A great white T-shirt is a wardrobe workhorse, but finding your perfect go-to tee can feel daunting. An awkward fit, overly stiff fabric, or a stretched-out collar can quickly relegate a shirt to the back of your dresser drawer.

Over six months, we considered numerous white T-shirts in various styles. We enlisted a panel of five testers, representing a range of shapes, sizes, and tastes, to assess the top contenders based on fit, cut, fabric, comfort, construction, value, and overall aesthetic appeal. Ultimately, four clear favorites emerged: a flattering, boxy cropped tee, a perfectly proportioned V-neck, an inexpensive classic crew-neck shirt, and a splurge-worthy slim-cut option with unique details.

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The research

A stylish, wearable cropped tee: Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew

A figure-flattering V-neck: Mott & Bow Fitted V-Neck Marcy Tee

A budget tee that gets the job done: Hanes Perfect-T Women’s Short Sleeve Cotton T-Shirt

A splurge-worthy slim crew: Rag & Bone The Slub Tee

Why you should trust us

How we picked and tested

Other good T-shirts

The competition

Sources

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A stylish, wearable cropped tee: Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew

As testing first began for this guide, I didn’t expect to find a clear winner—surely people with different style preferences and body types wouldn’t all gravitate toward the same tee? And yet, the Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew emerged as the obvious favorite with our panel of five testers. It’s easy to see why: This ridiculously soft, lightweight Supima cotton shirt is a joy to wear. It works on a range of body types and gives off a casual, effortless vibe that feels chic and a little flirty. The shirt does, however, run small—we recommend going up a size.

Model is 5-foot-3, wears a size 36C bra, and is wearing the Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew in a size L. 

It’s the softest option we tested. Crafted from 100% Supima cotton—renowned for its exceptional quality and durability—this shirt outperformed 39 others during our testing, surpassing even pricier options from Re/Done and James Perse.

The fabric feels light and airy, and our entire testing panel agreed that the Buck Mason tee is incredibly comfortable, with one tester exclaiming it was “suuuuuuper nappable.” The lightweight, breathable jersey knit, combined with the shirt’s cropped length and relaxed cut, makes it ideal for warm weather. “It’s so lightweight, I feel like I’m naked,” one tester marveled.

This tee boasts solid construction, featuring neat, even stitching at the hems. However, its lighter material and unreinforced collar may make it feel less durable than some of the other options we tried.

The Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew is a box-cut crew-neck T-shirt with an easy fit and cropped length. It’s the shortest tee we recommend: A size M measures about 19 inches from the mid-collar to bottom hem. 

It’s flattering on a variety of body types. While boxy crop tops aren’t for everyone, the Pima Boxy Crew’s short, square silhouette, complemented by a crew neck that reveals a hint of collarbone, won over all of our testers.

Measuring 19 inches long (size medium, from the midpoint of the collar to the bottom hem), this shirt is one of the shorter crops we evaluated. One 5-foot-9 tester with a long torso expressed a desire for more coverage, but most testers appreciated the length.

The cut is remarkably versatile. “I can see wearing this with nice high-waisted trousers or something a bit dressy,” noted one panelist. It also serves as an excellent layering piece: One Walletrays staffer styled her Pima Boxy Crew with a sweater vest, while another paired it with a blazer.

Our 5-foot-3 panelist found that when she wore the tee with high-waisted jeans, the hem landed about one to two inches above her pants; on my 5-foot-6 frame, it hit just below the belly button. However, if you’re taller or prefer to avoid midriff exposure, you might find it too short unless styled with high-waisted bottoms.

It runs one size small. Buck Mason claims this shirt fits sizes US 00 to 18, but we think that’s a stretch. For reference, the largest size available (2X) suited our tester who typically wears an XL t-shirt and a 38G bra. We recommend purchasing one size larger than usual for the perfect relaxed fit, especially if you have broader shoulders or a larger bust. Fortunately, the shirt doesn’t shrink much after washing.

It’s well priced. Considering the fabric, cut, and overall quality, the Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew offers excellent value and looks and feels more premium than its price suggests. Our testers preferred it over shirts costing more than twice as much, and it was the tee they were most likely to purchase at full retail price.

