Casual tops: beware the T-shirt
March 6th, 2008All T-shirts are not created equal. They have to be well made and fit perfectly to look good. The best are interesting tailored T’s that are longer in length and made of thicker and better-end, cotton-rich fabrications. These drape well and add structure to the body. Good quality basic T’s are fine when used as layering pieces under jackets, shirts and knitwear. Adding a camisole to this look adds depth and interest.
There are also good casual alternatives to the T-shirt:
- Knitted tops look better than T’s because they’re styled and made of superior knitted fabrics (not T-shirt fabric). I encourage the purchase of knitted tops over T-shirts because their appearance is more refined, which becomes more important as you get older.
- Knitwear is my favourite option for a casual dress code because these items always look great if they’re tailored in the right places. Both chunky knits and finer knits work well.
- Woven tops like soft, fitted button down shirts or casual cotton and linen blousie tops are super and especially good for warm weather.
It’s hard to accomplish a stylish appearance in a T-shirt. They’re either overly clingy, too short, boxy, adolescent or just plain unattractive. They don’t launder well and look sloppy fast. Ever-so-stylish Jennifer Aniston gets the T-shirt look right because she has the perfect body, a polished look, and top notch accessories. Be very discerning when you wear T-shirts and add them to your wardrobe. If you don’t look terrific in a T, wear something else. You have many other casual options to choose from.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Ahhh..t-shirts. The beloved uniform of all us stay-at-home-moms. Your comments about t-shirts are right on. It is so easy to look sloppy or cheap in t-shirts. I have been very impressed with the basic t-shirt (ultimate t-shirt?) at Target. Nice quality, washes well and the fit is great. These ones work well for very casual situations. And since they need replacing so often (why do children use your shirt as a napkin???) the price is right. But then we need the “nice” t-shirts. The ones with the cleaner neckline that can be dressed up and layered for when we actually need to interact with grown-ups. Then a nice, high-quality t-shirt is called for.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:07 am
My favorite t shirt right now is American Apparel’s Tri-Blend short sleeve women’s track T: http://store.americanapparel.net/tr301.html
They make a unisex one too, but it doesn’t fit me as well. The gray and the indigo colors I especially like. The neckline is a very flattering cut and the sleeves are not too tight like many women’s t shirts. Though it’s very casual and boyish, it’s been a great layering piece for me under a stylish (and much more expensive!) cashmere cardigan I bought this winter.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:23 am
I like to layer a basic cotton scoop-neck tee, long-sleeve or short, under cardigans or structured jackets when worn with jeans. In the summer cotton tees with a skirt are okay if you are going to be out and about and sweating a lot - better than ruining your better quality, dry-clean-only tops with pit stains. For work however I will definetly go with something in a dressier fabric. I don’t think cotton tees belong in the workplace.
Two qualities go into a good basic cotton tee for me: 1) FIT. Must be perfect, or else you look sloppy. Just because it’s inexpensive doesn’t mean it shouldn’t fit perfectly. This is difficult when you are petite, but GAP online makes petite tees. Also Tahari makes petite tees with a little bit of interest. Banana Republic makes petite tees in a higher quality fabric with a hint of stretch. 2) NEWNESS. I replace my tees every season. Black tees fade too fast. White tees discolor and look grungy. Any tee loses it’s shape after it’s been laundered too many times. So replace often!!!!
March 6th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Great topic. Agree that t-shirts are overused, but also that there are good uses for some more refined tees. I personally like Michael Stars tees, especially the ones in the “shine” fabric: http://www.michaelstars.com/sh.....bric=shine
They feel nice, have great colors, and they are stretchy without being overly clingy. I have a couple in fun colors that I wear under a black jacket with a little scarf, paired with jeans and funky ballet flats. Fits the “smart casual” perfectly.
