As I’m figuring out my personal style, one thing that I know for certain is I like a casual tee. Tucked into jeans with a belt or untucked rocking slouchy cool-girl vibes, a white t-shirt elevates every outfit. Proving that basic doesn’t have to mean boring!
Except—finding the perfect tee? Well that’s another story. Why is it like searching for a needle in a haystack?! Maybe it’s because it’s such a basic that brands assume they don’t have to try as hard? It’s just like offering bread on the menu…it doesn’t have to be good bread. People just expect it. But I’m tired of settling!
So in my pursuit of getting to the crux of my personal style, I decided I just had to find my signature white t-shirt. And that means a side-by-side comparison of some of the top apparel companies to see what they offer for this wardrobe basic!
Now, my perfect tee is going to probably be different from other people’s. But here is my criteria: I don’t want one that’s super fitted or too oversized. I like a higher crewneck collar that’s not suffocating. I don’t want a tight sleeve—in fact, a loose arm with a slight flare at the end would be perfect. I’ll be tucking these in half the time so I want them to be long enough (I’m 6’0″), and yet, I also want it to look ok untucked, where it pools just a bit at my waistband. There has to be something out there for me!
I ordered 14 white tees from ASOS to Zara to see if I could find the perfect one. And spoiler? I think I found my go-to white tee!
Reviewing 14 White T-Shirts in Alphabetical Order by Brand!
Composition: 95% cotton, 5% elastane
Transparency: Semi-opaque
Review: This is the perfect example of a t-shirt that might win someone else’s white t-shirt contest. It’s comfy, it’s stretchy…it’s too form-fitting for me. I do love the nice high neck. I’d wear this under something, but it’s just a little too tight.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Composition: 100% cotton
Transparency: Semi-opaque
Review: Wow, this was the first one I tried on, and it really impressed me. Like is it going to get better? The only thing I might change is making the sleeve just a tad bit longer. I love the fit, and I’m not returning it.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Composition: Cotton
Transparency: Opaque
Review: This one is edgy, I just don’t feel polished enough. The neck is too wide. Positives? I like the natural sleeve roll it has—very James Dean. However, there’s a raw hem at the bottom which makes it look a little too distressed. Is it too big? The length would require a tuck—it just feels like it would be too fussy to get this right.
Rating: 7 out of 10
Composition: 100% cotton
Transparency: Opaque
Review: I’ve heard about this brand but never tried anything from them. And Oh. My. Gosh. It’s everything. It naturally sits right on my bel. It’s a great thickness—very soft. The sleves are an amazing length and flare out. There’s a form-fitting tightness on my shoulders that is very difficult to do well, and I love it. I’m trying to think of what could make it any better, and I’m coming up blank. This is what I’m talking about as my signature tee!! This is a keeper!
Rating: 10 out of 10
Composition: 100% cotton
Transparency: Opaque
Review: I like the thickness of this one—it’s not see-through at all. However the sleeve is a little too short—almost like a cap sleeve. Not as boxy or stretchy as the Abercrombie. I just want something a little looser and more boxy.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Composition: 100% organic cotton
Transparency: Opaque
Review: I like where this t-shirt hits just below my belt. It’s nice and boxy. It has the coveted form-fitting area on the shoulders, which makes them look defined. The arm flare is nice. It is little more boxy than the Aritzia. If you like your white tee with a little more room in the body, this is a great option.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Composition: 100% cotton
Transparency: Semi-transparent
Review: No. No, this is not what I want. The body is so long, and I’m 6-feet tall! The sleeve is too tight on my arm. It’s too slim and yet not even flattering. I couldn’t switch this one out fast enough. I wouldn’t even wear this under something.
Rating: 3 out of 10
Composition: 100% cotton
Transparency: Opaque
Review: This…ehhh, I had high hopes, but the sleeves are too short and too tight for me. The body has a good boxy fit, but it’s too long—I want the shirt to land above the belt. And this feels a little too open-ended?
Rating: 6 out of 10
Composition: 100% cotton
Transparency: Semi-opaque
Review: I feel like Old Navy usually runs a little large, so I could have gotten a small which might have helped the fit. I like the boxiness, but it’s a little too long. The slight flare of the sleeves was nice, but it’s not something I’d keep.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Composition: 100% organic cotton
Transparency: Semi-opaque
Review: This has an amazing weight. It stretches but it feels thick. The sleeve length is good, and I like the little flare. But the collar is a little too wide for me, and the body is too long. It’s not see-through, but it does have that marled look to it that makes you feel like you want to wear something under it. The price is great!
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Composition: 58% Cotton, 39% Modal, 3% Spandex
Transparency: Opaque
Review: I’ve had and loved this shirt for a while! This tee is ribbed which adds some nice stretchiness. The sleeves are a little more like cap sleeves and the length is great. The neckband is wider than most other ones, which looks a little higher end than you would expect at this price point. I have it in gray and wore it all the time last spring and summer, but it’s not going to win this white t-shirt contest just because it’s not boxy, but it’s a great staple to have on hand.
Rating: 6 out of 10 (but it’s just one of my favorite go-to shirts)
Composition: 96% cotton, 4% spandex
Transparency: Opaque
Review: This is my friend’s favorite white t-shirt. But this is a little too snug and trim for me. It does feel like a high-quality shirt, though. I would actually keep this one as an undershirt. It feels really really good!
Rating: 5 out of 10 (but 10/10 as an undershirt)
Composition: 100% cotton
Transparency: Opaque
Review: This is just not what I’m looking for in my signature tee. There’s a roll on the sleeve—which is very James Dean and cool—but the drop shoulders make my shoulders look droopy and not structured. It’s boxy and really quite long. Not see-through at all, it’s actually quick thick almost like a camp shirt. Just not for me.
Rating: 2 out of 10
Composition: 100% cotton
Transparency: Semi-transparent
Review: This is a really nice t-shirt. I like where it lands at the waist. It’s kind of boxy, and the sleeves don’t hug my arms, which is good. Overall, fit is good, but it’s a tad see-through, which isn’t ideal. You can see my belt through it.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
The Winner?
The Aritzia Soft Feel All-Time T-Shirt is my new signature white t-shirt!
It checks all of my boxes and at $25, it’s a really accessible price. I love how buttery soft it is, and it gives me that easy timeless look that goes with almost anything. I have a feeling this is going to be on repeat from now on…
