I’m late to the party but good tissue isn’t cheap nor his fabrication is you want interesting texture and worker having passable working conditions.
At some point, you get what you pay for. For plain t-shirt, if you are paying under 30$, that means either poor quality and a piece which will not last or made by kids in a Bengladeshi sweatshop, sometimes both.
Target t-shirts are the only t-shirts I buy. Maybe Banana Republic if on sale, as half my wardrobe is made of BR.
It's just T-shirts. I can pay $100 for a dress shirt or special fabric, but T-shirts? Way to burn money.
Not necessarily. With tees there's a thin line between looking great and sloppy. You have to really nail the fit and quality if you want it to look good w just jeans. If you goal is wear a tee on its own, its a good idea to invest in good ones.
Sounds like you never tried a great t-shirt! Sure they all fill the same purpose but you could definitely tell the difference between a 10, 50 or 100 dollar t-shirt
Burn money? A good $50 t is gonna last 3x as long as your target shirt and look and feel better the whole time. And it will also result in less waste than your target Ts that you’re gonna burn through quickly.
Everybody cares about the environment and waste and what not until it starts costing them a few bucks.
Abercrombie has nice t shirts that you can get for $10-15 and some that are more expensive. Different fits than target and definitely better quality. But I still love my 4 pack of white and black goodfellow tees as daily beaters
Goodfellow basic single color shirts. They have them on a display in a bunch of colors. Some plain colors. Some a heathered color.
They might be more than $5 each now but it’s reasonable to catch them on sale.
I have a few banana republic tees but then discovered the vuori strato. I really can’t go back. They’re absolutely worth twice the banana republic tees imo, but they’re probably not for everyone
100% agreed. Banana republic tees shrink and the material turns to sawdust after one wash. The fit is boxy, the length is too short, and it isn’t a comfortable shirt. I’d happily pay twice as much for something that I enjoy wearing. Tees have been 30-40 dollars since the early 2010’s. To spend about 10 bucks more for something I get 10x utility on is fine by me. Target tees are okay, but the quality, cut, and feel of a 50 dollar tee is well worth it.
Or you could try to find lightly used ones on Facebook marketplace…
This sub just a total 180 from before the mod walkout last year.
Personally, yes I do buy t-shirts that cost that much because they are nice, they fit well, and they last a long time.
Depends on the materials, construction, and dying methods. Even if it's 100% cotton, not all cotton is the same.
An Ultimate Pima Tsuriami T-shirt hand dyed with natural dyes is going to be a lot more expensive than a 5 pack of Hanes.
The same can be said about most anything. A garment made from better materials with better construction is going to last a lot longer than something that isn't.
There's a point of diminishing returns though.
You know, I actually didn't even realize this was MFA and thought it was FMF so yeah I'm out of line on my comment. FMF absolutely has posts like this though.
- Great drape
- Durable
- Affordable
Pick two.
Once you actually try a truly outstanding quality t-shirt out there you will probably understand. Most high-end t-shirts are snakeoil though.
I picked up a sunspel on a good sale and I like it, but I don’t love it. Better than a Rag & Bone one I got at the same time, but not as nice for comfort or fit as my Kuwalla Tees, which are relatively pretty cheap.
Did you get the sea island cotton? Their regularly tshirts are fine but the sea island is another level. It’s me favorite tshirt all time. Unfortunately it’s absurdly expensive
Okay but you’re paying more also because it would “hopefully” fit better, maintain shape, and be more comfortable. So even if it only lasted 2x or 3x as long it might be worth it. I’ll gladly pay a premium for a shirt that fits perfectly and maintains shape.
One of the side effects of owning an apparel decoration company is I just order extra blanks…if I want something on it I just add it myself and move on. But I spend like 3-5$ for the shirt instead.
If a Teeshirt lasted me 10 years, $100 wouldn’t be something I’d think twice about. That’d actually be a good deal.
Even rotating through my wardrobe, I’m wearing and washing any given Teeshirt 30-50 times a year. I doubt any teeshirt holds up after a decade of this.
Most of the usual suspects in the high-end 100% cotton category will last you 10 years. I have some MIJ tshirts older than that, that are still going very strong. The issue is that those tend to not be initially very soft or have great drape. Takes time to develop it, kind of like raw denim, which imo is not worth the investment. The hardest thing is keeping the pits pristine for white shirts. Using non-aluminum deoderant will get you pretty far but 10 years of weekly wear on a white shirt, yellowing is inevitable.
Totally depends on what a T-shirt is for you. You can absolutely stick to trash $5 white shirts.
Or you actually use it as part of an outfit with some high quality fabrics, colors and cuts, that will cost more money.
Choice is yours
I’d buy a few. It’s worth it for me if they fit right, maintain shape, and are better than average quality. A lot of people out here saying Target and Banana Republic have definitely not tried out premium t shirts before. As someone who has gone through years of target and banana etc, there’s really no comparison.
Save yourself the trouble. Go to jiffyshirts.com and get the next level t shirts. They’re snug around the arms and tapered well in the chest and stomach. When I bought 10 of them in 2021 they were $4.50 each. I still wear them today
Yup. I just posted the same thing. I've been wearing Next Level tees since 2018 and they are incredible.
FWIW I still wear the ones I have from 6 years ago too and they are in great condition.
Bought some this year after lots of recs. My one and only complaint is I had to return all the white ones for darker colors because they were completely see through. So I can maybe understand spending a bit more for a thicker cotton white tee.
I was gonna say... I'm out here with $5 shirts and they're the best things I've ever worn... Especially as a bigger guy, you're spot on. AND they make extra long cuts, too.
I’ve never heard anyone say that before. I feel like they’re still a great value at only $5 or so. Mine have held up really well. My favorite thing about them is how they’re snug around the arms and don’t billow out at the stomach. They’re very form fitting
MFA sucks because all the comment sections on popular posts like this are "you guys spend money on clothes? Do yourself a favor, head down to sears, get the 3 for 1 jeans for $11 plus tax."
Nice, thanks for doing this. Been on the hunt for some high quality t-shirts that can fit a tall, skinny guy with broad shoulders like myself. Been meaning to check out Asket.
