11 Vogue Editors On Their Ultimate White T-Shirts
A white T-shirt is the ultimate wardrobe binder. Nine times out of 10, a crisp white T-shirt can solve the conundrum of having “nothing to wear”. Lucky, then, that the Vogue editors have you covered, with their picks of the best white T-shirts.
Whether worn liberatingly loose and airy, or cut to flatter in a ribbed, retro fabric, there’s something wonderfully straight-talking about putting a freshly-laundered tee into service once again.
Read more: The Best White Shirts For Women
When it comes to fabrics, seek out natural options, such as organic cotton and Tencel, which is crafted from wood cellulose. Be mindful of fit: classic, boyish shapes will add nonchalance to smart black eveningwear, but can sometimes look a little too laid-back with jeans (although, at this point, who’s worrying about that?). And once you find a style that suits? Stock up. This is a staple that will never date. Here, the Vogue editors share their failsafe white T-shirts for life.
1/11Jessica Gerardi, shopping editor
“For me, the OG of white T-shirts has to be Sunspel’s, as the material is super light and breathable and they come in a range of fits to suit every preference. Being quite petite I normally go for the classic style, as I prefer them to be more on the fitted side, and the Sunspel ones have just the right amount of cling. Rachel Green eat your heart out!”
Sunspel Classic white T-shirt, £70, available at Sunspel.com.
2/11Sarah Harris, deputy editor and fashion features director
“I’m forever looking for the perfect white T-shirt because I pretty much wear one every day. High street or designer, the best are usually discovered in the men’s department. I love a cut that’s roomy and gently oversized, with squared-shape short sleeves and a relatively high neckline. I can’t bear a scoop neck and a V-neck never makes me feel good. The silhouette has to fall away from the body, I hate any element of cling when it comes to the perfect white tee. I’ve always loved the men’s offering at Cos; the cotton is crisp but feels super soft against skin. Wash on a hand wash cycle and don’t tumble dry if you’re looking for longevity. I also use Whites Detergent by The Laundress to keep them brighter for longer.”
Cos men’s long cotton organic T-shirt, £29, available at Cosstores.com.
3/11Laura Ingham, fashion market director
“I wear a T-shirt almost every day and keep my wardrobe shelves stocked with an edit of black, white and grey tees. My newest and all-time favourite style is from Arket, made from a heavyweight cotton weave which means it doesn’t crease. It has an oversize masculine cut which I love.”
Arket heavyweight tee, £35, available at Arket.com.
4/11Naomi Smart, commerce director
“White T-shirts have to be thick cotton, enough that I can wear a neon or black bra underneath and I don’t have to think twice about it. It can’t be too long as I wear a lot of high waisted trousers and there’s nothing worse than an excess fabric bulge from too much material to tuck in. And long, loose sleeves – that’s a must for a relaxed look. This Cos T-shirt ticks all those boxes, and I switch between my size and one size up depending on what I’m teaming it with.”
Cos slim-fit T-shirt, £25, available at Cosstores.com.
5/11Donna Wallace, fashion & accessories editor
“I have always been a fan of the classic boxy tees in the men’s sections at Cos, Arket and Uniqlo. Between them they have most types of T-shirt you need covered. Arket is great for the everyday classic and has good organic cotton options. Cos and Sunspel are my first choices for their high summer fine gauge versions and slightly dressier yarn finishes. It’s a nuanced thing, but this variation really comes into its own when the look you are going for is a ‘crisp, fresh new tee’. For winter weight tees Uniqlo’s U line has great options. Can you tell that I love a tee?”
Uniqlo T-shirt, £10, available at Uniqlo.com.
6/11Venetia Scott, contributing fashion director
“These Isabel Marant Étoile T-shirts are my favourite. They are made from linen jersey which gives them a crisp, fresh feel.”
Isabel Marant Étoile T-shirt, £130, available at Matchesfashion.com.
7/11Kate Phelan, contributing fashion director
“For me, a white T-shirt is a classic and has to be round neck and short sleeved. It still is the most useful thing I own. I wear it with jeans for day under a tailored jacket, and it looks great with a black wide-leg velvet pant and some crystal earrings for night. This Joseph one is the best shape I’ve found this season. I buy a new white T-shirt every few months – I like them to feel new, fresh and bright.”
Joseph cotton jersey T-shirt, £95, available at Net-a-porter.com.
8/11Tish Weinstock, acting beauty editor
“When it comes to white T-shirts I always just pillage my boyfriend’s. He usually gets them from Hanes and more recently J+ Uniqlo. The vintage Hanes ones are really good.”
+J men suprima cotton relaxed fit crew neck t-shirt, £12.90, available at Uniqlo.com.
9/11Dena Giannini, style director
“Arket’s heavyweight 100 per cent cotton T-shirt is one of my favourites (and £35!). Especially when it comes to light colours, it’s nice to have the heavyweight, which – by the way – washes so well. In addition to classic white they offer a great off-white colour. Ever had a favourite basic that you’ve tried to re-buy only to discover it’s nowhere to be found? One of my favourite things about Arket is that every product has a tag inside with a searchable number, so even if you can’t find the exact piece you can find new similar styles by searching the item ID on the website. Gone are the days of the mystery tee!”
Arket heavyweight off-white T-shirt, £35, available at Arket.com.
10/11Kerry McDermott, digital director
“Call me unoriginal, but Arket’s heavyweight white T-shirt is my number one pick. It has the perfect roomy fit and round neck, and the slightly thicker fabric makes it feel more expensive than it is. A winner. ”
Arket heavyweight t-shirt, £35, available at Arket.com.
11/11Alice Newbold, executive fashion news & features editor
“Arket basics are the best; I’ve lost count of how many of these classic white tees I own. I wear them every day, have washed them hundreds of times, and they still retain their shape and colour. For £15, that’s impressive.”
Arket crew-neck T-shirt, £15, available at Arket.com.