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Flaws but not dealbreakers

• The shirt’s featherweight fabric may be too light or sheer for some.
• The unreinforced collar and airy material could impact long-term durability.
• At 19 inches (on a size medium), this cropped length may be too short for people who are particularly tall or who don’t want any of their midriff exposed.
• The shirt runs a size small.

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Specs

• Material: 100% Supima cotton
• Sizes: XS to 2X (US 00 to 18); we recommend going up one size
• Shrinkage (after warm wash and tumble dry): 1.18%
• Other variants: long sleeve

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A figure-flattering V-neck: Mott & Bow Fitted V-Neck Marcy Tee

V-necks are hard to get right. Of the 18 that I personally tested for this guide, the Mott & Bow Fitted V-Neck Marcy Tee is the only one that managed to strike the correct balance on all fronts: the width and depth of the V-shape neckline, the sleeve length and the overall shirt length, and the slim but not too tight fit.

Testers with larger busts found the silhouette especially flattering, since it skims curves without clinging too tightly. We also enjoyed the silky-soft feel of the Mott & Bow tee’s fabric and its well-constructed hems, which don’t twist or wrinkle in the wash. Our only quibble? This is the sheerest T-shirt we recommend—a nude-color bra is faintly perceptible beneath the wispy fabric.

Note: For those who like the sound of everything about this shirt, minus the V-neck, it’s also available in a crew-neck style, which we tried (and loved).

Model is 5-foot-6, wears a size 32A bra, and is wearing the Mott & Bow Fitted V-Neck Marcy Tee in a size S. 

It nails the proportions. Our test panelists raved about the cut of the Mott & Bow tee. The V-neck opening is relatively shallow and not too wide; when paired with the shirt’s elongated body and short (but not capped) sleeves, the overall effect is balanced and slimming. “V-necks tend to make me look wide across the chest and shoulders,” observed one tester, “but this one is just right.”

Compared with other V-necks that our panelists tried, such as the Madewell Whisper Cotton V-Neck Tee and the Banana Republic Supima V-Neck T-Shirt, the Mott & Bow tee also has a closer fit that our testers found more appealing. (The sizing is true.)

The Mott & Bow tee’s slightly elongated length—a size medium measures 24 inches from the back collar to the bottom hem—landed around my hip bone (I’m 5-foot-6). Worn with a high-waisted pant, it looks great tucked all the way in or left in a casual half-tuck. One 5-foot-3 panelist, however, found the shirt a little too long for her frame.

It’s curve-friendly. The décolletage-framing style was particularly popular with fuller-busted testers, who told us that they’ve struggled to find V-necks they like. “The Mott & Bow tee’s vee is a good depth—not too cleavage-y,” said one panelist, who wears a size 38G bra and tested the shirt in an XL. “And even with big boobs, it’s long enough in the torso.” Another tester, who wears a size 34D bra and tried the shirt in a medium, said, “This shirt was ultra-flattering. It hugged my curves without making me look top-heavy, which V-necks often do.” The largest size this tee comes in is a women’s XXL (20).

The fabric is soft and smooth. “This shirt is soft AF,” gushed one tester. The Mott & Bow tee is made from a blend of materials: pima (a high-quality extra-long staple cotton) and modal (a beech tree cellulose fiber known for its silky texture, durability, and drape). It feels extremely breathable and lightweight and falls beautifully on the body.

It’s slightly sheer. Even with the perfect undergarments, this shirt may be too revealing for some tastes or situations. Said one tester, “My normally incognito nude bra was slightly visible beneath this shirt, so I wouldn’t wear it to work.” But while a trace of a bra can be seen, the material isn’t particularly clingy, and it’s not so transparent that it reveals actual flesh.

The Mott & Bow Fitted V-Neck Marcy Tee is a flattering, fitted V-neck tee with a shorter sleeve and a collarbone-framing neckline that isn’t too deep. A size M measures about 24 inches from mid-collar to bottom hem.