Would love to get more recommendations for t-shirts that are above “basic”, are good quality and come in interesting fabrics and/or colors.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
As a newby fashion follower - could you show me some pictures of “knitted tops” vs. knitwear vs. woven. I think I know what these words mean but would love to have some pictures - I have recently bought some “knitted” sweaters in green/blue / pink that I can either wear by themselves or with a collared shirt underneath but I also learned that they stretch out if left on a hanger. I am getting away from just t-shirts because with a pear shaped body they do nothing for my body shape and look really drabby.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Thank you, Angie, for giving such a clear perspective to this issue. I am definitely going to to focus on stocking my summer wardrobe with woven tops and limit myself to only a few high quality superbly fitting tees (if they can be found). I’ve been feeling lately that tees on their own just aren’t that interesting. As always, I’d love to see some examples of t-shirt alternatives you like.
March 6th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
For this upcoming Summer season with so many tops in bright, vibrant colors I bought these tees from Pink Ice:
http://pinkicestore.com/produc.....uctNo=2536
They fit great and are a really good quality cotton.
I could see layering these under some blouses, though, for a smarter look.
March 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
great post - I agree there is nothing worse than a shapeless t shirt, i avoid at all costs. Some great suggestions for alternatives.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
I’m glad we’re on the same page. I am extremely strict with the “jeans and T-shirt look” when I work with my clients and often discourage the habit. Jeans and T-shirts are items that are really hard to fit and look good in, and yet most people choose to wear them. This is a phenomenon I cannot understand.
March 6th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
T-shirts are fairly problematical for me due to being petite and hourglass shaped. The tight fabric across bust thing does nothing for me so I stick to either a v neck or scooped neck but even those have started to cause trouble. Yes I agree with you Angie. Jeans and t-shirts are like a well worn groove but past a certain age they just don’t work. I have a couple of basic ones that I got from Express last spring that have a stretchy gathered type neckline; I love to wear them but sadly even though I’m really small I think they make me look fat.
March 6th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I can’t really be turned off from my silk trim Boden tshirts. They seem to have a certain weight to them that I don’t find in most T’s, like a higher thread count. I think they have enough structure and interest to go beyond the average tshirt. I also agree about Michael Stars, though I find them overpriced. I don’t mind if they don’t last forever and I don’t expect them to. They’re a great fix for me and my student budget.
Last year after I had my bunion surgery, all I could wear were some puffy Saucony shoes and T’s were really the only way to go that didn’t look weird. I also tend to shy away from wovens because they aren’t as forgiving over the bust area.
March 6th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
Thanks for the validation Cathy.
You have hit the nail on the head Maya. You ARE a student! You are well within the age range of wearing T’s appropriately and you are discerning about the fit, style and fabric. The Boden T that you posted on the forum is a cut above the rest and borders the knitted top category. And knits absolutely work better across the bust area than wovens if you’re well endowed. You’ve got it right.
March 7th, 2008 at 5:13 am
I think it all boils down to the simple art of finding a great fit. T-shirts make a very easy casual look as long as they’re fitted correctly. Graphic tees can also make a fun twist under a blazer and with some jeans.
However, you do have a point that it’s so much easier to look put-together, polished, and trendy with more “formal” tops. I love wearing knitted tops to work because they’re so comfy but professional at the same time. However, like t-shirts they also need to be fitted well.
March 7th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Is it just me, or has T-shirt fabric gotten thinner and flimsier these last several years? I love to use dressier T-shirts in pretty colors as layering pieces, but I’ve been finding that the quality of the fabric has gone down. I tried on some lately that looked good on the hanger but turned out to be so thin that my bra outline could be seen when I had them on. And they weren’t tight-fitting shirts either…Maybe I’ll have to start wearing wovens again, although I’ve been avoiding them because I hate to iron.
May 24th, 2008 at 8:00 am
[…] and comfortable in when the temperatures rise. Or buy a knit shirt. Read Angie’s following post for more information on why you should invest in cotton and knit tops instead of […]