WHITE T-SHIRT CONTEST

The best kind of basic. Here are my winners.

WWLD? The Lauren Hutton seal of approval.

A quick ’n easy one this week with little pontification or preamble as today’s subject addresses a simple question, by popular demand. Ask and you shall receive, Dear Reader! (Well, within reason).

You may have noticed I have a wee passion for white T-shirts. I wear them year in, year out, but particularly in summer. They’re just such a fresh, timeless, tomboy classic. I’m most partial to a round neck but a vintagey-looking, bra-bearing V can be great too.

So which one’s for you?

The truth is not all T-shirts are created equal, neither in terms of material, nor cut or even production standards.
I can’t claim to have deep-dive investigated each of these brands’ T-shirt-making processes, but I can tell you I’ve tried and tested them all. On my person.

Below I shall highlight the benefits (and potential pitfalls) of each.

Zoe Kravitz loves a white tee and I love Zoe Kravitz. Look at that masterfully nonchalant tuck-in.

(Editor’s note! I’ve had some feedback that I’m not linking to the pieces discussed in past posts —but actually you’ll find I am! If you hover over the descriptive names of the T-shirts you’ll see them become underlined —I’ve hyperlinked them all to shopping pages.)

Now then. Top Ten Tees:

1. Petit Bateau

The iconic round neck by the cult French cotton brand. Petit Bateau is best for baby onesies and great for grown ups! This tee is made from organic cotton guaranteed as being grown using eco-friendly techniques and free from GMOs.

There’s something very unexpectedly sensual about this look I find. Super-soft close-fitting cotton allows for my kind of free-the-nipple!

2. Maison Standards

A more structured option from another great French brand for essentials. The heavy organic round-neck is a great option for dressing down a skirt as seen below. I am also wearing it in the photo linked here.

Love the lil’ sleeve detail. Great for a relaxed work look.

3. Current/Elliot

I’ve been obsessed with their T-shirts for years. Weirdly I am somehow aware that (allegedly) so has Caroline de Maigret even though we absolutely don’t know each other personally. The Flame is apparently 60% Hemp which explains some of its totally radical cool factor, man.

For a more formless, borrowed-from-the boys feel.

4. JCrew

   I awaited the JCrew catalogue with bated breath in the 1990s. The brand is currently having a bit of a rebirth under new creative direction and I’m here for it.

   The Vintage Cotton Crewneck handily references JCrew’s heyday.

JCrew 1999 (via @Simplicitycity)

5. Khaite

   For the person who has everything. Luxest of luxe white tees by Khaite. The Emmylou’s pure cotton jersey has been dyed and washed for a vintage look. I’m not huge on logos generally but trust designer Cate Holstein to take a classy approach to the logo patch.

Caution: do not wear around children or animals.

6. Soeur

   This French brand is taking over the refined Tomboy-chic space in Paris at the moment. Tuck The Basic Tee into some blue boy-jeans like our friend here is presumably about to…

This OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 fabric is a pleasure to wear

7. Mango

   Love the form-hugging fit and super-soft feel of this Mango number. Wear it all the time. Hits at the waist just so.

This girl stole my style with better hair and perkier bosoms. Alas.

Me in the Mango tee by @IrisDLV

8. Baserange

   Baserange only sources organic cotton, aiming to ensure no harmful chemicals are used in the entire production process. Water consumption is controlled and workers' rights are also preserved. Plus all their basics are well-cut and super-wearable. Like this close-collared off-white tee. A great brand I’m glad to have recently discovered through the good people at boutique Paris agency Such&Such.

   

   She could decide to wear anything with this. Or just stick with the kickers…a liberating loungewear look!

9. American Vintage

   If you must do a V I’d go for this one. Despite the brand’s name, its T-shirts have a distincly Parisienne vibe.

   

   Say ouais to the V.

10. Skall Studio

    Know I keep banging on about them but Skall are my go-to for simple Scandi chic. Andy tee is no exception.

Do it like a Dane.

And Weekly Recs!

Listen:

Loved this conversation between New Yorker Editor David Remnick and NY Times Publisher A.G. Sulzberger on the future of journalism.

Read:

Our Podcast guest on Fanfare this week is the writer and editor Laurel Pantin. She is so smart and flipping hilarious. Loving her Substack Earl Earl.

Need:

Aside from a zillion white tee shirts… I am currently obsessing over this magnificent piece of statement jewellery by Charlotte Chesnais to dress them up with.

Now I just need to make some serious dosh.