It’s well made. The Mott & Bow tee has neatly stitched seams that hold up to repeated wear. One tester noted, “After I washed it, the V-neck and hems didn’t buckle or wrinkle at all—unlike with cheaper shirts, like the Madewell Whisper tee.”

The material feels resilient, too—“it’s stretchy, but it bounces back,” said a panelist—so it will keep its shape. After a spin through the dryer, the tee may feel a tad tight, but the supple fabric returns to its original dimensions once you’ve worn it for a few minutes.

It’s a good value. The Mott & Bow tee’s combination of style, comfort, and quality make its mid-range price tag more than fair. (I found only one other V-neck, from L’Agence, equally flattering—but it cost nearly three times as much.) If you like this tee and want to stock up, you can save some money by purchasing it in packs of three, six, and nine, offered in a variety of color combinations.

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Flaws but not dealbreakers

• At 24 inches in length (size medium), this shirt might be a bit too long if you’re petite, have a short torso, or like wearing your T-shirts shorter or untucked.
• The light fabric is somewhat sheer, so if you prefer a more opaque T-shirt, this may not be for you.

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Specs

• Material: 50% pima cotton, 50% modal
• Sizes: XS to XXL (US 0 to 20); fits true to size
• Shrinkage (after warm wash and tumble dry): 3.14% (but relaxes again after a few minutes of wear due to its stretchiness)
• Other variants: crew neck, long sleeve

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A budget tee that gets the job done: Hanes Perfect-T Women’s Short Sleeve Cotton T-Shirt

Though most under-$15 shirts we tested were pretty lousy in terms of both fit and quality, the Hanes Perfect-T Women’s Short Sleeve Cotton T-Shirt was the notable exception.“The price is right, and overall, it delivers,” said one tester. “I was shocked at how much I liked this!” said another. Granted, we weren’t wowed by the shirt’s construction, but we didn’t expect to be—its casual silhouette, appealing fabric, and inclusive pricing and sizing more than made up for a few loose threads.

Model is 5-foot-6, wears a size 32A bra, and is wearing the Hanes Perfect-T Women’s Short Sleeve Cotton T-Shirt in a size S.

It has an easy, relaxed fit. Testers were pleasantly surprised at how often they found themselves reaching for the trusty basic. This shirt is among the longest styles we tried (a medium is about 26 inches long); “it’s long enough for an effortless front tuck,” remarked one tester. Of the tees we recommend, it also has the most relaxed cut. “I care a lot about how a shirt stretches across my chest,” said a panelist who wears a size 38G bra, “and the Hanes tee is roomy and flattering in that area.” The crew neck is relaxed enough to reveal a glimpse of the collarbone, which I liked, although some testers said they’d prefer a slightly higher neck.

The generously cut sleeves, which hit about mid-bicep, earned plenty of praise: “I like that the arms aren’t tight,” said a tester, while another was impressed with their slimming effect.

The Hanes Perfect-T shirt has a relaxed, classic crew-neck cut; the body and sleeves are roomy. It’s the longest of our picks: A size M measures about 26 inches from mid-collar to bottom hem. 

The fabric feels pleasant and substantial. The 100% cotton knit is soft enough to be comfortable, and the mid-weight material is the most opaque of the bunch. “It feels solid, but not like you’re wearing a carpet,” said one panelist. Though the fabric doesn’t drape very well and isn’t as soft or smooth as our pricier picks (which are made from higher-quality cottons and cotton blends), we found that its slightly rougher texture actually made it a good choice as a layering piece—worn beneath a sweater, it stays put.

In fact, senior style editor Jennifer Hunter reported that the Hanes tee is her favorite shirt to wear under her sweaters. “It is perfect for that—[it’s] hearty enough but doesn’t bunch.”

It comes in lots of sizes. The Hanes Perfect-T shirt is available in S to 3XL (US 2 to 22). This shirt shrank more than any of our other picks—3.8% after being washed on warm and tumble dried. For me (5-foot-6, size M, bra size 34D), a medium felt too big right out of the package, but it shrank down to a pleasantly relaxed fit.

