The 11 Very Best White T-shirts for Women
Photo-Illustration: Retailers
The more basic the item of clothing, the more difficult the choice, especially if you’re shopping for a plain white T-shirt. Not only should it flatter your figure and look perfectly effortless, but it should hold up for ages even after being worn with nearly everything in your closet. But it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of white T-shirts out there: cropped, oversize, fitted, slub, V-neck, scoop neck, lightweight, heavyweight, and so much more. To keep your head from spinning, I consulted a dozen fashionable women for their take on the best one as well as tested a ton myself to suss out the absolute best T-shirts you can buy.
What
we’re
looking
for:
Material
As with the men’s white T-shirts I wrote about too, pretty much every pick on this list is made from cotton, except for a select few that are a blend. The breathable, versatile material ages well and comes in all sorts of weights, which we get into below. But not all cotton tees are made equal — some are made of organic cotton or partially hemp, which contributes to a heftier price tag, whereas others claim to be sustainable. All the T-shirts function about the same, so you can’t go wrong with any of the below choices.
Weight
Most of the T-shirts on this list fall under the lightweight category simply because that seems to be what most of the experts consulted prefer. But I actually love a heavyweight T-shirt, as it feels substantial and much less delicate than a wispy tee. To satisfy both camps, I included a plethora of both options, plus a few medium-weight shirts, for you to consider.
Fit
I’ve noted how each should fit if you order true to size. Below, you’ll find choices for loose-fitting (but not baggy), oversize, cropped, tight, and fitted tees.
Neckline
This is where the headaches start for me because there are so many options: V, crew, scoop, wide, and bateau. Combined with different fits, the styles to choose from grow exponentially. The most universal pick tends to be a crew or scoop neck, but a few other options are sprinkled throughout. As with most of these traits, everything comes down to personal preference and how each fits your body.
Best overall white T-shirt
Buck Mason Slub Easy Crew
$45
$45
Material: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit: Loose | Neckline: Crew neck
It’s well documented that Strategist staffers love Buck Mason’s T-shirts with more than five of us recommending them. I’ve had mine for over half a year now, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite shirts for layering and wearing solo. It has an effortless yet polished look and seems to somehow get softer and more breathable with every wash. As for fit, it hits just below my hips, but because it’s so lightweight, I can easily tuck it in without any extra bulk. Senior writer Liza Corsillo used to wear the men’s tees, as did Deborah Castel, material-design director at Nike, because they were that worthwhile. But now, with the womenswear line, Corsillo says, “It’s just as good as the men’s with one exception: It fits my body correctly.”
$45
at Buck Mason
Best (less expensive) overall white T-shirt
Women U Crew-Neck Short-Sleeved T-Shirt
now 33% off
$10
Material: Cotton | Weight: Heavyweight | Fit: Fitted | Neckline: Crew neck
Uniqlo’s U Crew is less than half the price of Buck Mason’s, making it an excellent choice if you prefer a heavyweight tee. The thicker material means it’s not as easy to tuck in or style, but I do like the fact that my bra won’t show through. Meg Vázquez, creative director at Splice, also appreciates that factor, noting that even though it’s thicker, it isn’t so heavy that it feels like “you’re wearing a weighted blanket.” The fit helps, too, by loosely hugging your body without feeling clingy. And unlike a few other tees on this list that have a faded, off-white appearance, this one comes in a pure, crisp white.
$10
at Uniqlo
Best budget white T-shirt
Best V-neck white T-shirt
Everlane The Organic Cotton V-Neck
$30
$30
Material: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit: Loose | Neckline: V-neck
A V-neck can be fairly polarizing because the length and width of the V needs to be spot-on. Elizabeth Rose, a server at Cafe Gitane, says the V is fairly deep on this Everlane tee, but because it has softer, slightly curved lines, the shape looks less severe — which is further enhanced by the lightweight Supima cotton that drapes flatteringly on the body. The hem hits right at the hip, giving it a not-cropped but not-too-long silhouette.
$30
at Everlane
Best white baby T-shirt
Madewell Baby Tee
$40
Material: Cotton and modal | Weight: Medium weight | Fit: Fitted | Neckline: Crew neck
For those embracing the ’90s revival, adding the perfect baby tee to your collection seems like a must. While not quite a typical baby tee — a.k.a. not completely shrunken — this one actually offers more versatility than others on the market (you won’t want to toss it when ’90s fashion ultimately fades away again). It has ultrasoft fabric that costume designer Sabrinna Fabi says stretches amazingly. “It just hugs your body really well, so you can show off your curves and still be really comfy,” she says. The crinkled edges add a bit more flair to the plain tee.
