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By Zoe Vanderweide and Justin Krajeski Polo Shirt Design
One of our picks, the Uniqlo Supima Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt, has been redesigned; it’s now slightly longer, roomier, and more opaque. We tested it, and we recommend the new version.
A white T-shirt is the ultimate blank canvas. Versatile and classic, it can blend in or stand out, depending on the outfit and the occasion.
But there are thousands of white tees to choose from, so finding a favorite can feel anything but basic. In our search for flattering, comfortable, and well-made T-shirts worthy of becoming wardrobe staples, we sifted through heaps of contenders. And we enlisted the help of testers with different body types and style preferences.
Three favorites rose to the top of the pile: a polished and versatile under-$25 tee that feels pricier than it is, a high-end, splurge-worthy shirt, and an ultra-affordable white T-shirt that comes in lots of sizes.
Made from smooth, medium-weight Supima cotton, this surprisingly well-priced T-shirt is polished and nicely constructed. It comes in a good range of sizes, from XXS to 3XL, though some testers found it a bit too long.
For an under-$25 tee, the bright-white, slim-cut Uniqlo Supima Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt over-delivers. Want a T-shirt made with smooth, opaque Supima cotton? Seeking something that’s carefully constructed and offers a polished, versatile look? And hoping to find a tee that comes in sizes from XXS to 3XL? Check, check, and check.
In fact, this medium-weight winner looks just as good with a nice pair of slacks as it does with casual shorts or jeans. Quipped one tester, “It’s nice enough to dress up, but cheap enough to paint a house in.”
Note: This shirt is a redesigned version of our previous Uniqlo pick of the same name. Compared with the older model, this tee has a slightly longer, more relaxed cut; thicker, more opaque fabric; and a narrower neckline.
It feels (far) more expensive than it is. If you closed your eyes and ran your hand over the Uniqlo Supima Cotton Crew, you’d never guess it was so budget-friendly. The fabric is sturdy and substantial, and it manages to be smooth yet not slick. That’s because this tee is made from 100% Supima cotton, an extra-long-staple variety that’s prized for its more-durable weave and silkier texture. (It’s often very spendy, too.)
Is this T-shirt made from the absolute softest, finest Supima we’ve ever felt? No. But given this tee’s price, we’re pretty impressed.
You can dress it up (or down). This tee has a polished, put-together look that plays nicely with casual and dressier ensembles alike. Testers praised it as “classic” and “versatile,” noting that “it works in lots of contexts.”
The fabric is opaque, with a subtle sheen; it drapes well over jeans and tucks smartly into trousers. “It’s a nice, clean, bright white,” one panelist said. Another remarked on the shirt’s “Centre Court at Wimbledon” vibes.
It has a long, trim cut. The Supima Cotton Crew has a relatively slim fit throughout. It’s not quite as body-skimming as our Bella+Canvas pick (post-laundering), but the material is more structured and less stretchy, so it makes its shape known. One broad-shouldered panelist (size M) noted that this shirt felt slightly snug in the chest and shoulders.
Like the Bella+Canvas tee, the Supima Cotton Crew has a longer-than-average cut: Brand new, a size L measured 29 inches in length (though after washing, it shrank down to 27½ inches, the same length as our Lady White Co. pick). Our 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-9 testers (both size M) found this tee was too long to wear untucked. But for others (a 6-foot tester, size L, and a 5-foot-10 tester, size XXL), the length worked well.
It’s solidly constructed. This tee has nicely finished seams and a well-built crew-neck collar. “It feels very well made with the stitching at the sleeves and at the neckline. I don’t think it will stretch and lose its shape,” one panelist observed.
It did shrink notably after washing and drying (about 3 inches across both length and width), but not as much as the Bella+Canvas tee. Yet its texture and appearance have both held up admirably; if anything, the feel of the cotton improved over several months of regular laundering.
Super-satisfying premium cotton, seamless construction, and a flattering, just-right cut make this off-white tee look and feel unusually luxe. But this is a lot to pay for a simple shirt, and it comes in a limited range of sizes (S to XL).
A white T-shirt may not be the fanciest item in your rotation, but when it’s done right, it could be the most frequently worn. So there’s an argument to be made for treating yourself to a really nice shirt—or, in the case of the Lady White Co. T-Shirt, two of them. This 100% cotton tee feels subtly elevated in all kinds of ways, from its unusual, pleasantly textured fabric to its effortlessly casual cut, seamless construction, and subtle off-white color.
The Lady White Co. tee comes in a limited size range, from S to XL, so we were disappointed that not all of our panelists could test it. Still, the four who could found this tee more flattering, comfortable, and durable than any other shirt they tried.
It has a classic, ultra-flattering cut. The Lady White Co. T-shirt is cut to perfection. A size L measures about 22 inches across the chest, so it’s roomier than our other picks and a touch more boxy yet still slim—and it drapes beautifully, without clinging to the stomach. One wearer (size L) quipped, “You look more like an alley cat in it than a chunky unit.” (And we’ll note that is intended as a good thing.)