It’s a bargain. Though nothing about this shirt feels particularly special—it is, after all, a $10 tee—it gets the job done, and at a fraction of the price of our other picks. Its construction isn’t outstanding—we noticed a couple loose threads around the collar, and more of the raw edge is exposed at the hem than on pricier options—but it’s not bad, either. “There’s no huge difference between this and shirts that cost three times as much,” one panelist noted.

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Flaws but not dealbreakers

• It isn’t as soft as our other picks due to the lower quality of the cotton.
• The smallest size it comes in is a small, which was baggy on our XS tester.
• Of all our picks, this shrank the most after laundering.
• Its construction isn’t outstanding: The neckline stretches after a few wears, and we noticed some loose threads.

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Specs

• Material: 100% cotton
• Sizes: S to 3XL (US 2 to 22); runs slightly large
• Shrinkage (after a warm wash and tumble dry): 3.81%
• Other variants: V-neck

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A splurge-worthy slim crew: Rag & Bone The Slub Tee

Of all the $50 to $100 shirts we tested, Rag & Bone’s The Slub Tee felt most worthy of its lofty price tag. The quality was immediately apparent in the shirt’s construction and thoughtful details, like its cool decorative back seam. Plus, the pima cotton slub, a textured knit fabric, drapes beautifully, feels soft against the skin, and is opaque enough to conceal a nude bra. Testers loved the slim fit and classic crew neck—and we were happy to discover that this shirt comes in a wider selection of sizes than most in its price range.

Model is 5-foot-6, wears a size 32A bra, and is wearing Rag & Bone’s The Slub Tee in a size XS. 

Elevated details make it special. Careful construction and unique details—like the neatly stitched, visually elongating seam that runs down the shirt’s back—add a decorative element that make the Rag & Bone tee feel special and polished.

It has the sturdiest collar of any we tested. It’s substantially built and neatly stitched, which is important for a garment that you regularly pull over your head. Another nearly $100 shirt that we considered, the Re/Done Heritage Cotton Classic Tee, had a notably thinner, stretchier collar that looked sloppy after four to five washes and wears.

Rag & Bone’s The Slub Tee is a well-constructed T-shirt with a slim cut and elegant crew neckline. A size M measures about 24 inches from mid-collar to bottom hem. 

The slub material is both comfy and stylish. Made from luxe, durable pima cotton, the Rag & Bone tee drapes beautifully on the body while feeling smooth and breathable. One tester described it as “the most comfortable shirt I’ve ever worn.”

The subtly tactile quality of the slub gives it a look that’s simultaneously relaxed and refined. It feels lightweight but isn’t sheer—we had no issues with a nude bra showing through. It’s more opaque than the Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew and the Mott & Bow Fitted V-Neck Marcy Tee, yet not as substantial as the Hanes Perfect-T Women’s Short Sleeve Cotton T-Shirt.

It features a slim, classic fit. The Rag & Bone T-shirt strikes a perfect balance between body-skimming and elegantly relaxed. “It fits exactly as I’d want it to,” raved one tester, who is 5-foot-9 with broad shoulders and wears a size 34A bra while trying a medium. Another panelist, typically wearing an XL in tees, was initially concerned that the large would be too snug but was pleasantly surprised: “It fit really well around my top area and hung nicely over my stomach.”

Panelists praised the “flattering cut” and “high but not too tight” crew neckline, describing the tee’s length (about 24 inches from mid-collar to the bottom hem in size medium) as “perfect.” Our shortest tester, who is 5-foot-3, found it a bit too long to wear untucked, but if you’re taller or have a long torso, it looks great styled that way as well. Months after testing, several panelists reported it remains a favorite, highlighting the fit and special details.

It’s available in a wide range of sizes. The Rag & Bone tee offers the most extensive size selection among our picks, ranging from XXS to 3XL (US 00 to 22). This inclusive sizing is especially commendable for shirts in this price range, many of which only go up to size large. However, we have noticed some stock issues with the larger sizes, particularly the 3XL.

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Flaws but not dealbreakers

• It’s a really pricey T-shirt (albeit a great one). Of our five panelists, only one said that she’d shell out full price for this. But it does go on sale occasionally.
• Depending on your height, this tee may be a tad long for you. Our 5-foot-3 tester found its 24-inch length (size medium) a little too long for her frame when she wore it untucked.
• There have been stock issues with the larger sizes, and the 3XL in particular.