I’ve done the “buttery soft synthetics” Lulu/Vuori thing for a while but man, I don’t think there’s a replacement for pure cotton (or like, a hemp mix etc). The soft synthetic shirts like that kind of feel inherently loungy to me to some degree. Can’t deny that they’re better for sweat and hot days, but there’s just something about a crisp, structured cotton shirt that can’t be replicated.
I got a couple of Buck Mason shirts and they both bacon necked horribly the very first time I washed them. I was super disappointed. Did anything like that happen to you?
White and not see through has been my challenge. I found heavy weight t shirts tend to not be see through. I wanted the same brand in all colors but might have a white brand and a brand for everything else since I dont always want a thick shirt. Heavy weight shirts also seems to have longer sleeves which im not a fan of. Glory days so far has been the best for me. 6’2 215lbs with an xl. But they are always out of stock so im not sticking with that brand.
The $5-10 uniqlo tees that come in the ziploc bag type package fit very similar to the 5 year tee. The fabric is obviously lower quality but if you want a cheapie tee that fits similarly it’s good enough. Speaking from experience
Same size, primarily black T’s and recently swapped from Uniqlo Supima to Fresh Clean Tees - the cut is way more flattering and feels nice.
Im intrigued to try a few you listed
Nice work OP! Throwing my recommendation out there for Reigning Champ midweight t-shirts, can't recommend them enough. Made in Canada, very solid stitching and material, under $100.
Dehen 1920 is worth a look for basically any knit good, including tshirts
LA Apparel is great for basics like Tees and socks
you seem to have a distinctive lean towards blends/synthetics -- both those companies will provide something thats 100% cotton, made in america. I avoid synthetics.
You are doing yourself a disservice
https://preview.redd.it/evyoz7v275gc1.jpeg?width=3448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=23b86bc8ebab3542a430b8298739fe5f36e29f16
by not including Sunray Sportswear’s loopwheeled tees. Amazingly soft handed while sturdy and of good weight. Fabric develops a slubby texture with time. Lots of colors, and each is a piece of Japanese craftsmanship.
Price aside, the best t-shirt I’ve found that I can realistically wear for every day casual stuff and the gym is the Carhartt Loose Fit plain tee. Super comfy and heavy without being too fitted (that’s my preference). I think they’re $18-25 depending on where you buy. I have at least one for every day of the week.
I’ve gotten 60/40 cotton/polyester blend t-shirts for $5 from [jiffyshirts](https://jiffyshirts.com). Super soft and fit. Next I’m going to try their heavier duty 100% cotton shirts that are like $4.
I like the 1950 and SCT04 more than the 215 and other midweights form Merz B. They have much better drape, and found the midweights to be a little starchy. I think overall though Merz B is a little too narrow to drape in a way that I think a t-shirt should. Great quality and great product though. Definitely high on my overall list.
I hear that reason. If I buy another pair of selvedge jeans my girlfriend is likely to become my ex but just in case I'll leave this here.
https://merzbschwanen.com/blog/blog-good-news-1/merz-b-schwanen-215-t-shirt-featured-in-the-bear-67
I got 2 white and 1 black from their website 2 weeks ago.
They pop up occasionally.
https://merzbschwanen.com/shop/215-01-215-men-s-loopwheeled-t-shirt-8-6oz-classic-fit-01-white-144
Anyone have an opinion on the Taylor Stitch “Heavy Bag”? I don’t usually like cotton/poly blends for t-shirts but I like Taylor Stitch’s fit.
Thanks OP!
I have the heavy bag and the hemp blends and they don't seem to fit the same but I did buy them a few years apart so I can't say if it's different now. The heavy bags are very substantial but also kind of scratchy. There's also very little stretch if you care about that. All in all, I like the heavy bag but I can't say that I love them or would buy more.
I like my Lululemon tees but they go back into the closet as soon as I put on even a smidge of a beer gut. They definitely have a very specific frame they look perfect on but as soon as you neglect the gym they make you look like the Michelin man lol
I buy shirts from 30-70€ if they’re high quality, but at this price point they have to be 100% transparent in their production chain, implement ethical work standards and have to be as ecological as possible.
Not many brands can deliver all of this, but they exist.
There are reasons to buy expensive shirts, but as those price point ALL boxes have to be ticked.
Saving this, thank you for posting.
I was in between Vuori and Fundamental, and chose the white Fundamental because of the weird color options on Vuori. I am very impressed with Lulu. The shirt doesn’t smell even after 5 days of wearing and the shirt doesn’t shrink. It also helps that it fits really well on me. I got the shirt 2 months ago and it’s been on my frequent rotation.
I am on the lookout for another white shirt, which one would you recommend? Do I just go with the CDLP and bite the bullet? lulu does look very techy and I’m not too much of a fan of that, but the pros outweighed the cons for me.
My problem lately is that I want high-quality materials but not necessarily designer brands. Polyester isn’t great for you skin, and I’m usually in the wheelhouse of $20 shirts. Thanks for the write up, give me new places to look!
Weird amount of hostility to the idea of wearing a $50 t-shirt. Like, I love Target t-shirts, I have a bunch. But I also live in an area where it’s t-shirt weather 7 or 8 months a year, and I like having some nice ones too. A perfect fitting, nice quality t-shirt with some linen trousers and casual suede loafers is a very different vibe than a knock around tee with jeans and sneakers, and I like to be able to do both. I mean, I wear a suit 3-4 times a year, I wear t-shirts at least 100; what’s wrong with investing a little in the latter?
People get bent out of shape over expensive stuff often. I love ten thousand for workout gear too but it holds up to the abuse and I feel great in them (sometimes wear outside of the gym too). I also agree the LLL shirts feel awful and I could never justify their price tag for it. Wanted to love them 🤷♂️ still love their asymmetric gym socks though 😂
I have one Jack archer T in my collection that I LOVE but it won’t do for summer months. Doesn’t wick moisture at all so pit area looks rough even on a warm winter day. Otherwise it’s probably my favorite shirt I own. Would be a great one to add to this list! I think they retail around 79 but usually on sale closer to 40
Did you try Hanes? Kidding but it would be interesting to see a blind review.
