I’m sorry to all my friends who’ve received non-stop texts about t-shirts. I think where we go wrong when it comes to finding the perfect t-shirt is wanting one that does it all. As I’ve gotten better at layering, I’m realizing there’s no one-size-fits-all. In the spirit of that, I wanted to share what I’ve tried and why I ended up passing on a majority of them.
I was originally after a linen option for summer, but nothing I found was quite right. Instead of settling for something I don’t 100% love, I expanded my search to cotton, which tends to work just as well in the summer. Let’s dive in.
Throughout my try on journey, I kept coming back to five main points:
Was the neckline sitting at the width that I’d envisioned? If I didn’t immediately love it, could I pinpoint what was off — was it too thin, too wide, or too thick?
Did I love the length and width (read: roominess) of the sleeve? If not, what was I fixating on? Was the length perfect, but there wasn’t enough breathability in the arm?
How did I feel about the color and opacity? Could I see my bra or was it only partially see through?
Where did the shirt hit on my body when I threw it on? Did I like the length?
How did it feel when it was tucked? Did it feel just right or a little bulky?
I hope that if you’re contemplating a white t-shirt, or any other garment for that matter, that these questions help you pinpoint your feelings about a piece. It’s easy to fall into the trap of loving how something fits on a model or someone else, and forgetting to stop and think about what we want.
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The shirt that started it all! After the first heat wave in Paris, I realized I needed a lightweight t-shirt option that I could throw on with minimal effort. I thought a linen t-shirt would do that for me, but unfortunately, I didn’t find many in Paris.
I did find this one and loved the shape, but found myself wishing it came in an off white color instead. The pure white felt too stark against the speckled texture of the linen. I know, so specific, but that’s the detail that did it for me. I also spotted this striped version that I’m keeping tabs on.
Why I passed?
It wasn’t the color I had in mind for this kind of fabric.
This one was soft to the touch — almost like you were barely wearing anything. It has a lived in, vintage feel and it’s almost a little see through depending on the under garment of choice. The sleeve length and width were great (a quality that’s easy to overlook). It ran on the longer side, but was easily tuckable due to the weight of the fabric, without feeling bulky.
Why I passed?
The neckline felt wide to me! After seeing Kelly Williams in hers, I’m wondering if I just needed to size down. Kate in the chat mentioned the Lorel Tee as an alternative — so I’m on the hunt to see if I can find it.
This reminded me of something you’d find in your partner’s closet — heavyweight, with a longer sleeve and a more straight cut shape. After the fact, I wondered whether I’d actually tried on a men’s t-shirt (yes, yes I did). While it was still tuckable, it felt like too much fabric for the summer months.
Why I passed?
Ultimately, too long and thick for what I wanted.
I had added Labo.ART to my list after seeing Angela Galvez mention them last month — so it was a serendipitous moment when I was looking through the racks and found this t-shirt. It reminds me of a t-shirt from the men’s section, but fitted closer to a woman’s body. As I twirled in the mirror, I knew it’d make a great off white option for the colder months. It was soft to the touch and perfect for layering under other pieces.
Why I passed?
The body was very long and it felt like a lot of fabric to tuck into pants in the warmer months.
I ran around Paris looking for this shirt with zero luck. Instead, I found this version that was just too see-through for my taste. You could easily wear this to bed and be incredibly comfortable. If that’s what you’re after, look no further.
Why I passed?
Just too see through for me!
It’s always interesting to try on similar pieces from the same brand, because sizing can be all over the place. On the plus side, American Vintage had range.
As soon as I put the Apoly t-shirt on, I knew the neckline was too wide for me. I realized that was my biggest deterrent with t-shirts, which made eliminating this one fairly easy. It had a great length and was easily tuckable, but I also found it thin and too see through for my taste.
The Fizvalley got a bit more contemplation from me. I loved the drop shoulder sleeve — it gave it a more relaxed feel. The cropped, boxy cut and thicker material draped beautifully. That said, I kept coming back to the neckline again, which felt a touch wider than what I was looking for. It also runs large, I’d recommend going down one size.
The Gamipy was the opposite. It almost felt like a baby tee, with the sleeves sitting tighter. I’d want to go up several sizes.
Why I passed?
Two had wide necklines and another was too fitted for my liking.
On a last ditch attempt to try to find the Baserange t-shirt that’s been living rent free in my head, I walked by A.P.C. and asked about their t-shirts. The one in store was a unisex version — very long, even compared to the other ones I’d tried. It had a great sleeve, but graphics on the back. I didn’t mind that so much, but it just wasn’t what I’d envisioned.
Why I passed?
The length and graphics weren’t what I had in mind.
My top three — in no particular order! There’s a poll below — I’d love to know which one you think I should pick!
I remember remarking how much I loved the neckline. It was thick, which would translate well into the winter months for layering under sweaters — a great mix of structure and softer material. The sleeve length was also spot on. I only wish the sleeve were a touch wider. I was hoping to try on a larger size but this was the last one in stock unfortunately. SSENSE and Farfetched have a few colors on sale.
ps — if you want a fit similar to the model, I’d recommend going up at least one size.
pss — I didn’t notice this when I was trying it on, but looking at the black version online, I noticed there’s “Studio Nicholson” printed on the top of the back. It’s only noticeable if you’re really looking and it’s more evident in the black version.
While I’m in the market for a white t-shirt, this heathered grey captured my attention on the rack. Initially for its buttery softness, then for its roominess. It had a generous sleeve while maintaining a good neckline shape. You could size down for a snugger fit, though I found it a little harder to tuck (or raise the roof — do people still say that?!). It’s the softest of all the American Vintage versions I tried.
I’m still thinking about this one — it’s at the top of my list. It’s speckled white with a long, roomy sleeve. It’s a more relaxed cut that has a vintage feel to it. It’s on the thicker end, but not something I’d shy away from in the summer.
ps — I don’t think I have a particularly large head, but this one took a bit more effort to put on than the others.
pss — for anyone based in the UK, you can buy them at Mouki Mou.
I can’t easily try these as they’re mostly U.S. based, but I wanted to share a few t-shirts I’m hoping to try in the future. If you’ve worn any of them, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
RLT Boyfriend Tee — it reminds me a bit of the Studio Nicholson version.
Sold Out NY Iconically Soft Perfect Tee — the fit looks pretty perfect in the imagery.
Perfect White Tee Springsteen or Harley — I’ve heard great things, so I’m curious to try.
Plain Jane New York Shortie Sleeve Tee — they’re made in Detroit from 100% Supima cotton, so it’s bound to be incredibly soft.
Flore Flore Monica Tee — a t-shirt I’m having trouble finding in person. I’ve been on the hunt for months, to no avail.
Aton Dry Cotton Jersey — So intrigued about this one! The touch-feel of another style left me impressed.
All featured items mentioned here.
Follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more snippets of daily life in Paris. You can also find me on Indyx if you’d like to take a peek at what I’m wearing.
My friends are probably thinking “finally, she made a choice” — but I’ll likely be contemplating this for the next 10 to 15 business days. Which one is your favorite?!
xx Ofelia
Disclosure: This newsletter contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them. Not all links are monetized — I only share brands whose quality and design focus I admire. Some pieces were gifted from prior years and their reappearance in current newsletters reflects my confidence in that brand’s products . Everything featured reflects items I genuinely love, would buy and wear myself.
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