admin If, as Tolkien might put it, there was one T-shirt to rule them all, it would be the plain white tee. Your wardrobe could go plenty far with just one version and a pair of blue jeans, wearing it around the house as simple loungewear, or following in the footsteps of many a menswear great, aiming to cement yourself as a style icon. From pima cotton options to broken-in crewnecks to retro-inspired, relaxed-fit joints, there’s no shortage of options to choose from.
But if you had to choose just one, whether you’re in a pinch or low on cash, we recommend Gildan’s Ultra Cotton T-shirts. They come in multipacks so you can stock up for cheap and they’re made of 100% cotton, unlike many other brands cutting their materials with synthetic materials.
T-shirts are a commodity that shouldn’t force you into bankruptcy (though some might argue that a really, really good tee is totally worth the hit to your credit score). Thankfully, there are plenty of T-shirt brands that make rock-solid affordable options, and one of the below will never steer you wrong.
Ask any fashion aficionado and they’ll confirm that AllStyle’s AAA crewneck tees were the blanks of choice for many of today’s high priests of streetwear. But even if you’re not looking to screenprint your way to success, they’re great tees straight out of the plastic. They’re made with a pre-shrunk, hefty 6-ounce 100% cotton jersey fabric with a classic straight silhouette, shoulder seam tape for durability, and no side seams. Plus, they just so happen to be ten bucks a pop.
We’ve already explained why a white tee is an essential. But life is all about balance, which means you need a stack of top-notch black tees in your dresser, too. Where white T-shirts are pristine and proper, black T-shirts are sexy and badass. Who doesn’t want to feel like a sexy badass?
You could pretty much find a black colorway for every T-shirt on here and you’d be golden (we do recommend each one on this list, after all). Gap’s Classic T-shirt is worth adding to your T-shirt rolodex thanks to the all-cotton construction, brushed soft and cut with a tailored, but not too slim fit.
Did you know that T-shirts can telegraph your mood, too? Well, sorta. T-shirts come in a million different colors between the usual black and white fare, and if you’re into chromotherapy or color theory, you’ll know that each one gives off a different energy. Like, have you ever tried to decide on a new paint color for your room? The main difference is that it’s a hell of a lot easier to change your T-shirt than to re-paint a room.