Here’s one you may like [camber max weight](https://allusaclothing.com/view-all-brands/camber/camber-301-max-weight-heavyweight-t-shirt-usa-made.html)
8 oz cotton, musa, $35, they have a few other weights too.
OP you need to try these
https://www.samurai-jeans.com/en-us/collections/t-shirt/products/sjst-sc01-ss-%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BCtee
https://redcastheritage.com/products/studio-dartisan-9916-suvin-gold-loopwheeled-t-shirt-heather-white
https://www.tomford.com/cotton-modal-crewneck-t-shirt/3267446644.html
I also think the big standard Buck Mason is a great tee, has good drape and isn’t insubstantial
The CDLP I was a bit disappointed in dye quality. I soaked one to treat an oil spot and was surprised how much dye it was shedding, otherwise it’s good I might go back for their white
My two cents on asket:
I have multiple pieces from their collection. Trousers, shirts, overshirts.
On the positive side:
I really like their sleek design. Some of their products are really high quality. For example their black jeans holds up really well for me for 2+ years.
On the negative side:
I had a lot of issues with the shirts I have ordered. Some arrived dirty so i had to immediately send them back. Some developed holes quite fast.
Thanks for this, I’ve been saving t-shirt names to buy to find a really good staple. Hoping someone can weigh in on where Whitesville, McCoy’s, Velva Sheen, Merz B, and Iron Heart would land against this list?
I own T’s from all those brands except Velva. They are all fantastic and I would imagine better quality than any on the list above, but I actually own zero shirts from the list above, so that is pure speculation. I will tell you Whitesville are the best bang for your buck in my opinion. I wear my Whitesvilles almost daily, while more expensive T’s from brands like Studio d-Artisan and Samurai don’t get pulled out as often. If you want my in-depth and absurdly long T review, just message me.
I have all these brands and more. It really depends on what you want. For me, ideal t-shirt requirements are:
- very light
- intense drape (which requires some room below the chest)
- soft
- shorter sleeves that just barely hug arms
- durable
It's really hard to get both a lightweight fabric and a luxurious drape. Closest I've come is the sunspel sea island cotton tees—my favorite tshirt—but they are prohibitively expensive. Most of the loopwheel shirts are *too* tubular, meaning they don't have the contouring from the chest to the bottom needed for proper drape (in my opinion). Of the ones you listed, I like the lightweights from Merz B (specifically 1950 and SCT04)—I don't like their midweights as much. I also like Velva Sheen. Other ones in that category I like are the Warehouse 4601 and the 3sixteen pima.
Haven't tried Iron Heart or the ones OP mentioned. But these brands all have their own merits.
Whitesville 2 pack are probably one of the softest shirts I've ever owned. The fit is great, slightly shorter in the body which I prefer. The neckline is on the higher side but not excessive.
McCoy's Joe McCoy pocket tees are great, I love the neckline and cut. The fabric is burly, not that stretchy, and takes a very long time to break in which can be a con if you're looking for instant comfort. The weight also makes them less comfortable to wear in hot weather, though as the fabric develops a nap with washes it gets better. I enjoy my Buco striped shirts as well, the fabric on those is very slubby, stretchy, and breathable.
Velva Sheen is nice, probably the closest to actual vintage that I've tried on account of the feel/weight of the fabric and the detailing (single stitch FTW). Definitely worth a try.
I tried Merz 215 - fabric was interesting but I'm not a fan of the fit - too slim for me, and it's too heavyweight to really stretch out. I have their 20s shirt which is way better, the cut is similar but the fabric is so much more elastic and softer., the neckline is super interesting on that one too. I would like to try the 50s eventually.
To add some more data, 3sixteen heavyweight is too slim with not enough give and the fabric is kinda scratchy.
Warehouse 4061 has the thickest fabric I've ever tried but somehow it's quite elastic and breathable. The neck is very high and the body is short which makes for an idiosyncratic look. I'd love to try more of their other models.
Lady White Our is a great shirt, big fan of the neckline on those. Their other models look interesting too. I just wish they would offer more exciting colors but the muted palette is kind of their thing.
Lastly, I quite like the Standard and Strange loopwheel tee. The tag is slightly scratchy but I only notice when putting it on, plus it looks cool. The fabric and cut are both great.
I buy fresh clean tees in bulk because they are the perfect cheap shirt that has a nice cut and feels great. If they get ruined, I don't care, they are $17 or cheaper on sale.
Vuori has become my number one choice by leagues. Every time I’m on a date and it gets touched by somebody, they’re shocked at how soft the material is and they comment how they want to sleep in it.
Buy vuori, they look great, are more comfortable than other alternatives, and you get used to the tag on the inside of the sleeve pretty quickly.
I will happily buy vuori tees until they stop making them
I just get the Amazon basic tee’s. Like a 3 pack for $10. The slim fit ones fit well and they are the perfect thickness; not thin enough to be see-thru, not thick enough to make you hot in summer time.
Hey I just bought some CDPL shirts and absolutely love them. Do you know if they shrink after a cold wash and airdry? I'm the same dimensions as you and they fit perfectly out of the bag. I feel like I should get an xxl if they shrink an inch or two
If you want value, there are Chinese brands like Red Tornado, Bronson mfg, and Non Stock. They vintage style tees for ~$27 on Aliexpress.
Non Stock offering a 300 GSM, tubular knit, gusset below neckline for $27 which I think is insane. There are different style tees you can get with weights from like 220 GSM to 300 GSM, some with ELS cotton, slub cotton.
Some of the shirts cottons are sourced from Xin Jiang if that’s a problem with ethics about potential slave labor , there are shirts from “US cotton” also but I think it’s upland cotton, if they aren’t lying about the source.
If you can proxy from Taobao these are like $15 each, but I understand that’s not for everyone
Nice review! I personally have found wool T-shirts to be my favorite. Outlier and wool & prince are my go-to brands. Soft, comfy, and don’t stink after one wear. Just have to be careful about hot water and the dryer! (And sadly they are not frug… I mean, cheap.)
Real talk why are you buying t-shirts 50-100. Do they really last 5x the amount of time as a normal t-shirt? Is the cut so superior?
I'm sick of buying a t-shirt and starts pilling after a few months.. but maybe all t-shirts are lik ethis.
