Over the past century, few garments have been able to achieve the sort of timelessness and widespread popularity as the plain white t-shirt. That goes double in the realm of menswear: where the humble cotton crewneck appears to be having its seemingly millionth renaissance — on suburban dads, metropolitan dirtbags, and yes, The Bear‘s Jeremy Allen White.
Without wanting to overstate the obvious, the bulletproof longevity of the white t-shirt comes down to how it exists outside and in the epicentre of the trend. That’s why it yields dividends to spend a bit extra on this well-trod wardrobe staple.
Bearing that in mind, we’ve put together a brief primer on how to pick the perfect white t-shirt and thrown in a couple of our editors’ favourite makers to get you started.
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The Best White T-Shirt Brands For Men In 2024
The Real McCoys
Described on more than one occasion as the “finest Americana repro brand from Japan”, The Real McCoys is the absolute last word when it comes to beautifully made, period-accurate menswear— the kind clothes obsessives are happy to pay out the nose for.
That is evident in something as simple as the humble white crewneck. In an ode to vintage American sportswear manufacturers, the brand offers its signature plain white tee in a 2-pack. All things being equal, we’d wager two is as many as you’ll need.
Handily the most well-made white t-shirt we’ve chosen to include, it features a ribbed neckline and unique tubular construction (i.e. no side seams). The end result? A supremely comfortable tee that holds its shape dozens of wears and washes later.
Uniqlo
Uniqlo is an utterly unimaginative and yet wholly deserving addition to any shortlist of quality men’s tee brands. Like its competitors on the high street, the Japanese apparel giant makes a range of different variations of the humble white tee — the best of which, we feel, is this oversized “half sleeve” option.
Made with some (very top-line) input from French designer Christophe Lemaire, the loose fit and voluminous sleeve contribute to this t-shirt’s contemporary style. The proprietary AIRism fabric is also an absolute game-changer during the Australian summer: cool to the touch, with unique “desorption” technology that wicks moisture from the wearer’s body.
CDLP
CDLP began life as an underwear brand that quickly revolutionised that space: thanks to its use of comfy and sustainable lyocell materials.
Now, the Swedish label has expanded its range to include other meticulously-made essentials, including some of the menswear internet’s most coveted white t-shirts.
Crafted from a luxurious blend of lyocell and Pima cotton, the brand’s ‘Midweight’ tee is known for its fantastic softness and breathability, making it a great default for daily wear. Cut right to the chase and order a 3-pack, to ensure you’ve always got spares of this wardrobe essential.
Neutrale
Madrid-based label Neutrale takes inspiration from the beauty of the surrounding Mediterranean to produce consciously crafted, unisex staples that are characterised by relaxed simplicity.
Case in point: its organic tee, which is the epitome of keep-it-simple-stupid goodness. Made from 100% cotton that has been organically certified, and then garment-dyed for a superior finish, it’s a win for the planet and a win for your wardrobe.
ASKET
Like a lot of contemporary Swedish labels, Asket was founded upon the “pursuit of less”. In an effort to fight fast fashion, this minimalist brand endeavours to create only dead-set essentials: the sort of garments they hope will occupy a place in your wardrobe for years to come.
The brand’s plain white t-shirt is an illustrative example: cut from pure, extra-long-staple cotton. The raw material is spun into a compact, custom-made jersey fabric. At 180g per sqm, it’s extremely resistant to warping and pilling — just as well since this is the sort of tee one can spend their whole summer in.
L’Estrange
London-based label L’Estrange has mastered the art of smart casual style with its elegant everyday staples that will see one effortlessly through the day — no matter whether your needs are work or play.
The brand’s ‘Classic’ tee best embodies this versatility. Made from heavyweight organic cotton with a 30/1 yarn count, it boasts a structured feel, along with details that suggest a level of unwavering attention: think a subtly curved hem and L’Estrange’s A-shape split hem.
ISTO.
Portuguese label Isto prides itself on walking the talk when it comes to sustainability. Eco-friendly materials and manufacturing methods are core to the brand’s value proposition, as evidenced by its ‘Classic’ T-shirts: always sold in a bundle of three.
More than the product itself, it’s commendable how much data Isto provides so that potential buyers can make an informed decision. As part of this tee’s ‘Impact Report’, the brand has even quantified how much of the raw material and labour that goes into it is traceable. Neato.
Percival
Percival creates menswear staples, but not as you know them.
Fusing top-notch craftsmanship with playful design, the London-based label aims to inject a sense of fun and modularity into the everyman’s daily wardrobe.
For evidence, look no further than the brand’s best-selling embroidered t-shirts. Made in Portugal out of 100% organic cotton, they’re the perfect way to add a little pep to the classic white tee. There are, of course, a range of adorable motifs to choose from: we quite like the ‘Wave’ auxiliary (inspired, clearly, by the traditional Japanese art of Hokusai).
What To Look For When Buying A Men’s White T-Shirt
As with any wardrobe essential, the quintessential white t-shirt has to meet several basic criteria. Rather than giving you a meandering explanation, we’ve got all of the relevant info worth considering below.
Fabric
Given how hard we tend to wear basic tees, you’ll want to choose a material that strikes the right balance between comfort and durability.
Traditionally, this means a 100% cotton construction. For something wearable year-round, it’s best to opt for a weight between 7-8 ounces (i.e. 200g). Look for proprietary fabrications like Supima, whose extra-long fibres give shirts made in this material superior strength and shape retention.
Fit
A much more subjective consideration, but one worth addressing.
For those with more streetwear or gorp-inspired pieces in their wardrobe, consider a boxy or oversized cut. Here, the hallmarks tend to include a dropped shoulder seam and a sleeve length ending just above the elbow. This contrasts with t-shirts described as having a regular or classic fit, in which the sleeve sits around the bicep.
Neckline
For a variety of historical and commercial reasons, most of the white t-shirts you’ll find online are cut with either a crew or v-neck opening. In 2024, the latter is popularly considered a faux pas — unless it happens to be sported on knitwear.
If you’ve enjoyed this guide to buying and wearing the plain white t-shirt, consider a range of our other style stories. Here are a few recommendations to keep you reading:
