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The Definitive 2023 Guide to the Best Men’s White T-Shirts

Leonardo Da Vinci is famously quoted for saying, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication”. The simplicity of a white t-shirt can certainly deliver more than a touch of sophistication to your style when you find the right one. A white t-shirt’s enduring versatility makes it the ultimate wardrobe staple for any man. Whether you’re on a budget, looking for a fresh white tee for your holiday or looking for some luxury in your life, my guide will navigate you towards not only finding the perfect solution, but looking after it too!

There’s nothing like a well-fitted, quality white t-shirt to elevate your style. As a men’s personal shopper, I’ve fit-tested over 100 from Abercrombie to Zegna to provide you with first-hand insight so you can find your perfect match. All opinions are my own and are not sponsored in any way.

Learn not only where to buy the best quality white t-shirts for your body, budget and taste, but how to look after them too.

What I’ve Based My Opinion Upon

Fit

Fit is the number one component of style, your t-shirt needs to fit your body well. The right fit will take a quality white t-shirt from looking good to looking great. A slim-fitting t-shirt offers a sleek and classic look, whilst a relaxed, oversized or boxy fit generally provides a more casual and laid-back look, it’s still vital to get your sizing right though.

The perfect fitting t-shirt will accentuate the best features of your upper body and will make light of any areas you may not be as happy with. Generally, the seam around your shoulder should run across its edge and the arms should end at the midpoint of your bicep. You should feel the material skim around your torso, just enough to let air circulate, and finish at around the midpoint of the fly. If you want to show off and flatter your muscular frame, consider sizing down and going for a heavier-weight material, or going for a lighter-weight material that hugs your torso more.

The budget pleasers

Arket - £17
M&S - £20
Uniqlo - £14.90

Fabric

Assuming you’re wearing the t-shirt for leisurewear and not sports, then you should definitely look at cotton. The more premium the cotton the more the t-shirt will tend to retain its shape and whiteness. Mercerised cotton as in this example from Reiss applies a finishing treatment to the cotton which improves dye uptake and tear strength whilst improving fabric shrinkage and applies a slightly silky finish to the garment.

Other premium cottons include the rare Sea Island cotton featured in the classically cut t-shirt from Sunspel at £155, which they pitch as the world’s most sought-after cotton due to its extremely long staple fibre. You can also look at cotton blend t-shirts with material like silk or cashmere, you’re then really taking the look and feel up a notch.

Lyocell or Tencel (actually the same thing) are materials popping up more on labels now and provide a good alternative to cotton. They’re semi-synthetic, even more breathable than cotton, smooth, lightweight and have great moisture-wicking properties, so something to definitely look out for.

Son of a Tailor - £55-£65
Son of a Tailor interestingly allows you to customise your fit. If you are conscious of being to small, tall or your physique isn't quite what it was, then playing around with the dimensions of your t-shirt as well as weight and fabric could be perfect for you. As a personal stylist, I have referred many of my clients their way.

Weight

Not all manufacturers will detail the weight of a t-shirt, some will go with light, mid or heavy weight; but the weight of a t-shirt can be a good quality or comfort indicator, as well as a styling one. Fabric weight is usually measured in GSM (grams per square meter). Heavier material t-shirts are typically thicker and more durable (see below as a guide).

Lightweight T-shirt fabric: 135 GSM
Medium weight: 170 GSM
Heavyweight: 200 GSM or more

If you are planning to layer a t-shirt, go for a lighter weight as it will be far more comfortable. 200gsm or more is really suited to a lot cooler weather, so beware. I would say a good weight for a more premium feeling all year round t-shirt would be between 150-180 gsm.

Quality at a reasonable price

Everlane - £43
Mr P - £55
Reiss - £48

What else do you need to know?

Washing

For best results always wash your whites separately. It sounds obvious, but that means keeping anything away with just a bit of colour in or clothing that you think is faded anyway. Heat is best when it comes to keeping them white, though always try and follow the garment labels to avoid potential shrinkage. Make sure you employ a good whites detergent. A fabric whitener with stain remover can also help keep your whites supremely white.

Frustratingly the anti-perspirant or deodorant you use can have a yellowing impact or leave marks on your clothes, making your clothes look past it way before their time. I have included a link to the best non staining, invisible dry deodorants here, from spray to roll-on and stick, with natural and environmentally friendly options included.

Get first things first. If it’s winter, concentrate on your outerwear first, as this is what people are going to see you in mostly (first impressions) and how you may be seeing yourself most often when you are out. Putting a coat above a long sleeve t-shirt makes sense.

Remember too that you don’t have to get everything in one go. This exercise is an investment in you, so it is important to find items that flatter you and not just items that do the job. Some items when put on in isolation like a jumper may not excite you, so, if possible, try things on as part of an outfit. Starting out in a tracksuit may not be the best call.

