https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:42:20 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1204269 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 01:32:09 +0000 Ledonna N. 1204269@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with your statement Angie . I personally love a great tee. I use it as a base then build from there. With wearing lots of jewelry or jackets etc. I have a large tee collection. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1203688 Mon, 24 Mar 2014 14:37:48 +0000 texstyle 1203688@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I posted on the other thread, but should have posted here so I'm copying:</p> </p> <p><i>Just one more thought on the white or other color tee as undergarment. I have to wonder, IF it is just an undergarment, then why is there such an overwhelming number of women trying to find the "perfect" one to wear on it's own? Doesn't that in itself negate it from the purely undergarment category?</i></p> <p><i>To me, it is similar to the perfect white shirt. A simple crisp white shirt often looks like the same work shirt my Dad used to wear back in the late 50's when he worked at a grocery store. In fact, in a way I do relate simple white shirts as work shirts (and have myself tried to find the perfect one), and they are indispensable fashion items for many.</i></p> <p><i>So why isn't the perfect tee?</i></p> <p><i>Which I would define as: thick enough to wear in white on it's own; flattering neckline and sleeve style; soft, comfortable fabric; slightly tailored fit with good drape.</i></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1203184 Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:28:59 +0000 Windchime 1203184@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>A Talbots tee which I bought several years ago is the best one I've had. It feels lovely and soft, and gets softer with repeated launderings. It drapes rather than clings, and the color--soft sage green--is still true. </p> <p>I'm eager to try the linen blend tees several YLFers have mentioned. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1203163 Mon, 24 Mar 2014 00:10:06 +0000 Beth 1203163@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ah, I'm nodding with Shiny and Janet...those oversized drapey tees of the late 80s! A blast from the past. :)</p> <p>I really love Boden's tees. They have a feminine fit, a flattering scoop neck and they're weighty enough to not be sheer. They're the perfect basic layering piece, IMO. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202715 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:30:17 +0000 MRL 1202715@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I own several basic T's in white, black, navy. I buy at the Gap and replace often. I use them mostly as layering pieces or as casual tops in the summer. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202692 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:15:55 +0000 shiny 1202692@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>30 ways to wear a basic white tee:</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.fabsugar.com/30-Ways-Wear-Your-White-T-Shirt-22419020#photo-22420356">http://www.fabsugar.com/30-Way.....o-22420356</a></p> <p>Lists like this make you want to find the perfect one.... just like finding the perfect crisp white collared shirt...&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202685 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:05:20 +0000 Day Vies 1202685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I completely agree about the status of tee shirts. I see them as a layering piece. Especially long-sleeved tees. I only buy them in black and white and I never spend more that $10 on them. I also don't use graphic tees as statement pieces -- they're just for fun. I do however expect my tees to fit well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202680 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:00:47 +0000 Golden 1202680@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good reminder regarding tee shirts. Not sure on my favorites although I have quite a few from the gap...some hits many misses due to quality issues! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202670 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:48:15 +0000 texstyle 1202670@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I do have one expensive "tee" from Current Elliot that is yet to be matched - super soft, reasonably thick but not hot, and just right slouchy/slight U neckline. I paid too much for it (in my eyes) but I do love putting it on. The cost keeps me from ordering others from them as I feel like I have to be careful with it.</p> <p>Remember when Sharon Stone wore a basic Gap tee with a big flowy skirt to the awards?</p> <p>Recently I've found a few from Madewell that I really like - very soft, interesting cut (but maybe too "boxy" for some people's taste), single pocket. They were on sale for about $20 and I ordered duplicates I liked them enough. I don't expect them to last past the season and certainly don't expect to be "dressed up" when I wear them.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202655 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:21:58 +0000 Kat 1202655@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is refreshing truth! &nbsp;I think part of the myth of the Perfect Tee comes from those lists of so-called "must have" items in every woman's wardrobe, most of which I don't understand, and&nbsp;don't actually work well on most women's bodies in real life.</p> <p>Anyway, I completely agree with a previous commenter that my obsession with the perfect top (if not the perfect tee) is functional. &nbsp;It's so easy to get dressed fall through spring, for me. &nbsp;Come summer, I live in a place that gets very hot and dry, and it's my style disaster zone. &nbsp;I just don't know how to be comfortable, authentic, and professional -- how to be me and feel good in my skin. &nbsp;A top can't be a layer. &nbsp;A top is a fundamental choice and a dilemma, especially as I get older and start to feel less good about going sleeveless. &nbsp;From that point of view, I completely get where the anxiety comes from. