The Basic T-Shirt

Who doesn't own at least one T-shirt? Someone once said "to err is divine, to wear a t-shirt is just plain comfortable". Ok, I made that up, but it's true, what feels better than a good, old fashioned worn-in basic t-shirt? As far as I'm concerned, nothing! How do you know if a T-shirt is of high quality? How do you know how it will wear over time? What are the best basic brands? Well, my friends, I will answer these questions for you.

A high quality basic t-shirt doesn't have to be expensive, just well-made and made with the right fabric. So, what does well-made mean? Most of the time this means it has a seamless collar, taped neck & shoulders, and double needle stitching throughout the entire garment.

As far as the fabric is concerned, you want to look for pre-shrunk 100% cotton jersey fabric and ideally, ringspun or combed cotton.

Ringspinning and combing are processes that add softness to the cotton and it they are noticeably softer than basic cotton.

Many manufacturers make T-shirts with ringspun or combed cotton, but I like the Hanes Beefy-T, the Devon & Jones Vintage Tee and the American Apparel Fine Jersey Tee for women.

All of these are very soft, and only get better after repeated washings. T-Shirt Layering Layering T-shirts has become the fashion standard for women these days.

You can achieve a variety of looks by simply changing the color and style of the T-shirts, and by layering them in a different order.

With dress codes in the workplace becoming more and more casual, you can now get away with throwing on a comfortable skirt or pair of khakis and layer away! Some of the best brands to use for layering are American Apparel (Classic Girl) and Hype. Both of these brands use good quality lightweight cotton, which allows multiple layers without a heavy feel. 

A few examples of excellent layering tees are the American Apparel Boy Beater” tank and the Hype Sheer Cotton Long Sleeve Tee.

These two items are available in basic black and white, plus a few other color options like green and pink to spice it up a bit. Layer the tanks under everything for work or play – like under a suit jacket for work.

They are long enough to cover the top of even the lowest waisted pants, and form fitting so they’re not too thick under your other shirts. In the fall and winter, you can layer the Hype Sheer Cotton Long Sleeve Tee under everything – other t-shirts, sweaters, blazers, jackets, etc.

Both of these items come in a multitude of colors from mahoganyfair.com