Every single day, I build my outfit around a white tee-shirt. It’s been this way for my whole life. I caught this from my mother, who you could always overhear declaring “all you really need is a little white tee-shirt and some great accessories…”
As a stay-at-home mom, I completely agree with this assessment. And my search for thee perfect tee-shirt has really been a long and hard one. I’m still looking. A crew-neck, but not so high that I look like I’m being choked. Long enough to cover my torso, because seriously, how many freaking American Apparel tee-shirts have I worn that were so perfect and then… I washed them… and suddenly I’m wearing a half-shirt (remember those?), circa 1982. Seriously, 1982 was pretty much the last time I remember having flat abs. I was ten.
Petit Bateau did it for me for a while. It was after a trip to Paris, when I was clever enough to load up on them at the Galeries Lafayette, where they were 7 American bucks a shirt. I came home with an extra suitcase full of them. I’m not kidding. If Customs had looked inside my bag, I’d have been in a lot of trouble, because I’m pretty sure they’d have thought I was planning on selling them.
A couple of weeks ago, I ordered a couple of tee-shirts from a line called LnA. Ridiculously priced, but come on, you know me. I’m a smart shopper. I dug around for a while until I came up with a promo code that worked at an online boutique and ordered them at a nice discount. I’d read great things about these shirts. They arrived. I wore. I adored. I washed. And looked down this morning. And my lovely white tee-shirt has nine – nine! – new little holes in it. What the? Are you kidding me? It was the perfect shirt. But I’m a mom. My clothing gets washed a lot. Sometimes a single item is going to be washed multiple times in one day. And so that is my new test. If you don’t hold up in the wash you won’t be folded up in my armoire…
Still searching…
And taking recommendations for that perfect little white tee-shirt…
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My other half keeps drying my white t-shirts and they shrink to the point where they fit me so tight that everyone can see my pierced bellybutton. This gets me so mad I threw my flip flops at him.
I’m an Old Navy and Banana Republic t-shirt hog, I have loads of them in all colors and extra in white. It’s pretty much my daily uniform and when I am pregnant I just buy the next size or two up instead of maternity.
I get those tiny holes in clothes too and I am convinced it is from not zipping up zippers when I put things in the wash. I am a pretty good about it now, but occasionally a pair of Noah’s pj’s or my husbands pants slip by…of course nothing of MINE ever ends up in the laundry basket unzipped.
I just bought a couple double layer white t-s at Tar-get (pronounced with a French accent) for $8.99. They’re not brilliant, but with their little cap sleeves and scoop neckline they work well under jackets.
I’m tempted to look for those Gap t’s that seem to be winning the consensus above.
s.
I love Hanes T-shirts also. I usually get them at AC Moore or Joann Fabrics. I’m a mom and live in t-shirts also. If you want to be a little adventurous and add color, I’ve had lovely success buying women’s tees from thinkgeek.com and jinx.com. The t-shirts are long and don’t shrink.
I also think a great pair and jeans and a great tee will take you most everywhere. I like Gap’s favorite tees and Old Navy’s perfect fit tees. I have to agree with Lulu too though, I LOVE my Hane’s tees. I get a men’s small or a little boys large. They are perfect for everyday around the house stuff and since they’re sooo cheap, I don’t feel bad when it gets all stained.
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I am so paranoid about clothes shrinking that I don’t put any of pants or shirts in the dryer.
I get holes in my T’s too. I think its from carrying kids and the zippers of their pants tears little holes in the shirts. This is my unsupported theory.
Good luck with the search. I agree with Lulu’s picks. Plus Michael Star. Worth a little extra b/c James Perse, Michael Star, Velvet and C & C all fit well and go the mile.
Wearing a white t-shirt for me means the inevitable pain of dribbling coffee down my front…hot sauce or anything else that screams “yes! I’m a slob! I haven’t yet learned hand to mouth, but d’mit I’m trying!” It’s all black for me.
I LOVE the Old Navy Perfect Fit Tees. They are long, fitted and comfy. And cheap enough that if you have to restock every season (which I don’t), you won’t feel like you’re throwing your money in the garbage. Oh, and I throw these in the dryer every time and they don’t seem to shrink on me.
I am a big fan of the white t-shirt as well. Gap is good, so is Old Navy. I used to love Eddie Bauer tees but they got almost too long. In fact, that’s my gripe with a lot of them. They’re forever long or they shrink. Where’s the just right t-shirt? LOL
I am totally a white T-shirt gal too. I would wear a white T EVERYDAY but I usually don’t because I feel pressure to add a little color to my wardrobe. I think you have inspired me, Melissa, to just do what I want and maybe that’s wearing white every single day (plus matching is a no brainer). If you find the perfect T please let me know so I can stock up. I also agree with Lulu the Gap does nice and isn’t too spendy. Or maybe JCrew. Don’t have personal exprience with JC but just a thought.
Well, I’ll have to let you know after I wash them, but I just got a few new shirts at Target actually, and they’re really flattering. They’re double layer tees and tanks (I got the tees because the cut of the tanks was a bit too revealing for my taste) The double layer in front really looks nice, and I feel SO comfy in them. I loved the style so much I bought another one in a different color last night, so now I own three. They were $9.99 each I believe. They had nice white ones too.
I love (Lyle Love) James Perse and C&C California T-Shirts, but I find at at least $45/pop – they’re a bit fancy for my everyday life. So – in Gap I trust. They’re long enough, just fitted enough, and get softer with each wash. Another standby? Good ol’ Hanes – men’s Hanes t-shirts in small are one of my best kept secrets. But you have to get the brushed cotton – just plain ol’ won’t do.