made with a 7-ounce fabric in the United States, and comes with a chest pocket. You can get it in several colors and sizes S-3XL.
A slightly structured $20 option
Cortez also likes this crewneck from Uniqlo U. “I prefer the thickness of these over the Airism tees, which I don’t really like because if has a polyester sheen to it that makes me feel like I’m melting microplastics into my body hair,” he said. “I like the slight stiffness of them, too, and they feel great if you wash the hell out of them. DO NOT get the regular Uniqlo tees — they’re much cheaper quality. Uniqlo U is the way to go.”
This heavyweight cotton jersey tee is available in sizes XXS-3XL and 12 colors.
A cult-favorite “trash” tee
“This is hands down my favorite tee of all time,” Cortez said of this “trash” tee. “It’s tubular, so no side seams, and it has a really awesome drape to it when I tuck it into my pants. It’s legit the best tee I have for tucking — it stays put it and it drapes over my body in a way I find flattering. The sleeves are lower tees without being too oversized/dropped in a streetwear kinda way. They’re also made from recycled fabrics, so they have a sort of worn-in feel to them from the jump. They alsoooo SLIGHTLY shrink to fit.”
You can get this one in unisex sizes S-2XL, and six colors.
Pictured on the left is Cortez wearing his loose white tee tucked in — but please excuse the poor photo. We promise it’s as white as his apartment lighting will allow!
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A midweight jersey option
Cortez also recommended Reigning Champ’s midweight tee, though admitted they do have “annoying logo tags.” With a boxy, straight cut, drop shoulders and flatlock seams, the shirt offers a comfortable, classic look you can dress up or down. The midweight also gives it a more structured feel, versus a lighter cotton jersey tee.
It’s available in six colors and sizes XS-XXL.
A social-media famous brand that’s probably worth the hype
Cortez also shouted out this two-pack of midweight Buck Mason tees for their quality, though added he doesn’t personally wear them because of his build and wider shoulders. Made with American-grown cotton, the midweight tees are tubular and naturally mold to the body for a more fitted look.
You can get these in black or white, and sizes XS-XL.
A cult-favorite hemp tee with a nice texture and weight
“I REALLY REALLY REALLY like Jungmaven if you’re looking for some texture, weight and something made from hemp (and if you’re good about line drying),” Cortez said. This bestselling tee is made in the United States with hemp and organic cotton and comes in a classic fit that’s great on men and women alike. It’s lightweight at 5 ounces but oh-so-soft, and one reviewer said it “feels like a shirt that I’ll be able to wear for years and years.”
Grab it in a bunch of different colors and unisex sizes XS-2X.
Pictured on the left is Kevin wearing a black version of the slightly slubby Baja Tee from the brand, which he also recommends for its loose collar and slightly faded color.
A TV-famous tee for slimmer builds
While this Merz B. Schwanen shirt is no doubt on the pricy side, it earns its dollar count, according to Cortez. “This is what Jeremy Allen White wears in ‘The Bear’ and that’s a big reason why they’re huge,” he said. “They’re loopwheeled, which means it’s tubular (no side seams, the tee is put together in fewer pieces), and it takes a long ass time to spin, hence its price. They’re a little more tailored to your body and vintage-fitting, so it’s flattering if you’re into that buff kinda look. But I am a certified Big Boy, so I can’t wear these without my shoulders ripping something.”
This tee comes in four colors, and men’s sizes S-XXL.
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