Never in my 38 years did I expect I would be so obsessive about something so… basic. And, I regret to inform you that I now have some very strong opinions about the humble tee. Because when the price of something so seemingly simple (and common) can range from $25 to $200, it’s fair to ask, ‘what exactly are we paying for?’.
I have to say, after three months of scrutinising every little detail - the neckline, sleeve length, fabric weight and drape, down to the precise positioning of the hem - I have a newfound appreciation for why finding the perfect one can feel so deceptively difficult.
If you read part one, then you’ll know that I put 28 t-shirts through their paces; cult faves, high street staples, and a handful with price tags that were enough to make me wince. Fourteen reviews down, fourteen more to go… and trust me when I say I have some seriously hot takes (read: unpopular opinions) about some of the overhyped tees in this second half of the review.
It’s been refreshing to have some space between my t-shirts and I, though I have felt much like one would after a break-up with their first love. Almost at a loss for how to proceed (where getting dressed is concerned, that is!). But I do want to share a revelation - as I think this sets the tone - but, what I found after this was all said and done was that price was a poor predictor of which tees I actually wanted to wear.
As a recap, my sizing information is as follows:
I’m 172cm tall or 5’8”
Typically a size S, AU8 (US2-4), or 26 in jeans
My bust measurement is 85cm or 86cm around when wearing this bra from EBY (which FYI is what I’ve worn with each tee)
My waist measures 65.5cm at the narrowest point, and 75cm just above the hip bone (this is approximately 3cm below my belly button)
Length of my torso is approximately 66cm (from shoulder to groin)
You probably know by now that when I review, I go deep. And I spend what is an inordinate amount of time making sure that I cover absolutely every detail - no stone unturned, and all that, so note that as with my prior deep dives, the majority will sit behind the paywall. That said, the first two style reviews will be accessible for all readers regardless of subscription tier, so you can get a taste for how I approach these reviews and what to expect if you do choose to upgrade your subscription (which if so, thank you SO much for supporting my work - it’s because of you that I can do these intense reviews!).
In part 2, I’ll be reviewing the following (in ascending price order):
If you happened to miss part one (you can read it here!!), as a refresher these are the t-shirts I have reviewed already:
The controls I used to conduct my research (/testing) were:
The number of wears (minimum three per tee - some are more)
The method of washing (40 deg C regular “mixed” cycle)
The method of drying (line dry in sun)
Along with my review, you’ll find measurement changes before/after laundering for each tee, in addition to short video review for a 360 degree view of how each one fits on the body. And because we all see out something different in our clothes, I’ll highlight where my preference impacts my emotion, thoughts, and overall sentiment towards a t-shirt.
Ascending order is based on AUD so there may be some variation in the conversion/actual order for USD.
UNIQLO Airism Cotton Oversized T-Shirt
Price: $24.90 AUD | $24.90 USD
Number of times worn: 23 times
Composition: 53% Cotton, 47% Polyester ( 30% Uses Recycled Polyester Fiber) & made in Vietnam
Sizing: This is a unisex style, so you may find the sizing to be on the generous side. I opted for a size S as I wanted it to feel relaxed and chill, plus I’m “tall” so I can carry a bit more slouch. If my height was closer to 5” I’d be inclined to size down to reduce the amount of volume through the body. Fit + scale both being important factors here. It’s boxy and wide cut, with a split hem detail which gives you the option to easily do a front tuck if you wish.
Personally, I think this one looks best when it’s tucked. It’s a lot thinner than the Mini Tee above, which gives it this drapey quality that is perfect for chilling out more tailored pieces, and baking ease into an outfit. Because of the quality of the fabric, it does mean that the white isn’t fully opaque - a skin toned bra is a must here (my personal rec is this one from EBY).
Now, what’s interesting to me is that I swore black and blue that this tee was 100% cotton. It has that super smooth feel on the hand that I’d expect from a great pima cotton, so lovely tactile quality. You can imagine my shock and surprise when I realised it was almost 50% synthetic. Which explains why even after multiple washes, it looks pretty immaculate. It comes from UNIQLO’S Airism range which explains the smooth quality, but also gives these tees the superpower of quick drying. Perfect for travel (especially if you’re packing using the Sudoku Method!
But what’s notable IMO is the fact that I never feel sticky or sweaty when wearing this during a Sydney summer - no mean feat given our temps can quickly rise above 40 deg C and boy does it get humid. Impressive for a semi-synthetic; I’ll give it that!
I checked the date and I first bought this tee back in October 2022, which by many standards might seem like a long time to have the same white tee in your wardrobe. But the question is, how often is it being worn? And also, how hard are we wearing our clothes? Two very simple questions, but both affect lifespan of an item in your wardrobe from a macro level.
All in all, this is a solid option and one I recommend often (truly you can’t beat that price!!!). Though, I did want to throw this video out there by Joe Ng. He did the stress test to end all stress tests - 50 washes, and 50 runs through a dryer - on a 100% cotton tee from UNIQLO and you can see the wear. Definitely very interesting and it does make me wonder how this version, with the cotton blend, would fare. And how much longer air drying vs using a dryer extends life span (I’m less bothered about the fade as that’s is pretty common across all price points for black tees).
Price: $39.95 AUD | ~29 USD
Number of times worn: 16 times logged (but likely much higher!)
Composition: 100% organic cotton & made in Bangladesh
Sizing: I bought this in a size S, as the whole fit/design is catered towards a slouchy look. Which it 100% delivers on. Again another instance where I’d consider sizing down if I were a petite.
It’s the lightweight nature of the cotton which combined with the relaxed fit which makes this work. It’s easy to tuck in as the fabric isn’t so bulky, and it has a really lovely drape. Though on the flip side, it does mean that you need to be mindful of the bra you’re wearing. Also, the cotton is really soft and smooth on the hand.
One thing that’s really important to note is that I bought my Ceres Life tees back in 2021, and since then they have renewed the style with Australian cotton. So I can’t speak to how this might have altered the experience of owning one of their tees, I still wanted to include it as it’s been such a beloved staple in my wardrobe for five years now. Because while there’s still every chance that the feel on the hand might differ from the tees I own, I’m hopeful there’s some alignment to my personal experience. As for a long time, this was THE tee in my wardrobe. I ordered it in all three neutrals (black, grey and white - of course!), and wore them on reasonably solid rotation.
In terms of signs of wear, there’s two main things to note. For a start, the side seams have started to twist and warp. This is less noticeable when the tee is worn (especially if tucked), but styled loose you may be able to pick this up. I suspect it’ll become more pronounced with wear. The second is that it has split side seams. These feature a higher variation in the length at the front to the back than say… the UNIQLO U tee I shared earlier, so again another solid option for a front tuck. But… I have noted on all three colour ways, that there’s some splitting of the seam and tearing to the fabric at the highest point (and perhaps the biggest point of tension) on the split. For a tee at this price point, I can forgive this as otherwise - and for all practical purposes - it still functions just fine. For its age, and the price point, this is sort of what I would have expected? Basically, information is power!
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