Worth investing in

Sunspel - £85
Eton - £115
Orlebar Brown - £85

Keeping Creases Out

No one likes a creased t-shirt, and if you’re anything like me you don’t like getting the ironing board and iron out either, waiting, ironing and then trying not to wrinkle. Buying a steamer is the perfect solution and a game changer, not just for your white t-shirts, but for most of your other clothes too.

Most heat up in seconds are easy to use and really worth their weight in gold. If you search Amazon, you’ll find a tonne, but from experience Tefal, Phillips and The Steamery are brands I trust most, and I’ve included my top three recommendations here. You’ll also see two of them below.

If you are hanging your t-shirts which I recommend, make sure you use quality hangers of the right width to avoid unsightly creases around the shoulder and maintain the t-shirts shape. If you don’t have these, then you can also refer back to the above steamer after folding them away.

Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer - £150
Philips Foldable Garment Steamer - £38

Conclusion

In conclusion, a white t-shirt can provide you with the statement item of clothing you need in the summer as well as the staple all year round versatile solution for daily dressing. Like anything you get what you pay for. I would say the sweet spot for buying a quality white t-shirt would lie somewhere from the £50 upwards mark and then depend upon the quality of fabric and fit you desire. Going through my selection here, which I have put all in one place, you will find enough variety to keep you content for the next 4 seasons.

A little bit of luxury

Sunspel - £155
Giorgio Armani - £220

All t-shirts, deodorants and steamers mentioned in this article can be found via this link also

Nick Hems is a leading UK based independent men's personal stylist, blogger and style lecturer. All views expressed are his own and he is unaffiliated with any brands. Nick spent the formative years of his career working in corporate sales and marketing and has a Marketing & Advertising degree along with also studying Personal Styling and Fashion Psychology. He is particularly interested in how we use the way we dress and our appearance to create opportunity in our lives and communicate to our intentions and personality.

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Chantelle Znideric

Chantelle is an Award-Winning Personal Stylist and Shopper, with over 15 years experience. She specialises in working with ambitious female leaders and entrepreneurs, in the UK and overseas, to elevate their personal brands with success, build a capsule wardrobe with ease and rediscover their style and confidence.

Clients will learn the best colours that complement their natural colouring, to choose flattering styles for their body shape and how to shop more efficiently, which guarantees to save time and money. They will also achieve an effortlessly stylish yet functional capsule wardrobe, bursting with outfits they will love to wear! Additionally, this will have a hugely positive outcome and long-lasting results when it comes to managing their businesses and families whilst succeeding in their everyday lives.

If you feel stuck in a rut with your style and overwhelmed by your existing wardrobe, or you’re lacking in confidence with portraying a personal brand, that reflects you and your true authentic values, Chantelle would be delighted to have a chat to discuss your styling requirements.

Katy Terrashenko

Katy strongly believes that when you look good, you feel good. She has a diverse client base and loves working with busy individuals needing simple formulas to create outfits that fit impeccably and flatter their unique skin tone, body shape, lifestyle and personality. She teaches time-saving tools to shop efficiently and save money in the long run.

Specialising in Colour Analysis, Katy is passionate about teaching her clients the power of Colour Psychology and how wearing the right shades of colour will not only enhance their appearance but can also improve confidence, energy levels, productivity and communication. Katy knows first-hand how this has a hugely positive impact on confidence, mental health and overall well-being. She believes that every one of us deserves to look and feel amazing.

 

Katy has worked in TV, Fashion and Beauty for 15 years and is an Award-Winning Producer having worked on shows such as Bafta ‘Live from the Red Carpet’ as well as luxury brands including Chivas Regal, and designer brands Felder Felder and Styloko, plus beauty brands Josh Wood & V05. Katy retrained following her third baby, graduating with a Distinction from the London College of Style in early 2021.

Jessica Rea

Jessica is an award winning stylist that has Designed, Styled & Consulted – over 8,000 individuals. 

Her specialist field is in Millinery and she was trained by the UK’s leading milliners and designers who count the Royal Family and high-end Fashion Houses as clients.

From hats, Jessica’s skills naturally led her to successfully put together entire outfits for her clients. Being recognised for her work led Jessica to become Racing TV’s, Race Day in-house Fashion Expert and now and regular stylist on shopping channel QVC.

Jessica’s trusting approach and knowledge allows her to work with women to help them to feel confident in their clothes, uplift their image and re-discover their style from a professional woman, a mum as well as women in the Media Industry having her fashion styling looks appear across National TV such as ITV, Sky Sports, Discovery, Euro Sports to the BBC.