$40
at Nordstrom
$40
at Madewell
Best wide crew-neck T-shirt
Alex Mill Vintage-Wash Crew-Neck Tee
$75
$75
Material: Cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit: Boxy | Neckline: Crew neck
Most of the crew-neck tees on this list sit tight at the neck. But for those interested in something a little more relaxed, former Strategist writer Chloe Anello loves this Alex Mill T-shirt that allows for a bit of the collarbone to peek through. It has a slightly cropped, boxy fit, so it looks great tucked in or left out. The shirt has a lovely weighty feel to it to balance out the more open neckline.
$75
at Alex Mill
Best oversize white T-shirt
Reformation Oversized Crewneck Tee
$48
$48
Material: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit: Oversize | Neckline: Crew neck
Sure, you could just size up on your favorite T-shirt for a slouchy fit, but nothing quite competes with a shirt that’s meant to be worn big but doesn’t swallow you whole. Reformation’s Oversized Crewneck, made with a supersoft, lightweight jersey-knit cotton, looks effortless and is perfectly proportioned — the shoulders hit at the right spot, and the hem is just slightly below my hips.
$48
at Reformation
Best cropped white T-shirt
For Days ’90s Recycled-Cotton Crop Tee
$36
$36
Material: Cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit: Cropped | Neckline: Crew neck
Another tricky proportion to nail: the cropped T-shirt. Anello prefers a crop that can be left untucked with high-waisted jeans but isn’t so short that her midriff shows, which is why she recommended this recycled-cotton cropped tee from For Days. This ’90s-style boxy tee made from recycled materials hits right at the beltline of her pants.
$36
at For Days
Best even-more-cropped white T-shirt
Wilfred Free Weekend T-shirt
$30
$30
Material: Cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit: Cropped | Neckline: Crew neck
If you are looking for a crop top that is shorter, I like Aritzia’s Weekend T-shirt. I typically wear this with high-waisted jeans or pants and it hits right at the middle of my torso. The sleeves are only slightly cropped — a plus in my book since I personally can’t stand barely-there sleeves that dig into my armpits. The fit is snug and flattering without being too tight, and the ultrasoft material’s a good medium weight.
$30
at Aritzia
Best splurge-worthy white T-shirt
RE/DONE Classic Tee
$90
$90
Photo: 17-11-20 annalund AM2 B3 chelsealahee W
Material: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit: Boxy | Neckline: Crew neck
Three experts sing Re/Done’s praises when it comes to the perfect white T-shirt. Both Rosenthal and artist Lucy Litman say the hefty price tag is well worth it, especially if your goal is a vintage fit. “It looks good untucked and worn with high-waisted pants but somehow also tucks in perfectly,” says Litman, who describes the material as “breezy.” New York features editor Katy Schneider prefers the cropped version and knows it seems like a lot to spend on a T-shirt but requests that you hear her out: “These T-shirts are the retail equivalent of no-makeup makeup. These T-shirts pull together an entire outfit handily, no matter what you are wearing — they’ll elevate jeans and even fancy pants.” And, most important, Schneider adds, “These are T-shirts you can wear almost every day — for days in a row without anyone so much as noticing.” While Re/Done doesn’t offer a long option, the Great makes a lightweight full-length tee.
$90
at Saks Fifth Avenue
$95
at Shopbop
Best hemp white T-shirt
Jungmaven Lorel Tee
$54
$54
Material: Hemp and cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit: Loose | Neckline: Crew neck
A trendy fabric, to be sure, hemp gives this T-shirt a vintage look because of the lightly heathered color and worn-in fit that feels as though you’ve owned (and washed) the tee for many years. Emma Allen, founder of Everyday Oil, explains that Jungmaven offers other T-shirts with different variations of hemp-and-cotton mixtures; she likes this makeup of 55 percent hemp and 45 percent cotton the best because of how soft yet weighty it makes the tee. For a silkier feel, the brand’s Ojai tee contains 30 percent hemp and 70 percent cotton.
$54
at Jungmaven
Our experts
• Emma Allen, founder of Everyday Oil
• Liza Corsillo, senior writer
• Chloe Anello, former Strategist writer
• Deborah Castel, material-design director at Nike
• Sabrinna Fabi, costume designer
• Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO of olive-oil brand Brightland
• Simone Kitchens, senior editor
• Lucy Litman, artist
• Dominique Pariso, writer
• Elizabeth Rose, server at Cafe Gitane
• Jo Rosenthal, artist and writer
• Katy Schneider, features editor
• Meg Vázquez, creative director at Splice
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best women’s wardrobe basics, ultra-flattering pants, jeans for women, gray T-shirt, invisible underwear, and the most flattering things. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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