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Specs

• Material: 100% organic in-conversion pima cotton
• Sizes: XXS to 3XL (US 00 to 22); fits true to size
• Shrinkage (after warm wash and tumble dry): 2.08%
• Other variants: V-neck, long sleeve

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Why you should trust us

As a staff writer for Walletrays style team, my role is to wear, compare, and deeply analyze clothing. For this guide, I dedicated six months to an extensive exploration of white tees.

To gain insights into cotton and cotton-blend fabrics, I interviewed Kavita Mathur, an associate professor of textile and apparel at North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles. I also researched a wide array of T-shirts, incorporating recommendations from notable media outlets like Vogue, The Strategist, and Harper’s Bazaar.

Additionally, I considered the diverse experiences of my Walletrays colleagues and enlisted five of them to participate in our panel testing of the top shirts, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of comfort, fit, and style.

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How we picked and tested

The following criteria informed our picks:

• Fit: Our picks received high marks from testers of different body shapes and sizes. Although we sought out shirts that come in a wide range of sizes (from US 0 to at least 18), this was—as many people already know—frustratingly difficult. Still, we have noted the shirts with more-inclusive sizing throughout this guide, even if they didn’t ultimately become picks. Since cotton tees shrink—by about 3% on average, in our tests—we measured each shirt before and after laundering, and viewed any major shrinkage beyond that as a flaw.
• Style and cut: We selected short-sleeve white tees free of designs, logos, buttons or pockets. From there, we looked at a variety of fits, lengths, and necklines, and compared similar styles (the V-neck! the boxy crop! the fitted crew!) against one another.
• Fabric: Cotton is the most popular T-shirt material due to its combination of softness, breathability, durability, and ease of care. With that in mind, we only considered shirts with a cotton content of 50% or higher. Beyond that, we noted the type of cotton used. Varieties like pima, an extra-long staple cotton, and the even more rarefied Supima cotton, are prized for a stronger, more-durable weave and silkier hand. When it comes to cotton blends, additions like modal and micromodal (rayons derived from beech tree cellulose) confer silky-softness, drape, and moisture-wicking properties.
• Comfort: The comfiest shirts are soft, well fitting, and breathable. They also make you feel confident when you wear them and get reached for frequently.
• Quality and construction: We examined each shirt for even stitching, well-built collars, and the absence of loose threads. On pricier shirts, we took note of decorative stitching or other special details. And we laundered and wore all the shirts in a near-constant rotation for over six months to assess their durability.
• Price: We focused primarily on tees that cost $15 to $50. We also looked at several shirts under $15 and up to $100.

I began this quest by meticulously poring over hundreds of photos and customer reviews until I narrowed my original list of 80 contenders down to 40 shirts that I personally tested. I laundered and wore each shirt—some multiple times—before settling on 11 standout finalists.

We then assembled a panel of five Wirecutter staffers, each with differing shapes, sizes, and sartorial inclinations, to evaluate the remaining shirts. The panelists wore T-shirt sizes ranging from XS to XXL, bra sizes from 32A to 38G, and varied in height from 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-9.

After wearing each shirt for at least one full day (often more), the testers provided detailed feedback, rating them based on fit, style, fabric, comfort, and quality. Their scores, combined with my own extensive results, revealed the four favorite white tees that we wholeheartedly recommend.

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Other good T-shirts

If you want a boxy, slightly cropped tee that comes in a wide range of sizes: Everlane’s The Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee is a boxy top, similar in style to our favorite boxy crop top, the Buck Mason Pima Boxy Crew, and it received high marks from panelists, especially on comfort and quality. Although testers found the Buck Mason T-shirt to be softer, better fitting, and more stylish, the Everlane tee has plenty going for it, too. It’s slightly longer (22 inches, versus the Buck Mason tee’s 19 inches), and the fabric is more substantial—though still lightweight—so it feels more versatile. It’s also cheaper than the Buck Mason tee, and it is available in a more inclusive range of sizes, from XXS to XXXL (US 000 to 22).