This tee is slightly broader in the shoulders than others we tried, and the sleeves, which hit about midway to the elbow, are on the longer side too. “I like that they cover up my Shaggy-from-Scooby-Doo biceps,” cracked one panelist (size XL). It’s a bit shorter than our other picks (a size L measured 28¼ inches long before laundering and 27½ inches after), and it looked good untucked on our 6-foot tester.
Unfortunately, this shirt comes in the smallest size range of any of our picks; the largest size offered is a men’s XL.
Its cotton is discernibly different. Made from 100% North Carolina cotton, the Lady White Co. tee is thicker and more luxurious than the others we tested. (It also didn’t shrink much in our washing and drying tests—just 1 inch across both length and width.) The fabric feels dense, dry, and very textured, without being heavy or stiff. One tester remarked, “The shape and structure [of the material] hangs beautifully, even when not on the body.”
Note that when you order this tee in white, the color you’ll receive is more of a worn-in canvas shade. We ended up digging its vintage-y look. But given that this is a white T-shirt guide, it’s a point worth emphasizing.
It’s loaded with high-quality details. Uniquely among our picks, this T-shirt is made using a tubular construction, which means it doesn’t have any side seams. One tester (size XL) called this a “big bonus” because it allows the shirt to fall naturally on the body without the pull or pinch of a seam. Another tester described the tee’s construction as “immaculate.”
This shirt has a different collar than the others we tested; it’s a narrow band of ribbed, double-thick material, which makes it less prone to stretching out. It also gives the tee a more fashion-forward look—there’s no mistaking this for undershirt—though one panelist said that the collar felt too bulky for layering under a sweater.
It’s pricey, but it’s built to last. At around $110 for a pack of two, the Lady White Co. T-shirt is an investment. But experience has convinced us that the value is there. One panelist reported that he wore his Lady White Co. tees one to two times a week for about a year, and they were still holding up well. And he said the crisp cotton had gotten softer and more broken-in with regular laundering.
This light- to medium-weight cotton tee—available in sizes XS to 5XL from some retailers—is soft, cozy, and priced to stock up on. But some testers found it too long to wear untucked, and it does shrink quite a bit in the wash.
No need to overthink it: Sometimes a T-shirt can just be a T-shirt. Take, for instance, the Bella+Canvas Unisex Jersey Tee. Simple and unpretentious, this light- to medium-weight all-cotton tee is a no-brainer. It’s super-soft and very inexpensive. And among all of the shirts we tested, this one offers the most inclusive range of sizes—from XS to 5XL, depending on where you buy it. It has a long, slim cut, and its stretchy fabric works especially well for people who wear larger sizes or have longer torsos.
There’s a good chance you may already own a Bella+Canvas T-shirt, whether you know it or not—it’s a popular choice as a so-called “blank” for printing and personalizations. (Think that tee you have from your corporate retreat or favorite barbecue restaurant.)
It’s cut long and slim. The Unisex Jersey Tee is a crew-neck T-shirt with a long, body-skimming cut—it’s the longest and narrowest of our picks. This shirt also shrank significantly when we washed and dried it. A brand-new size L tee measured 30 inches in length, but it shrank down to 27¾ inches after laundering, and it lost around 4¼ inches total across both length and width. So unless you like your T-shirts snug, we suggest buying one size up, or hanging it to dry.
The closer fit, including around the arms and neckline, makes this tee a good undershirt candidate. By the same token, it is the only one of our three picks that risks giving off vaguely “undershirt-y” vibes, particularly in plain white.
Our long-torsoed and taller testers appreciated this tee’s extra length, as did those who wore larger sizes. One panelist (size 3XL) pointed out that he could wear it untucked without worrying about his midriff peeking out. Another (size 2XL) found the shirt a bit too snug in the stomach but added that the length helped it to “drape just right.”
Other testers found this tee to be too long, especially for wearing untucked.
The shirt’s fabric quality is so-so. This tee’s 100% cotton jersey is breathable and very soft, with an almost brushed feeling. And it has some give, so it’s comfortable to move around in. It’s thinner and a bit more transparent than the material of our other picks, but it’s not see-through. Also, if the fabric is stretched too far, it can easily become misshapen.
Striped Polo Shirts It’s a great deal. This is the least expensive T-shirt we recommend, by a mile. It can be found at online retailers like Clothing Shop or Shirt Space for around $5, in sizes up to 5XL. (Admittedly, navigating those off-the-beaten-path sites can be a bit odd. Stock is inconsistent, the price varies by shirt size, and shipping can cost more than the garment itself.) Craft store Michael’s reliably carries the shirt for under $10 but only up to a size 3XL. It’s also sometimes available on Amazon, though the size options can be limited.