Best high street t-shirts to pull your capsule wardrobe together
A real mix-and-match capsule wardrobe needs a few added extras to be fully functional, which is something that’s rarely mentioned. These ‘behind the scenes heroes’ include well-fitting underwear, a great pair of everyday earrings, a versatile jeans belt and – last but not least – some plain t-shirts and vests.
You just can’t beat a plain white (or off-white) t-shirt for versatility and navigating those tricky seasonal changes. They’re great for layering, add a little contrast or freshness, and bring the low-key casual style.
Wear a classic tee plain and simple for minimalist chic, put one on under a blouse or v-neck jumper for extra warmth, or wear with an open button-down shirt over the top like a casual jacket.
Simple isn’t always easy
The catch? Most tees marketed for women seem to be much lower quality than the equivalent ones marketed for men. Lighter colours are often see through, and the lack of quality shows after just a couple of washes. It’s … infuriating, and a waste of money.
But fear not, I’m about to share some reliable, sensibly-priced brands and styles with you. Everything here is a throw-on no-brainer that works with almost any outfit, and will still look great after being worn and washed several times.
The perfect t-shirt doesn’t exis…
Yeah, it does. It’s this one (see below).
Uniqlo’s Uniqlo U Women’s Crew Neck T-Shirt, £14.90, is my top pick. Well made, very slightly fitted, comfortable and available in a good range of neutral colours, sizes XXS to XXL.
The Uniqlo U range is designed by the team behind Lemaire, the casual-chic French fashion label, and it’s just that little bit elevated. They also do a great Unisex T-Shirt at the same price if you’d prefer a straighter cut.
But wait, there’s more! Uniqlo’s brand new Washed Cotton Boxy T-Shirt, £14.90, above, has a fantastic contemporary cut, and looks amazing with this season’s baggy jeans, barrel leg trousers, and poplin skirts. It’s also slightly shorter than the classic tee, without being truly cropped.
Other great tops to consider at Uniqlo:
- The vests – simple, versatile shapes to wear on repeat
- Bra tops – sporty solutions with no straps or wires
- Airism tops – useful for anyone who feels the heat
- Linen range – breezy summer tops, tees, shirts and blouses
The nicest shapes and colours usually sell out early in the season, so snap it up if there’s anything you like the look of.
Sustainable tops & multi-buy savings
Here are another three top places to look for those staple tees, vests and camisole tops.
For well made tees with serious eco-credentials, visit Rapanui. Their sustainable cotton tops come in a range of flattering shades, with a really good choice of different necklines and cuts. Their generous multi-buy selection options (Plain Tee shown above) save you a lot of money. Choose exactly what goes into your pack, including duplicate colours and different sizes.
Yes Friends are another excellent sustainable clothing company with lovely t-shirts, and they even have a solar powered factory. The colours are fun and the prices are fair too, with their Unisex Original Tees coming in at £10 to £14, and their Premium Fitted Tees (my fave, shown above) at the £16 mark.
And finally, The Set multi-packs from Next are worth a look if you need to do a full t-shirt drawer refresh on a tight budget. The quality is fairly decent and the combined price is low.
