There’s nothing more basic than a T-shirt. So why the hell is a good one so hard to find?
Finding the perfect tee should be easy: It’s not like there are special design elements involved. I don’t need draping, darting or structural sleeves for something I’m just planning to throw on under a cardigan. We’re not talking about intricate silks or cashmeres on the fabric front, either: just your plain jane, run-of-the-mill cotton tee. You know, the one that looks so effortlessly cool on every influencer and celebrity known to man?
And yet, when they inevitably find their way into my closet, they’re schlubby, ill-fitting and rough, making them a mere layering necessity than a choice piece.
But then I found it: The holy grail of basics. The most perfect, best-fitting, ultra-comfortable, chic little T-shirt on the planet (and no, it’s not the $80 James Perse number Jen Aniston reportedly swears by).
The Perfect Tee
LA Made Crew Neck Tee
The LA Made Classic Stripes Crew Neck caught my eye for its striped pattern—I’m like a moth to a flame when it comes to stripes.
At $24, I didn’t have particularly high expectations—I figured it would be like every other tee in my collection. But when I tell you that I put this thing on and gasped!
For starters, I’m not sure what magic they put into this cotton to made it softer and smoother than any other cotton I’ve ever felt in my life, but it literally feels like wearing butter. It’s hands down the best-feeling shirt in my closet.
Then, there’s the fit. Gone are any of the weird body gaps that typically come with a regular tee. This one fits like a glove in my normal XS size. It’s form-fitting, but I can still breathe in it, and it’s long enough to cover the button on my jeans (a personal pet peeve of mine when it comes to short shirts).
Other Tees I’ve Tried
Other tees I’ve tried that this one mops the floor with?
- Madewell’s Whisper Tee: No matter what review site tries to sell you on this being the best of the best when it comes to tees, I strongly beg to differ. While I didn’t have the issue of it being ultra see-through, like some reviewers have complained about (possible because I have no boobs), it has an awkward fit (the XS hangs at the sides) and it’s not particularly soft.
- Goldie Organic Boy Tee ($85): This white tee is the one I’ve been wearing as my staple since it was gifted to me in 2023 (see here). And while it was okay, it didn’t blow me away. The cut is a bit too short and the feel is nothing to write home about (though I will say it holds up quite well in the wash!). But honestly? Considering that it retails for $85, this thing should be magic, and I just don’t believe that It is.
- Pumiey ($19) : Out of desperation, I took an influencer recommendation for this Amazon brand (a decision I’m often disappointed with). Unsurprisingly, this $19 top was just meh: It’s made with a spandex-like polyamide fabric that’s a bit too confining (I feel like I’m being birthed shoving my head through the hole) and it feels cheap to the touch, especially when compared to the LA Made—which I got on sale for $5 more dollars.
As of this moment, I’ll be shoving all of the tees above straight to the back of my closet in favor of my new holy grail. Please excuse me while I go buy it in every single color…
What’s your go-to T-shirt brand? Tell me in the comments below
Xo, Nicole
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