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The Perfect Plain White T-Shirt

Chainsaw

Suspended
Messages
392
Location
Toronto
I used to swear by Calvin Klien, just for the fact that they were made in Canada, or at least the stuff that was sold here was. The shorts and T-shirts were over priced, but the women love them.

Another good brand for white t-shirts is Champion. I found an outlet store somewhere in the New York state, they had them for .99c.

They were nice for the fact that they had the little embroidered champion logos on the sleeve, that showed through my short sleeved dress shirts. They looked cool withmy high school uniform.
 

Javelina

New in Town
Messages
42
Location
New York,NY
These at Saks.com are good quality and not particularly expensive. And they're on sale. I bought some a few $ cheaper a few weeks ago. The best part is that the neck doesn't stretch out and they're long enough to stay tucked even after hot water washing & drying.

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446222300&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574492714150&bmUID=1265490177351&ev19=1:24

There is a brand in Europe called Alan Red that I would also recommend but they're unavailable in the U.S.
 

YETI

A-List Customer
Messages
439
Location
Bay Area, CA
For me the best quality for affordable crew-neck undershirts were Jockey. The necks never stretched and warped. The cotton was soft with a comfortable fit. A bargain(back then) at $18.50 for a 3 pack. Quality wise, Hanes were rubbish in comparison to Jockeys.
 

volatile

A-List Customer
Messages
421
Location
London, England
Baron Kurtz said:
Yes, I was going to say this. Strangely for Uniqlo, though, they don't go small enough!

I've been in every Uniqlo in central London once a week for a month and not one had these in small. Dozens of mediums, dozens of large... no smalls, ever. [huh]
 

HatRak

Familiar Face
Messages
80
Location
Virginia's Shenandoah valley
If you're not in the states this is irrelevant but here I've found JC Penney's house brand heavy weight T's to beat anything out there. Very substantial, don't change size, fit close but not snug, $26.00 or so for a three pack. Crew and V- neck.
 
Yeah, annoying ain't it? I bought some mediums because I desperately needed undershirts at that kind of price point, but they're not the right fit for wearing on their own. Same problem with their vests - no XS, I had to put up with S. :rage:

volatile said:
I've been in every Uniqlo in central London once a week for a month and not one had these in small. Dozens of mediums, dozens of large... no smalls, ever. [huh]
 

Dulouz

Familiar Face
Messages
76
Location
Porterville, CA
Costco's store brand, Kirkland, makes some great tees.

They are a good weight, not "see through". Well fitted, at least for my body. I'm a slim guy. They're long, but not so long as to bunch up around my waistline.
 

Jan

One of the Regulars
Messages
165
Location
Bay Area
Dulouz said:
Costco's store brand, Kirkland, makes some great tees.

They are a good weight, not "see through". Well fitted, at least for my body. I'm a slim guy. They're long, but not so long as to bunch up around my waistline.

A little late on this topic, but I have to agree.

Not much of a vintage cut. But the cut on them are nice and simple.

The length on them is pretty long, up until you wash them. Not too tight on the sides, but definitely not loose in anyway.
The sleeves are a perfect length, for my style at least. They come just near the elbow, but just not quite. Since I roll my sleeves up anyways, they don't leave me with fat 4x thick cuffs.

They just brought in the Kirkland brand BLACK tee shirts into the US. They originally had them only in Canada and one other place, which I cannot remember.
They have a different fit and thickness than the white versions. But they do fit pretty nicely.
 

Mr. Mahogany

New in Town
Messages
7
Location
Midwest U.S.
Vintage cut T shirts?

Anyone know where to get vintage cut T shirts? Hanes and Fruit of the Loom is cut all wrong now with a relaxed fit and way too long. And the material has changed also. The ones i've bought through out the years seemed consistent, but the ones i've bought recently are not the same.

You know how those six pack of T's you would get? That's what im looking for. Nothing fancy or paper thin either. Not looking for that extra heavy weight either. But with the older slimmer cut, medium/normal weight 100% cotton with the shorter length.

I have an athletic build and used to wear a large, then dropped down to a medium when they changed the sizing, now the mediums are too long and the material is wrong too. Tried hemming a few, but the paper thin material is wrong in most settings unless im working out or wearing as an undershirt. Larges are also too long plus with the extra full cut just doesn't work.

Bought a few heavy weight Hanes, but they were like wearing a sponge. Plus the sleeves and around the shoulders were cut wrong, way to tight.

Im thinking about taking a few of my older T shirts and having someone custom tailor me some T shirts if all else fails.
 

Gene

Practically Family
Messages
963
Location
New Orleans, La.
Women's t-shirts. No seriously, I have a few I picked up at a Goodwill awhile back...sewn-on collar, capped sleeves, tight fit, just like t-shirts used to be for men until they became loose fitting, baggy-sleeved, and knit-collared.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,074
Location
London, UK
I have a lot of plain white tees which, as most round here, I use as undershirts. I find that buying the one sold specifically as undershirts guarantees a better fit 99% of the time than those sold as generic T-shirts.
 

The Good

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,361
Location
California, USA
I'm almost always wearing some sort of plain white t-shirt. I wear Jockey's and Costco's Kirkland brand shirts, in particular. I find that the Jockey's are slightly more "tailored" fitting than the Kirkland ones, but those are thicker and a bit warmer too.
 

Tomasso

Incurably Addicted
Messages
13,719
Location
USA
I wore Brooks Bros US made undershirts for years and years but then they sourced offshore makers with dodgy cloth and funky fit...........
 

Mr. Mahogany

New in Town
Messages
7
Location
Midwest U.S.
Women's t-shirts. No seriously, I have a few I picked up at a Goodwill awhile back...sewn-on collar, capped sleeves, tight fit, just like t-shirts used to be for men until they became loose fitting, baggy-sleeved, and knit-collared.


You know i've thought of that. I did however purchases some generic shirts in the youth department at Target. A large fit like an adult large used to. Much tighter fit and a few inches shorter, but the sleeves were too tight and ripped one while stretching them out.

Anyone bought shirts from got apparel? These shirts might work, but im not sure. Their Gildan and Anvil.
http://www.gotapparel.com/p-1008_7570-gildan-mens-45-oz-cotton-t-shirt.aspx
http://www.gotapparel.com/p-1040_7779-anvil-mens-organic-t-shirt.aspx
http://www.gotapparel.com/p-214_2144-anvil-fashion-short-sleeve-t.aspx


Also found a site call Shortees. Im 5'8" and don't know if these would be too short or not. But modern T shirts are way too long and baggy for me. These might work.
http://www.originalshortees.com/shop/Blank_White.html
 
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