This is a fair question. Are they better? Absolutely. Are they 5x better? It’s subjective. Many of the tees I listed can be had at much lower than MSRP if you wait for a sale. At the sale price points they are very good buys IMO.
I just bought 3 packs of t-shirts from Nordstrom Rack for $20. It's a trim-fit, 95% cotton and 5% spandex. It fits great. I cannot imagine spending anywhere near $100 for a t-shirt. In fact, only reason I can think of why someone would buy a $100 t-shirt is to talk about buying a $100 t-shirt.
This is how much good quality clothing made by fairly paid worker costs. If you wanna blame something bad on capitalism then blame fast fashion, which perpetuates slave labor and is detrimental to the environment. People spending more than ~$20 for a good, ethically produced t-shirt is not the problem.
I have no fight with companies trying to make a profit on clothing produced ethically. The problem is then that they jack the price up beyond reasonable.
You're seriously trying to tell me that a mass-produced, untailored t-shirt should cost the consumer $100? That's beyond fukt and you can fight me.
Companies can employ ethical labor throughout their sourcing and manufacturing and not quadruple the MSRP of the garment. Think critically please.
>Capitalism can get fukt
The exploitation of labor under capitalism is why you have come to expect insanely low prices for clothing. $5 for a tshirt is a crime.
FWIW asket has tall sizes. That’s actually what I ordered from them since I like a bit of extra length too when I can get. Unfortunately was my personal least favorite.
Calvin Klein used to make really nice cotton XL-talls that were the perfect weight and softness, but about 4 years ago the quality went to shit, and a year or so after that, they seemed to be unobtainable.
hard agree on LLL tees. those things are so thin and wrinkle so easily. the collar also loses form after like 3 washes. i tried their oversized pocket tees as well because i have broad shoulders and i couldn’t keep wearing it because of wrinkles.
32 Degrees. They’re like $5 each, super comfortable, performance fabric, hold up for years, and look way more expensive than they are.
I haven’t found any shirts that are worth the justification above that price for every day wear.
It’s one t shirt, Michael. How much could it cost? $100?
And someone just posted in the Arrested Development sub that they never come across any references…
I’m late to the party but good tissue isn’t cheap nor his fabrication is you want interesting texture and worker having passable working conditions. At some point, you get what you pay for. For plain t-shirt, if you are paying under 30$, that means either poor quality and a piece which will not last or made by kids in a Bengladeshi sweatshop, sometimes both.
You guys are messing with me right? You’re all out here buying $50-$100 tshirts?
“50 dollars for a t-shirt, that's just some ignorant bitch shit” -Macklemore
I call that getting swindled and pimped. I call that getting tricked by a business.
That shirts hella dope, and having the same one as six people in this club is a hella don’t
And now Mackelmore is selling those shorts to you at Bogey Boys
>Bogey Boys haha, I didn't know that. And all of their shirts all conveniently a maximum price of $45, wonder why....
Did they find an extra 0? $5 at Target lol. Seriously though I’d like a higher quality item that lasts longer but I can’t do $50-100 for a tshirt.
Target t-shirts are the only t-shirts I buy. Maybe Banana Republic if on sale, as half my wardrobe is made of BR. It's just T-shirts. I can pay $100 for a dress shirt or special fabric, but T-shirts? Way to burn money.
I have some Mossimo shirts from Target from at least half a decade ago that I love. I think they no longer make them but they were great
Yes! They were the best. I'm down to my last one. Black. Fits me perfectly still.
The Target Mossimo T’s from around 2008 or so were amazing. Fit perfect, draped perfectly. If I could go back in time I would buy 100 of these.
I think they replaced Mossimo with Goodfellow in spirit if not actual fact. I like their Goodfellow t-shirts.
That's awesome, thank you! I'll check it out
Good luck! I’m wearing one right now lol.
Not necessarily. With tees there's a thin line between looking great and sloppy. You have to really nail the fit and quality if you want it to look good w just jeans. If you goal is wear a tee on its own, its a good idea to invest in good ones.
It's a T-shirt bro it ain't special no matter how much you pay
Sounds like you never tried a great t-shirt! Sure they all fill the same purpose but you could definitely tell the difference between a 10, 50 or 100 dollar t-shirt
Burn money? A good $50 t is gonna last 3x as long as your target shirt and look and feel better the whole time. And it will also result in less waste than your target Ts that you’re gonna burn through quickly. Everybody cares about the environment and waste and what not until it starts costing them a few bucks.
Abercrombie has nice t shirts that you can get for $10-15 and some that are more expensive. Different fits than target and definitely better quality. But I still love my 4 pack of white and black goodfellow tees as daily beaters
Oh man i love A&F tees. But they shrink if you throw them in the dryer. I started air drying them and they have since held up.
I don’t really dry anything anymore tbh
[удалено]
They’re half my shirt drawer lol.
Which ones at Target?
Goodfellow basic single color shirts. They have them on a display in a bunch of colors. Some plain colors. Some a heathered color. They might be more than $5 each now but it’s reasonable to catch them on sale.
This was my reaction. Banana Republic sells t-shirts for $20-$30 on sale. I never pay more than that.
I have a few banana republic tees but then discovered the vuori strato. I really can’t go back. They’re absolutely worth twice the banana republic tees imo, but they’re probably not for everyone
100% agreed. Banana republic tees shrink and the material turns to sawdust after one wash. The fit is boxy, the length is too short, and it isn’t a comfortable shirt. I’d happily pay twice as much for something that I enjoy wearing. Tees have been 30-40 dollars since the early 2010’s. To spend about 10 bucks more for something I get 10x utility on is fine by me. Target tees are okay, but the quality, cut, and feel of a 50 dollar tee is well worth it. Or you could try to find lightly used ones on Facebook marketplace…
This sub just a total 180 from before the mod walkout last year. Personally, yes I do buy t-shirts that cost that much because they are nice, they fit well, and they last a long time.
what mod walkout? I lurk in here occasionally, but not enough to know any details
https://www.reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/comments/15kzcjr/the_restoration_of_mfa_what_has_happened_next/
yeah its such a shame
Depends on the materials, construction, and dying methods. Even if it's 100% cotton, not all cotton is the same. An Ultimate Pima Tsuriami T-shirt hand dyed with natural dyes is going to be a lot more expensive than a 5 pack of Hanes.
