100% cotton tees - hiding in plain sight - YouLookFab Forum

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100% cotton tees - hiding in plain sight

catgirl

Veteran

A friend was seeking these for a year long job in Africa. Good grief! Short sleeve plain crew neck (for modesty) cotton tees are a holy grail item! We finally found some (St, Johns Bay) at Penney's of all places and she bought one of each color at $7 apiece.

Do you have a hard time finding cotton items these days?

Shopping

15 replies

Latest reply was from catgirl

Anonymous

Yes. Lots of rayon and poly. Not necessarily bad, but seems to pill more and is often too thin. I like cotton for when it's hot as long as it doesn't fall into beefy T territory. Heading toward that direction feels unfeminine and stifling to me.

I also notice I'm liking crew necks for more coverage, but with my IT tendencies, an open neckline is sometimes more my friend. But I wish I could find shallower v necks or u necks. I'm tired of feeling too exposed.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

There are some shopping trips where I just give up after checking label after label after label and finding no natural fibers. It's infuriating.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Yup. It's like trying to find a Tasmanian tiger.

deb

Veteran

Eddie Bauer has them.

http://www.eddiebauer.com/prod.....475/_/A-eb

Style Fan

Veteran

I live in cotton T shirts. I have spent many hours looking for them. I also have a mini torso. And a not mini bust. Eddie Bauer T shirts look like big boxes on me. When I find one that looks good I buy several because I know I may not find another for years.
I have a few by 3 Dots. I bought 2 in a store and the rest online. I have a couple of graphic T (I never knew what to call them until YLF days). One from Roots (Canadian) and two from Superdry (Japanese).
I also have some that I call my dog walking Ts because they are pilling, etc. from J. Crew. They didn't hold up so well.

Anonymous

I hear you, AG! And thanks for the tip about JCP. I had such a struggle finding cotton tees last year that I switched to linen. They're a different profile (not as fitted), but I really love mine for super hot weather as they seem to breathe better. Like Delurked, I'm not a fan of the beefy tee look, but the hand of the linen seems to provide nicer drape than cotton in a looser cut.

Anonymous

Crew neck and opaque. Impossible to find.

Nebraskim

Veteran

We have a sort of mid-range store here called Christopher and Banks that has my holy grail of Ts: cotton, crew neck, 3/4 sleeve. I am not a fan of short sleeves as they tend to cut off right at the flappiest part of my arms. The shirts are inexpensive (2 for $24 usually, but sometimes they are BOGO) and come in a range of colors. You might also check Duluth Trading Co., which is mostly gear but they do have lots of great cotton shirts. Some styles are more fitted than others and they also have shirts that are longer so they stay tucked in (that's one of their trademarks -- the longer shirt tails). Duluth's "short sleeves" are actually elbow length, which I really like. They are also pretty thick.

always trying

Veteran

I do not have too much trouble finding sporty t's in 100% cotton, Khols, Bass outlet, TJMaxx, and marshalls sometimes have them. My problem is finding dressier tops in natural fibers. I have a modal and rayon that may work. linen seems to be more plentifu lthis year, and at more reasonable prices.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'm with always trying. It's easy enough to find cotton or linen tees. But dressier tops in natural fibres have been a holy grail item for me this year so far.

I have mostly linen (and one cotton) tee from J. Crew. And a cotton tee from the Loft (last year). Mind you, that tee has a pattern and is not a crew neck. My J. Crew linen tees are great for modesty though -- boatneck and 3/4 sleeve.

I did have one short sleeve linen tee from J. Crew that I almost immediately demoted to sleep wear. It's a great colour but it stretched out horribly and looks awful.

Linen boatneck tee

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Ledonna N.

Veteran

I live in tank tops but they must be cotton or moisture wicking. This I will not compromise on. I found a bunch at k-mart for about 4$ each at the end of last summer I bought 3 in every color. Because as a plus size women they are hard to find and fit. These were nice.

Meredith

Veteran

Yes! So hard to find them. Guess I know where I'm headed this afternoon. Hoping they have some wide strapped tank tops I can use for field work.

LaPed

Veteran

Hmm. Everlane, Zady, American Apparel, Alternative Apparel, LL Bean, Eddie Bauer, Lands End, Patagonia, J Crew, Gap, Pact Organic, Boden, Uniqlo.

Those are the places I'd look first, depending on how fashionable I'm aiming for. I basically live in cotton tees, though I prefer a v-neck myself, or a long sleeve breton top a la Boden.

Marlene

Veteran

I found some great mostly cotton t's at LandsEnd last year at the end of summer sale. They have washed up nicely and the shape is flattering yet modest. I haven't seen the same style there again this year (I went back in to duplicate). It is really HARD to find a flattering t-shirt....looks great, natural fibers, washes up well. This is a must-have in a super casual life! I get so frustrated that I need to hand wash EVERYTHING because nothing can survive a simple wash cycle. So to find the right fabric, style and washable....fashion unicorn.

catgirl

Veteran

Thanks for the tips and commiseration. Friend has to wear crew necks for surgery scars and v-necks are too revealing for a conservative country. Sleeve length is often an issue - I find some inexpensive brands tend to have skimpier sleeves that fit my linebacker shoulders like cap sleeves. Eddie Bauer had good tees but the ones we found were not all cotton. And the Nordies SA flat out told us they had none - all are Vs.