If you want a fitted high-neck crew neck in a thicker fabric: We debated making the Uniqlo U Crew Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt—a polished, fitted tee with a high crew neck and smooth, substantial cotton fabric—an official pick. “I would never have guessed this costs $15,” remarked one tester. But it was divisive. One tester loved the crisp, thick feel of the material, while another found it “suffocating.” And it had fit issues: Though a size medium fit perfectly on our slender, 5-foot-9, bra-size-34A tester, this Uniqlo tee received uniformly dismal fit ratings from everyone else. “If I were thin and flat-chested, this shirt would look cool and expensive,” said one panelist who wears a size 38G bra, “but curvy girls need not even try this.” If you do buy this shirt, we recommend sizing up: It’s cut narrow across the bust and shoulders, and it also shrank more than most tees (4.57%) after washing and drying.

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The competition

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Under $15

Under $15

We were mostly disappointed with shirts in this price range. The Old Navy EveryWear V-Neck T-Shirt (which, to its credit, is available in sizes from XS to 4X) felt schlubby and shapeless, while the long, stretchy silhouette of the mystifyingly popular Walmart Essentials Women’s Classic-Fit Short-Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt reminded me, unpleasantly, of sausage casing.

We tried two shirts from Target. The Universal Thread Women’s Fitted V-Neck Short-Sleeve T-Shirt was flattering, but poorly constructed, with loose threads and uneven stitching. And the cut of the neckline on the A New Day Women’s Short Sleeve V-Neck T-Shirt (currently unavailable in white) was ludicrously deep.

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$15 to $50

I enjoyed wearing the slightly shrunken Madewell Northside Vintage Tee and the long, easy-fit Splendid Kate V-Neck Tee—but I noticed loose stitching and twisted, flipped-up hems on both of them.

The Reformation Classic Crew Tee is a serviceable take on the boxy crew, but its cut was less refined than others that cost about the same. Meanwhile, the long, fitted shape and stretchy fabric of Gap’s Modern Crewneck T-Shirt created the same sausagey effect that I so despised in the Amazon Essentials V-neck.

The Universal Standard V Rex is available in the most comprehensive range of sizes of any shirt we considered, from 00 to 40, but it runs large and the sleeves were unexpectedly long. The $50 Banana Republic Supima V-Neck T-Shirt (currently unavailable in white) was the sheerest shirt we tested.

COS’s The Clean Cut T-Shirt, a boxy, heavyweight crew, had an oppressively high neckline, whereas the RicherPoorer Women’s Relaxed Crop Tee—with its long, loose sleeves and cropped length—felt top-heavy and strange. And even after sizing down, Everlane’s The Premium Weight Relaxed Tee was comically oversized.

A slew of airy, too-diaphanous slubs with a burnout look didn’t make the cut. The Buck Mason Easy V Neck had wispy fabric and a shapeless fit. Based on its popularity, our panel tested the Madewell Whisper Cotton V-Neck but it ranked the lowest of any of our contenders on fit.

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$50 to $100

We liked the cropped length and roomy fit of the crew-neck Amo Babe Tee enough to have our panel test it, but most weren’t fans of the intentionally distressed hems throughout. We also panel-tested the Re/Done Heritage Cotton Classic Tee, a boxy crew with an easy fit, but it felt remarkably unrefined for a nearly $100 shirt.

The Lululemon Classic-Fit Cotton-Blend T-Shirt became stiff and rough after its first laundering and never recovered.

The L’Agence Becca Tee is just as figure-flattering as our pick from Mott & Bow, but it’s so delicate that a gentle tug with my finger left behind a warped impression.

Though the James Perse Vintage Little Boy Tee felt luxe and soft, the fit was narrow and tight across my shoulders. Frame’s Le Mid Rise V Neck Tee has a wonderfully smooth hand, but its unusual, rectangular cut made me feel like I was wearing some kind of sci-fi cult tunic.

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Sources

1. Kavita Mathur, an associate professor of textile and apparel at the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University, shared her insights during an email interview on July 21, 2022.