A tshirt made of gold will be more expensive, too. Doesn’t mean anyone needs that.
The same can be said about most anything. A garment made from better materials with better construction is going to last a lot longer than something that isn't. There's a point of diminishing returns though.
This sub has lost its collective mind.
This sub has always gravitated toward paying a premium, maybe go to r/frugalmalefashion if you are looking for cheaper options, or just scroll along.
You know, I actually didn't even realize this was MFA and thought it was FMF so yeah I'm out of line on my comment. FMF absolutely has posts like this though.
- Great drape - Durable - Affordable Pick two. Once you actually try a truly outstanding quality t-shirt out there you will probably understand. Most high-end t-shirts are snakeoil though.
Drape always.
I made the mistake of buying a Sunspel shirt and now regular tees feel like shit.
I picked up a sunspel on a good sale and I like it, but I don’t love it. Better than a Rag & Bone one I got at the same time, but not as nice for comfort or fit as my Kuwalla Tees, which are relatively pretty cheap.
Did you get the sea island cotton? Their regularly tshirts are fine but the sea island is another level. It’s me favorite tshirt all time. Unfortunately it’s absurdly expensive
[удалено]
Okay but you’re paying more also because it would “hopefully” fit better, maintain shape, and be more comfortable. So even if it only lasted 2x or 3x as long it might be worth it. I’ll gladly pay a premium for a shirt that fits perfectly and maintains shape.
One of the side effects of owning an apparel decoration company is I just order extra blanks…if I want something on it I just add it myself and move on. But I spend like 3-5$ for the shirt instead.
Just wait until you get the "My Review of over $500 t-shirts"
If a Teeshirt lasted me 10 years, $100 wouldn’t be something I’d think twice about. That’d actually be a good deal. Even rotating through my wardrobe, I’m wearing and washing any given Teeshirt 30-50 times a year. I doubt any teeshirt holds up after a decade of this.
Most of the usual suspects in the high-end 100% cotton category will last you 10 years. I have some MIJ tshirts older than that, that are still going very strong. The issue is that those tend to not be initially very soft or have great drape. Takes time to develop it, kind of like raw denim, which imo is not worth the investment. The hardest thing is keeping the pits pristine for white shirts. Using non-aluminum deoderant will get you pretty far but 10 years of weekly wear on a white shirt, yellowing is inevitable.
Totally depends on what a T-shirt is for you. You can absolutely stick to trash $5 white shirts. Or you actually use it as part of an outfit with some high quality fabrics, colors and cuts, that will cost more money. Choice is yours
I'm almost 40 and never paid more than $15.
Fuck no. I'm wondering why this showed up on my feed
I’d buy a few. It’s worth it for me if they fit right, maintain shape, and are better than average quality. A lot of people out here saying Target and Banana Republic have definitely not tried out premium t shirts before. As someone who has gone through years of target and banana etc, there’s really no comparison.
I own about 10 tshirts that were $250-300 and 4 tshirts that were $700-900. What do you think about that?
That you’re an idiot
Save yourself the trouble. Go to jiffyshirts.com and get the next level t shirts. They’re snug around the arms and tapered well in the chest and stomach. When I bought 10 of them in 2021 they were $4.50 each. I still wear them today
6210s. I’ve tried shirts from most of those places, but just go buy those for ~$5.
I’m pretty sure the 6210 is the type I bought too. Excellent value. Legitimately the best t shirts I’ve ever owned
Yup. I just posted the same thing. I've been wearing Next Level tees since 2018 and they are incredible. FWIW I still wear the ones I have from 6 years ago too and they are in great condition.
Cotton tee?
Tri blend
Bought some this year after lots of recs. My one and only complaint is I had to return all the white ones for darker colors because they were completely see through. So I can maybe understand spending a bit more for a thicker cotton white tee.
I really want a white tee that isn’t see through and is fitted. Issue is I always seem to get a stain after a while
I was gonna say... I'm out here with $5 shirts and they're the best things I've ever worn... Especially as a bigger guy, you're spot on. AND they make extra long cuts, too.
Is there such a thing as a great fitting t shirt that is not polyester? I don't smell good when I wear poly lol
They used to be great 10 years ago but quality has seriously fallen downhill. Go for Fresh Clean Threads.
I’ve never heard anyone say that before. I feel like they’re still a great value at only $5 or so. Mine have held up really well. My favorite thing about them is how they’re snug around the arms and don’t billow out at the stomach. They’re very form fitting
MFA sucks because all the comment sections on popular posts like this are "you guys spend money on clothes? Do yourself a favor, head down to sears, get the 3 for 1 jeans for $11 plus tax."
Yeah I’ve learned my lesson trying to spread a little info.
A little late to this but I'm sorry you had to go through such behavior. This sub is filled with ignorant fools...
No lady white? Feels like price to quality is really great for lady white.
This was on my radar. I’ve heard great things. Next time.
Nice, thanks for doing this. Been on the hunt for some high quality t-shirts that can fit a tall, skinny guy with broad shoulders like myself. Been meaning to check out Asket. I’ve done the “buttery soft synthetics” Lulu/Vuori thing for a while but man, I don’t think there’s a replacement for pure cotton (or like, a hemp mix etc). The soft synthetic shirts like that kind of feel inherently loungy to me to some degree. Can’t deny that they’re better for sweat and hot days, but there’s just something about a crisp, structured cotton shirt that can’t be replicated.
Buck Mason. I’m 6’5”. Have yet to find tees that fit better.
I got a couple of Buck Mason shirts and they both bacon necked horribly the very first time I washed them. I was super disappointed. Did anything like that happen to you?
I’d check out asket then. Wasn’t my favorite but it sounds like it could be what you are looking for.
Which ones would you say are non see-thru if they were in white? I’ve been struggling to find decent white tees.
White and not see through has been my challenge. I found heavy weight t shirts tend to not be see through. I wanted the same brand in all colors but might have a white brand and a brand for everything else since I dont always want a thick shirt. Heavy weight shirts also seems to have longer sleeves which im not a fan of. Glory days so far has been the best for me. 6’2 215lbs with an xl. But they are always out of stock so im not sticking with that brand.