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202624 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:21:49 +0000 Mellllls 1202624@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've found tees with Pima cotton work well for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202621 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:18:48 +0000 Janet 1202621@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Nodding along with Shiny. Years ago (late 80s/early 90s), I got in a habit of wearing one of my dad's old tees, which led me to start purchasing newer men's tees (Hanes or the like). Classic crew neck, loose-fitting, a little baggy but just soft enough that it draped... I used to tuck them into everything from jeans to shorts, roll up the sleeves, and go. I still think it looked kinda cute on my then-young body. Not sure if it would work now. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202594 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:36:35 +0000 shiny 1202594@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yep, agree 100%, Angie.&nbsp;</p> <p>That said, it seems to me that when those lists mention "perfect white tee" and shows a picture of a model wearing such a garment (with perfect jeans and perfect black pumps and perfect blazer) the tee appears to actually be a men's version. It reminds me exactly of the type of tee's my dad would wear under his collared shirt and&nbsp;suit, yes as underwear. On a woman's shape it would be relaxed and loose, ala "boyfriend" fit.&nbsp;</p> <p>It is also about the cotton. When I was a kid, I'd sometimes borrow my dad's tees to sleep in. The cotton was so soft and comfy. So I dunno... I guess I've been looking for that version in my adult life, the same feel against the skin. My dad's tees came in value packs. I have shopped the men's department in the past, but the selection isn't there like it was back in the 70s-80's. Because as office attire has become more and more casual,&nbsp;men no longer wear such layering tees.&nbsp;</p> <p>The closest I have found to such a tee, for women, is the Vintage tees at Jcrew. They are 100% cotton, not linen or rayon. I have them in scoop &amp; v-neck, and&nbsp;black, white, navy, and neon pink. You have to play around with the size a bit, to get a fluid fit. But yeah... they are mostly for layering and supporting roles.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202553 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 10:44:23 +0000 Neel 1202553@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Umm .... And to think I was once a jeans and tee girl :D. I wear that now too, but with better shoes and statement necklace/earrings. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202534 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 08:48:06 +0000 fuzzylogic 1202534@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, it's just a tee. </p> <p>But a white raglan tee hugging a guy with well fitting, slightly slouchy jeans and a James Dean devil-may-care, non-chalant smile and, well, I like a tee </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202390 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 02:37:34 +0000 Transcona Shannon 1202390@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well put Angie and an important reminder. I've been guilty from time to time in wanting more from a tee than what it can realistically deliver. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees/page/2#post-1202387 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 02:35:21 +0000 Linda 1202387@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great point Angie!&nbsp; Kind of brings me back to balance.&nbsp; I'm a fan of the "Perfect Tee" series at ON, actually, I really love the feel and the fit of their long sleeved v neck tees, although for some reason, I don't own one in white!</p> <p>I plan on checking out the men's tees at H&amp;M next time I am by too since they seem to get praise from many on YLF.&nbsp; I might fiddle with alterations to it if they are too boxy for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202347 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 01:41:50 +0000 sarah 1202347@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks for this, Angie, it's rather liberating. I think that when I'm searching for the "perfect tee", I'm really searching for a body that I don't have - one that is taller, thinner, etc, etc. Perhaps if I stop searching for the perfect tee, I'll start being more accepting of the body I have! That said, it's too hot in the summer where I live for tees to be relegated to layering pieces, which means that I have to find cool summer tops aside from tees that make me feel better about the body that I do have. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202312 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:51:19 +0000 Laurinda 1202312@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Simple yet brilliant post!</p> <p>I used to like LLBean's for their fabric and longevity&nbsp;but found them too short to stay tucked lately. Now I'm liking Kohl's either&nbsp;<span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1529442/croft-barrow-essential-solid-tee.jsp">Croft &amp; Barrow® Essential Solid Tee</a> or </span><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1533881/sonoma-life-style-everyday-solid-tee.jsp">Sonoma life + style® Everyday Solid Tee</a>&nbsp;frequently on sale for US $7 or $8 with a regular&nbsp;15-30% discount on top of that.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202310 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:44:01 +0000 Ariadne 1202310@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, I love this thread. &nbsp;You have the most perfect insights. &nbsp;What would we do without you?</p> <p>I've had good luck with several of Gap's more drapey, rayon-based tees, but I still tend to use them as layering items. &nbsp;I also love the two Three Dots tees I bought from nancylee on the Style Exchange. &nbsp;They're slightly flared at the hem, they have the perfect scoop neck (low, but not low enough to show cleavage), and the sleeves are elbow-length. &nbsp;Dreamy.</p> <p>I do want to add a couple of v- or scoop-neck linen or linen-blend tees to my summer wardrobe. &nbsp;</p> <p>Gaylene, thanks for the Canadian tips! &nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202266 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 23:21:19 +0000 deb 1202266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank Tanya. I ordered the cobalt blue V-neck. