DISCLAIMER: I work at Uniqlo. This did not factor into my decision making or testing in any way. TLDR: I bought, tried on, and tested every white t-shirt I could find at every store I visit regularly.
Here are my thoughts on each and my ultimate winner. Okay, before we get into this, I want to establish my motivation for doing this. So here it is: I have no self-control and a lot of free time.
I was chillin’ with my college roommate from design school, Jake, and his roommate Chris. Like any normal night with those guys it quickly devolved into an argument about literally nothing.
In this case, white t-shirts.
Let me ‘splain. Apparently Jake’s favourite article of clothing is his $60 Champion “technical” cotton t-shirt. I shit you not.
He kept bragging about how his green juice absorbs into his white t-shirt during his workout and how this magical cotton will make your normal t-shirts feel inferior. Chris, of course, thought Jake had lost his mind and that his $10 three-pack from Target was more than enough. As per usual, I had to have some sort of bet to prove who was right. “I will buy every white shirt from every store and we will test them all,” I said. “What?
Every single white t-shirt?” Jake asked. “Watch me.” Funny how that’s my answer to most problems when I drink too much coffee. Fast forward three months and I’ve spent roughly $800 on white tees, turned my flat into a t-shirt distribution centre, and have sent my girlfriend, Emma, to the psychological ward. She might have a point.
But I did buy, try on, and test 34 different white tees from every store I normally purchase clothes at. Want to know where I bought them? Keep reading!
Why these stores? I chose to test white tees from stores I shop at regularly. Target, Walmart, Uniqlo, H&M, you name it.
I purposefully left out brands that aren’t sold in stores (hello L.L.Bean and Bonobos) because why should I test shirts you can’t buy in person? Also I’m busy and don’t want to spend my life shipping clothes back and forth. Another criteria I set was they had to be crew neck, white, and basic.
No graphics, no tucked in shirts, no trousers. Nothing crazy. Just the basics within the realm of the oh-so-basic white tee.
Man did these prices range though. From $8 to $65. Times that by 34 tees… Yeah Emma was not wrong.
For each tee, I wanted to see how it looked when I first got it. Does it feel thin? Rough?
Soft? Next, I wore it around the house to see how it looked on me. Finally, the true test – can people see your nipples through it?
When it comes to white tees, this is every guy’s worst fear. After each test, I washed it and repeated until it fell apart or I got bored. Each shirt endured anywhere from 3-6 wash cycles.
The cheaper shirts…. Guys. $8 shirt looks like you’re breastfeeding Wall Street Journal through your chest. The material is so thin that it feels like it’s falling apart.
And yes, I did destroy it in one wash. Every shirt under $15 fell into this same category. They look good on the hanger but the material literally cannot withstand normal washing and wearing.
Here’s the thing about “cheap” clothing that took me decades to realise – it’s actually more expensive because you’ll have to replace it multiple times a year. Buying quality clothes that last a long time may be more expensive upfront, but when you do the math it works out. Now we’re getting somewhere.
H&M’s standard cotton white tee was pretty good for $12. It wasn’t amazing but the quality was there. Their fancier $18 version was even better, much thicker material and held up great through multiple washes.
If you’re looking for a budget friendly shirt that won’t autumn apart, this is your guy. Speaking of their fancier version, I wasn’t expecting much from the $20 option but it’s actually pretty good. The material feels soft, it’s thick enough that you don’t have to worry about the ol’ nipple display, and even after about six washes it still looks new.
Their U collection version is even better but will set you back $25. Guys… Gap? Come on.
They used to be my go-to for basic clothing. What happened? This shirt feels thinner than most and has the weirdest fit.
You Might Also Like
Too tight in the shoulders and chest, but then too loose in the waist. Are they not using humans to model their clothes anymore?Seriously though, both of these shirts felt super cheap. Material was rough, and the cut was just off.
Best bang for your buck. Again, who knew Costco had good clothing? Well maybe you guys since I’ve heard their trousers are actually quite decent.
But their Kirkland brand three-pack of white tees will only set you back $15. I was shocked at how good the material was for such a cheap price. It wasn’t a great shirt by any means but definitely exceeded my expectations.
Everlane was another surprisingly good shirt. For $18 you get a nice shirt that feels soft, fits well, and holds up after multiple washes. If “radical transparency” about their manufacturing costs is your thing, cool!
But I’m just happy they didn’t sell me a shitty shirt. I bought these guys expecting them to suck because $50?!? For a WHITE TEE?!?
Insane. I should have known better. This shirt is fantastic.
The material is great and it fits amazingly. BUT are they worth $50 more than the Uniqlo U version? I think we all know the answer to that question.
Here’s the thing though, most expensive doesn’t mean better. Don’t get me wrong, I love a fancy shirt as much as the next guy but if you’re looking for a basic white tee there’s no reason to spend that much. Yes the material will feel amazing and maybe last longer, but will you wear that shirt that much more?
Doubtful. So what I learned is that fit is everything. If a shirt doesn’t fit your body correctly it doesn’t matter how fancy the cotton is, it’s not going to look good.
Also, never wash your clothes with hot water again. Apparel manufacturers recommend cold water and delicate because they know that’s how you’re going to ruin your clothes the fastest. Finally, don’t wear white if you sweat a lot….Unless you get those moisture-wicking ones.
They work. Overall winner? Hands down Uniqlo.
The Supima cotton crew neck for $20 is the best all around white tee. It feels fantastic, thick enough that you don’t have to worry about flashing the world, and lasts through numerous washes. If you’re willing to spend a few more bucks, go for their U version.
It’s $5 more but honestly worth it. For my budget shoppers out there, H&M has some pretty good options as well. Their premium cotton crew neck is pretty decent for $18.
It won’t last near as long as my winner but if you’re looking to save a little buck go forth and buy H&M shirts! What I wouldn’t recommend are the really cheap ones (under $12) or really expensive ($40+) ones. For the price, the cheap shirts autumn apart too fast to justify and the expensive ones are just paying the Nike brand name too much money.
Moral of the story is there’s a pretty good white tee for every budget. You just might have to spend a little extra to find it. White tees are pretty standard.
Some of the shirts I expected to blow me away didn’t and some did that I never thought would. Does marketing really influence us this much? Seems like it.
I ended up keeping my top 5 favourites and donated the rest to Goodwill. I probably could have donated them sooner because the cashier at Goodwill gave me the weirdest look eyes when he saw me dumping 29 Abercrombie white tees of the same size into a donation bin.
Live your truths I guess.
Would I recommend doing this? No… But I had a lot of fun doing it. Did I learn more about shirts than I ever wanted to know?
Absolutely. Will this help you guys out? Hopefully!
That’s the whole reason I decided to document this crazy adventure. Long story short, Jake hasn’t stopped talking about his Japanese “technical” shirt isn’t better than my pick and Chris is still convinced we’re all idiots. They’re both right.
But at least now I know how cheap or expensive you can get away with getting when purchasing the ultimate essential. Cheers!