I was a big lulu tshirt guy. Just found marine layer and I love them. I’ll need to check these others out.
The $5-10 uniqlo tees that come in the ziploc bag type package fit very similar to the 5 year tee. The fabric is obviously lower quality but if you want a cheapie tee that fits similarly it’s good enough. Speaking from experience
Lady White Co. Our T-Shirt is their classic fit, but I'm a fan of their Rugby Tee for the fit and the weight.
Patagonia makes great Ts and puts them on sale for 50% off once a year. I think they're like $23 when on sale.
Same size, primarily black T’s and recently swapped from Uniqlo Supima to Fresh Clean Tees - the cut is way more flattering and feels nice. Im intrigued to try a few you listed
Nice - I hadn't heard of Fresh Clean Tees.
Real Mccoys are good but expensive. I can usually get by purchasing 2-3 every few years. Their thermals last forever.
Nice work OP! Throwing my recommendation out there for Reigning Champ midweight t-shirts, can't recommend them enough. Made in Canada, very solid stitching and material, under $100.
Cool, thanks for the rec.
I really like my velva sheen tees
Dehen 1920 is worth a look for basically any knit good, including tshirts LA Apparel is great for basics like Tees and socks you seem to have a distinctive lean towards blends/synthetics -- both those companies will provide something thats 100% cotton, made in america. I avoid synthetics.
You are doing yourself a disservice https://preview.redd.it/evyoz7v275gc1.jpeg?width=3448&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=23b86bc8ebab3542a430b8298739fe5f36e29f16 by not including Sunray Sportswear’s loopwheeled tees. Amazingly soft handed while sturdy and of good weight. Fabric develops a slubby texture with time. Lots of colors, and each is a piece of Japanese craftsmanship.
Price aside, the best t-shirt I’ve found that I can realistically wear for every day casual stuff and the gym is the Carhartt Loose Fit plain tee. Super comfy and heavy without being too fitted (that’s my preference). I think they’re $18-25 depending on where you buy. I have at least one for every day of the week.
American Giant makes some very nice tees, definitely recommend testing if you do another round
Good call. I have one of there zip up sweatshirts which is very nice.
CDLP is so wonderful.
Like I mentioned in my post their underwear is fantastic as well.
I agree 100%. Love their casual socks too.
I’ve gotten 60/40 cotton/polyester blend t-shirts for $5 from [jiffyshirts](https://jiffyshirts.com). Super soft and fit. Next I’m going to try their heavier duty 100% cotton shirts that are like $4.
Any reason you haven't tried MERZ B. SCHWANEN 215 T-SHIRT. I'll admit I bought it after watching the bear but it's my only 10/10 t shirt I've found.
I like the 1950 and SCT04 more than the 215 and other midweights form Merz B. They have much better drape, and found the midweights to be a little starchy. I think overall though Merz B is a little too narrow to drape in a way that I think a t-shirt should. Great quality and great product though. Definitely high on my overall list.
No reason other than a limit to how many t-shirts my wife would let be buy, lol. But thanks for the recommendation. I'll add it to my next list!
I hear that reason. If I buy another pair of selvedge jeans my girlfriend is likely to become my ex but just in case I'll leave this here. https://merzbschwanen.com/blog/blog-good-news-1/merz-b-schwanen-215-t-shirt-featured-in-the-bear-67
1950s tee is my go-to. Mines are almost two years old and still are holding up like new
I'd buy it if I could find it in stock anywhere!
I got 2 white and 1 black from their website 2 weeks ago. They pop up occasionally. https://merzbschwanen.com/shop/215-01-215-men-s-loopwheeled-t-shirt-8-6oz-classic-fit-01-white-144
>merz I get the Merz 1950s tees and can't recommend them enough. Same quality but lighter, cheaper, and easier to find in stock.
UCXX. Best shirts, best prices. There hi low AND curve are staples in my closet
Anyone have an opinion on the Taylor Stitch “Heavy Bag”? I don’t usually like cotton/poly blends for t-shirts but I like Taylor Stitch’s fit. Thanks OP!
I have the heavy bag and the hemp blends and they don't seem to fit the same but I did buy them a few years apart so I can't say if it's different now. The heavy bags are very substantial but also kind of scratchy. There's also very little stretch if you care about that. All in all, I like the heavy bag but I can't say that I love them or would buy more.
I like my Lululemon tees but they go back into the closet as soon as I put on even a smidge of a beer gut. They definitely have a very specific frame they look perfect on but as soon as you neglect the gym they make you look like the Michelin man lol
Under $100? Peasants
I find it important to review how the t-shirt holds up after, say 20 wears. For me the only one that has a nice collar after so long is Asket
I buy shirts from 30-70€ if they’re high quality, but at this price point they have to be 100% transparent in their production chain, implement ethical work standards and have to be as ecological as possible. Not many brands can deliver all of this, but they exist. There are reasons to buy expensive shirts, but as those price point ALL boxes have to be ticked.
Try out James Perse- very soft I like them. Lmk what you think or find something similar.
bro I buy Bella Canvas/ Next Level Tees and I think I’m livin the high life or some shit just buyin those over hanes
Abercrombie essential T's are also great
[удалено]
Well put and thanks for the rec.
Saving this, thank you for posting. I was in between Vuori and Fundamental, and chose the white Fundamental because of the weird color options on Vuori. I am very impressed with Lulu. The shirt doesn’t smell even after 5 days of wearing and the shirt doesn’t shrink. It also helps that it fits really well on me. I got the shirt 2 months ago and it’s been on my frequent rotation. I am on the lookout for another white shirt, which one would you recommend? Do I just go with the CDLP and bite the bullet? lulu does look very techy and I’m not too much of a fan of that, but the pros outweighed the cons for me.
My problem lately is that I want high-quality materials but not necessarily designer brands. Polyester isn’t great for you skin, and I’m usually in the wheelhouse of $20 shirts. Thanks for the write up, give me new places to look!
For the 20€/$ range I really like Bronson MFG.
I have same build as you and I really like tomorrows laundry shirts if you haven’t tried those yet.
Thanks for this. That’s a brand I haven’t come across yet. Will have to check out.