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202259 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:48:39 +0000 Jules 1202259@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oddly enough I don't think I've ever in my life owned a plain white tee. Probably because my style was so jeans-and-tee basic that I always needed colour at a minimum to feel dressed!<br /> The last two summers I'd say that a white Breton striped tee was my most worn tee. I am looking for a great white tee this year but linen or silk maybe... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202257 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:37:46 +0000 carter 1202257@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The basics are just basics thing finally sunk in with me a couple weeks ago when I realized that 80-90% of my closet was basically basic;-0. I've been on a bit of a shopping jag lately for non-basic tops...prints, different cuts, fabrics, etc. I'm loving that I can now call it done at pants, top belt, shoes...no struggling to figure out what needs to be added to the basics to pull everything together. Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202255 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:31:03 +0000 Gaylene 1202255@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, I don't know how much help this will be for anyone in the USA, but I found the perfect white T this spring in Simons--a Montreal department store that has just recently opened its first non-Quebec store in West Edmonton Mall<br /><a href="http://www.simons.ca/simons/product/7405-4906/Pima+Cotton+at+Contemporaine+/Pima+cotton+basic+T-shirt?/en/&amp;catId=6661&amp;colourId=10" rel="nofollow">http://www.simons.ca/simons/pr.....sic+T-shir</a><br />Contemporaine is one of the store's house brands.</p> <p>It's simply the best white T I've ever come across--flattering cut, not too tight or too loose (even on an older body), exactly the right amount of dip in the front, non-clingly fabric that drapes instead of wrinkles, 96%cotton/4% spandex so it holds its shape, easy to layer but looks good on its own, and, last but not least, washes like a dream. My holy grail of white (and colored) T-shirts, for $19.95 CAD. </p> <p>The company's linen tees are also perfect:<br /><a href="http://www.simons.ca/simons/product/7023-1581/Seaside+Villa/Pure+linen+tee?/en/&amp;catId=6661&amp;colourId=11" rel="nofollow">http://www.simons.ca/simons/pr.....;colourId=</a></p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202252 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:28:14 +0000 Anonymous 1202252@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>My a Dad would never wear a tee except as underwear. I think that he was embarrassed being around women with their "underwear" showing. At one time I thought that wearing knit tee shapes in fabrics other than cotton would help the look, but in the end they are still just layering pieces. I did like wearing slightly oversized woven silk "tees" last summer and hope that the style will still be around this year. Being woven makes them feel more like a top.<br /> Deb, I've seen some Eileen Fisher linen tees on sale at The Rack recently. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202247 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:15:34 +0000 Tanya 1202247@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Deb, I have just bought this linen tee from J Crew and the quality is great, if you like the pattern.&nbsp; I sized up from my usual size:</p> <p><a href="https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/knitstees/shortsleevetees/PRD~A3498/A3498.jsp?Nbrd=J&amp;Nloc=en_US&amp;Nrpp=48&amp;Npge=1&amp;Ntrm=linen%20tee&amp;isFromSearch=true&amp;isSaleItem=true&amp;isNewSearch=true" rel="nofollow">https://www.jcrew.com/womens_c.....;Nloc=en_U</a></p> <p>They actually have a whole bunch in various colors and patterns.&nbsp; I think they are nice enough to serve as stand alone tops in casual settings:<br /><a href="https://www.jcrew.com/search2/index.jsp?N=0&amp;Nloc=&amp;Ntrm=linen%20tee&amp;Npge=1&amp;Nsrt=0" rel="nofollow">https://www.jcrew.com/search2/.....038;Nsrt=0</a></p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202245 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:06:33 +0000 deb 1202245@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Lisa, I am an Eddie Bauer Favorites tee fan. also. Then come in a variety of sleeve lengths and necklines. Also, petite and tall. </p> <p>If anyone has a good source for linen tees please let me know. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202244 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 22:06:12 +0000 unfrumped 1202244@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Good claification, Angie. I think those generic wardrobe lists promote the mystique, too, making it sound lie you can wear your Gap T and stilettos into the board room. </p> <p>What Marlene and Gaylene said-- I do usually wear a few drapey rayon or cotton blend or linen knit "T" style tops to work in summer, with pants or pencil skirt. I have rayon zip- back T's from AT ( who would guess) and had some ones I liked from BR before. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202236 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 21:44:59 +0000 Suzanne (ambergreen) 1202236@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agree that we often expect too much of these. I am sooo glad that I figured out a few particular things a while ago that now keep me from buying the wrong thing in this area: (1) basic white tees do absolutely nothing for me; (2) same for high-necked tees. (3) I should never buy a tee that's not cut for a woman (a tee that can handle a bombshell without prompting a call to the bomb squad). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/a-word-about-tees#post-1202225 Sat, 22 Mar 2014 21:16:21 +0000 Beth Ann 1202225@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Angie.&nbsp; I'm looking for replacements too and lamenting the "over-stretch" I"m finding so often --- they're so stretchy that they're "wiggly" if that makes sense.&nbsp; I can size up and they'll still move all over my body.&nbsp; </p> <p>Are there value priced versions of linen tees that you recommend?&nbsp; Not expecting miracles, but I would like a little more drape and less cling. </p>