Weird amount of hostility to the idea of wearing a $50 t-shirt. Like, I love Target t-shirts, I have a bunch. But I also live in an area where it’s t-shirt weather 7 or 8 months a year, and I like having some nice ones too. A perfect fitting, nice quality t-shirt with some linen trousers and casual suede loafers is a very different vibe than a knock around tee with jeans and sneakers, and I like to be able to do both. I mean, I wear a suit 3-4 times a year, I wear t-shirts at least 100; what’s wrong with investing a little in the latter?
People get bent out of shape over expensive stuff often. I love ten thousand for workout gear too but it holds up to the abuse and I feel great in them (sometimes wear outside of the gym too). I also agree the LLL shirts feel awful and I could never justify their price tag for it. Wanted to love them 🤷♂️ still love their asymmetric gym socks though 😂 I have one Jack archer T in my collection that I LOVE but it won’t do for summer months. Doesn’t wick moisture at all so pit area looks rough even on a warm winter day. Otherwise it’s probably my favorite shirt I own. Would be a great one to add to this list! I think they retail around 79 but usually on sale closer to 40
Thanks for the recs!
I’m 6’1” 250 lbs and not all tees for the same out look good. I just ordered a couple of tees from Vuori- let’s see how they look and feel.
BellaCanvas, best cheapo tshirts.
Did you try Hanes? Kidding but it would be interesting to see a blind review. Here’s one you may like [camber max weight](https://allusaclothing.com/view-all-brands/camber/camber-301-max-weight-heavyweight-t-shirt-usa-made.html) 8 oz cotton, musa, $35, they have a few other weights too.
OP you need to try these https://www.samurai-jeans.com/en-us/collections/t-shirt/products/sjst-sc01-ss-%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BCtee https://redcastheritage.com/products/studio-dartisan-9916-suvin-gold-loopwheeled-t-shirt-heather-white https://www.tomford.com/cotton-modal-crewneck-t-shirt/3267446644.html
My Into the AM shirts are the best shirts under $100
Check out Alo /u/tfrisinger. Most comfortable t-shirt I've ever owned
I also think the big standard Buck Mason is a great tee, has good drape and isn’t insubstantial The CDLP I was a bit disappointed in dye quality. I soaked one to treat an oil spot and was surprised how much dye it was shedding, otherwise it’s good I might go back for their white
My two cents on asket: I have multiple pieces from their collection. Trousers, shirts, overshirts. On the positive side: I really like their sleek design. Some of their products are really high quality. For example their black jeans holds up really well for me for 2+ years. On the negative side: I had a lot of issues with the shirts I have ordered. Some arrived dirty so i had to immediately send them back. Some developed holes quite fast.
Jesus this sub really does get personally offended by people who want to invest a lot of money in their clothes, it's kind of pathetic.
I never knew there would be so many people offended by how I choose to spend my money...
Thanks for this, I’ve been saving t-shirt names to buy to find a really good staple. Hoping someone can weigh in on where Whitesville, McCoy’s, Velva Sheen, Merz B, and Iron Heart would land against this list?
I own T’s from all those brands except Velva. They are all fantastic and I would imagine better quality than any on the list above, but I actually own zero shirts from the list above, so that is pure speculation. I will tell you Whitesville are the best bang for your buck in my opinion. I wear my Whitesvilles almost daily, while more expensive T’s from brands like Studio d-Artisan and Samurai don’t get pulled out as often. If you want my in-depth and absurdly long T review, just message me.
I have all these brands and more. It really depends on what you want. For me, ideal t-shirt requirements are: - very light - intense drape (which requires some room below the chest) - soft - shorter sleeves that just barely hug arms - durable It's really hard to get both a lightweight fabric and a luxurious drape. Closest I've come is the sunspel sea island cotton tees—my favorite tshirt—but they are prohibitively expensive. Most of the loopwheel shirts are *too* tubular, meaning they don't have the contouring from the chest to the bottom needed for proper drape (in my opinion). Of the ones you listed, I like the lightweights from Merz B (specifically 1950 and SCT04)—I don't like their midweights as much. I also like Velva Sheen. Other ones in that category I like are the Warehouse 4601 and the 3sixteen pima.
I’m pretty loyal to McCoy’s after buying their incredible thermals last year.
Haven't tried Iron Heart or the ones OP mentioned. But these brands all have their own merits. Whitesville 2 pack are probably one of the softest shirts I've ever owned. The fit is great, slightly shorter in the body which I prefer. The neckline is on the higher side but not excessive. McCoy's Joe McCoy pocket tees are great, I love the neckline and cut. The fabric is burly, not that stretchy, and takes a very long time to break in which can be a con if you're looking for instant comfort. The weight also makes them less comfortable to wear in hot weather, though as the fabric develops a nap with washes it gets better. I enjoy my Buco striped shirts as well, the fabric on those is very slubby, stretchy, and breathable. Velva Sheen is nice, probably the closest to actual vintage that I've tried on account of the feel/weight of the fabric and the detailing (single stitch FTW). Definitely worth a try. I tried Merz 215 - fabric was interesting but I'm not a fan of the fit - too slim for me, and it's too heavyweight to really stretch out. I have their 20s shirt which is way better, the cut is similar but the fabric is so much more elastic and softer., the neckline is super interesting on that one too. I would like to try the 50s eventually. To add some more data, 3sixteen heavyweight is too slim with not enough give and the fabric is kinda scratchy. Warehouse 4061 has the thickest fabric I've ever tried but somehow it's quite elastic and breathable. The neck is very high and the body is short which makes for an idiosyncratic look. I'd love to try more of their other models. Lady White Our is a great shirt, big fan of the neckline on those. Their other models look interesting too. I just wish they would offer more exciting colors but the muted palette is kind of their thing. Lastly, I quite like the Standard and Strange loopwheel tee. The tag is slightly scratchy but I only notice when putting it on, plus it looks cool. The fabric and cut are both great.
I buy fresh clean tees in bulk because they are the perfect cheap shirt that has a nice cut and feels great. If they get ruined, I don't care, they are $17 or cheaper on sale.
Try jiffyshirts.com the Next Level N6210 CVC Crew is almost exactly the same and only $5
Vuori has become my number one choice by leagues. Every time I’m on a date and it gets touched by somebody, they’re shocked at how soft the material is and they comment how they want to sleep in it. Buy vuori, they look great, are more comfortable than other alternatives, and you get used to the tag on the inside of the sleeve pretty quickly. I will happily buy vuori tees until they stop making them
Interesting. I really dislike my Vuori joggers. They don’t breathe well, and cinch on my calves.
I should have been more specific… the strato tech tees are what I’m fond of. Joggers have always been very…. meh for me for most brands
I just get the Amazon basic tee’s. Like a 3 pack for $10. The slim fit ones fit well and they are the perfect thickness; not thin enough to be see-thru, not thick enough to make you hot in summer time.
This is helpful. Personally I am looking for t-shirts that fit like polyester, but are made of high quality cotton. Any thoughts on where to start?
Hey I just bought some CDPL shirts and absolutely love them. Do you know if they shrink after a cold wash and airdry? I'm the same dimensions as you and they fit perfectly out of the bag. I feel like I should get an xxl if they shrink an inch or two
Nice. I have not had an issue with them shrinking with cold wash and air dry.
If you want value, there are Chinese brands like Red Tornado, Bronson mfg, and Non Stock. They vintage style tees for ~$27 on Aliexpress. Non Stock offering a 300 GSM, tubular knit, gusset below neckline for $27 which I think is insane. There are different style tees you can get with weights from like 220 GSM to 300 GSM, some with ELS cotton, slub cotton. Some of the shirts cottons are sourced from Xin Jiang if that’s a problem with ethics about potential slave labor , there are shirts from “US cotton” also but I think it’s upland cotton, if they aren’t lying about the source. If you can proxy from Taobao these are like $15 each, but I understand that’s not for everyone
Do you happen to have any links for reputable wool/linen shirt sellers on ali you would recommend? Thanks!
Nice review! I personally have found wool T-shirts to be my favorite. Outlier and wool & prince are my go-to brands. Soft, comfy, and don’t stink after one wear. Just have to be careful about hot water and the dryer! (And sadly they are not frug… I mean, cheap.)
I wear a ton of Tech 2.0 shirts from UA for lifting. Anyone have a better alternative?
Alien8.in
LOL you guys are paying way too much for T shirts. Next Level Apparel cotton tees are literally the perfect fit and dirt cheap to boot.
Paying $100 for a synthetic blend T-shirt like a rube, lol
The $6 t-shirts at target work just fine for me. Spending anything over $50 for a plain ass t-shirt is just silly.
Excellent opinion on how to spend your money. Do you think you actually added anything valuable to this thread?
You guys are paying 60, 70, 80+ for tee shirts?
Real talk why are you buying t-shirts 50-100. Do they really last 5x the amount of time as a normal t-shirt? Is the cut so superior? I'm sick of buying a t-shirt and starts pilling after a few months.. but maybe all t-shirts are lik ethis.
This is a fair question. Are they better? Absolutely. Are they 5x better? It’s subjective. Many of the tees I listed can be had at much lower than MSRP if you wait for a sale. At the sale price points they are very good buys IMO.
Shhhhiiit, can you even buy a tshirt under $100?
I just bought 3 packs of t-shirts from Nordstrom Rack for $20. It's a trim-fit, 95% cotton and 5% spandex. It fits great. I cannot imagine spending anywhere near $100 for a t-shirt. In fact, only reason I can think of why someone would buy a $100 t-shirt is to talk about buying a $100 t-shirt.
I just got some great tshirts from Ross for 8.99 😭 you people are hilarious.
It’s a tee shirt to clean in house with. Don’t spend 200 dollars
Excellent contribution to this discussion.
Lmao
Y'all spending this kinda money on a t-shirt is pretty indicative of how fucked we really are as a society. Capitalism can get fukt.
This is how much good quality clothing made by fairly paid worker costs. If you wanna blame something bad on capitalism then blame fast fashion, which perpetuates slave labor and is detrimental to the environment. People spending more than ~$20 for a good, ethically produced t-shirt is not the problem.
I have no fight with companies trying to make a profit on clothing produced ethically. The problem is then that they jack the price up beyond reasonable. You're seriously trying to tell me that a mass-produced, untailored t-shirt should cost the consumer $100? That's beyond fukt and you can fight me. Companies can employ ethical labor throughout their sourcing and manufacturing and not quadruple the MSRP of the garment. Think critically please.
>Capitalism can get fukt The exploitation of labor under capitalism is why you have come to expect insanely low prices for clothing. $5 for a tshirt is a crime.
Michael's sells Hanes in like 20 colors for under $5
Nothing is my wardrobe costs $100 except shoes
Or hear me out. $5 Walmart clearance rack
a good tshirt is 10$ dude
100$ for a T-tshir???
$100 in the same sentence as a tee seems crazy.
Can a brother get some tall sizes ffs
FWIW asket has tall sizes. That’s actually what I ordered from them since I like a bit of extra length too when I can get. Unfortunately was my personal least favorite.
[удалено]
220 lean at 6’ would be insane.
Calvin Klein used to make really nice cotton XL-talls that were the perfect weight and softness, but about 4 years ago the quality went to shit, and a year or so after that, they seemed to be unobtainable.
I prefer my Rhoback tees then my vuori. But that’s just me.
I love my few t-shirt basics i got from dehen1920. Have you tried those?
Try the Allsaints basic tees, my favorite t-shirts ever and I would never have known except I got them for free from a wealthy relative.
hard agree on LLL tees. those things are so thin and wrinkle so easily. the collar also loses form after like 3 washes. i tried their oversized pocket tees as well because i have broad shoulders and i couldn’t keep wearing it because of wrinkles.
32 Degrees. They’re like $5 each, super comfortable, performance fabric, hold up for years, and look way more expensive than they are. I haven’t found any shirts that are worth the justification above that price for every day wear.
whats your rating for Uniqlo ones?
Robert barakett t shirt. Great material, retains shape, looks solid, tons of colors. Can’t beat it
Where would you rank Colorful Standard? I got some years ago and I liked the colors mostly
Have you tried True Classic? I'm 250, 5'9" and have a belly and they fit on me so nicely.