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How much would you spend?

freeda

(website)

Help me stop being such a cheapass.

Plain black knit top with long sleeves, ie "nice" long sleeve tee. What would you pay? What fabric do you look for when trying for durable, classic staple items?

Shopping

21 replies

Latest reply was from annabelle

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

If I were looking for a staple piece that I would wear with everything, I would spend as much as necessary (but as little as sufficient) to find one that fit perfectly. I would want a cotton blend so it didn't become shapeless and faded by frequent washing (black cotton fades easily), but wouldn't be too hot and uncomfortable either. I would consider high quality man-made fibers too. If I saw one that was perfect but too pricey I would check ebay and other on-line options but only for NWT (new with tag).

catgirl

Veteran

I would not pay more than $50 for such an item, assuming good quality etc Anything I wash is going to be worn out sooner.

Anonymous

I feel there's two schools of thought on this. One says if you want black that lasts and wears and looks good - then don't cheap out. And don't go 100% cotton. But...on the other hand, if it's a tshirt you are washing and wearing all summer long - then don't go nuts - washing takes the life out of black, don't you find?? Disclaimer : I just bought a 100% cotton distressed tank from Current Elliot that was $90. So what do I know? It has the fit, the look, and the feel I want, which I don't get from $20 Gap tshirts.

unfrumped

Veteran

That style top is available from all of the " usual suspects" in terms of brands / stores. Weight and fabrication depend on intended use-- workplace or smart casual? Which affects cut and style, too, and issues like top stitching, hemming that can skew more casual or less.
Sti all such knitwear has a limited shelf life so it's hard to justify " designer" pricing( you know the magazine spreads that say, " cotton T, xxxxx, $850" !).
I would shop around in several of the moderate price point brands to get ideas of what cuts and knits " get you" and give the look you need, neckline, whether tailored fit, how long, how dressy or not. I don't usually see more
than $ 40-100 retail and then sale pricing on those. Pima cotton is great for casual/ hot weather but not as dressy, rayon knits are more drapey but can be thin, rayon/ nylon may be more substantial; some silk blend knits. Also fine- gauge merino, though not for summer, can be great for black and hold color well.
Still you might see Theory or Vince or whomever with "basic" items for much
more. usually at that level is be looking for some element that's beyond basic or solves some HEWI problem.

em

I bought mine--I totally lucked out--at the Eileen Fisher outlet store. It is silk and probably cost $50 or less.

kkards

Veteran

is this a trick question? truthfully, i have basic black long sleeve tees that range from $10-$100….i wear them all. i love my basic target tees, i've got some heavier weight ones, perfect for casual wear, and some tissue weight ones, perfect for layering. i've got a james perse one, that fits like a dream (should have duplicated), one from the brand majestic - smooth slinky fabrication gives it a slightly dressier feel, but also makes it clingy. but my favorite is a 6 year old tee from a brand called Martin &Osa, which sadly didn't make it thru the great recession.

frannieb

Veteran

I have spent anywhere from $10 target tee that rocks like no ones buisness going on it's 3rd year to $125 dollars for a basic wardrobe building piece and anything in between.
It really is about Fit and and more expensive does not mean better in the case of basics

crutcher

Veteran

I have a Ralph Lauren black long sleeve tee that I have worn the absolute soul out of...I wear this pretty for dress, for casual, to layer, etc...I think it was $30...I have a Vince that was probably 100..same color, same style and I wear it not so much...I think it depends on the garment and how you respond to it...

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I'd spend what my budget allowed. Or sometimes a little bit more.

In all seriousness, it depends on the purpose of the piece and your other fashion expenses. If this is a HEWI for you (a hard to find, elusive wardrobe item) and you absolutely NEED it to complete 3 or 4 outfits to your satisfaction, well, I would look around, but I'd also be willing to spend on it. It might turn out to be the backbone of your wardrobe!

On the other hand, if it is something that would just be "nice to have" then maybe you don't need to spend so much.

I agree that all cotton won't be a good bet for reasons of fading. Unless you pay a low price and can pick up a couple and cycle through them.

Anonymous

In general, because it is black (fades) and knit (pills, stretches out) I'd stay in the $50 area and plan to replace yearly. One of the first lessons I learned on YLF is that it doesn't pay to buy spendy knits because they just don't last that long at any price point. This is also an item I look for on clearance racks and try to buy the best quality for the least money.
As a rule, I replace black and white knits once a year as whites yellow and blacks fade.

Liz

Veteran

For a black tshirt, I would spend as little as possible, frankly. I only wear them for layering purposes, and I expect knits to give out and black to fade (unless I came across a lot of reviews raving about how well an item held up and kept its color; even then, manufacturers can change fabrics from year to year). If I wanted a durable black top that would last for a while, I'd probably look for a woven or a silk t.

I think the exact dollar number depends a lot on your overall budget. My clothing budget is small, so a tshirt is at the very lower end of what I would spend per item.

unfrumped

Veteran

Along the lines of what Liz said--I make a distinction between "long-sleeved black T" and "long-sleeved black top that makes a professional-looking outfit with skirt or pants and without a jacket". The latter need more structure, seaming, texture, weight, or detail of some kind. (Or at this point, I try substituting not-black colors but still find black tops useful.) So I have a 3/4 sleeve peplum top from WHBM in a kind of ponte knit, and I have an AT top in some kind of heavy textured cotton-poly knit fabric, with back zippers. These I did not actually pay more than $50 for due to sale pricing but for the right item, a top that looks great with a pencil skirt, or is the perfect length and hem for pants, I would, as they would be outfit-makers, especially those that look good untucked, due to being unfussy FFBO-items.

Aziraphale

Veteran

I've spent as little as $30 and as much as $120 for such an item. The one I have that cost more is made of some kind of amazing fabric (modal blend, I think) that doesn't pill, doesn't stretch, and has stayed very black (as opposed to fading to a dirty grey like a lot of black cotton tee shirts do). I've had it for four years and it looks brand new.

I'm fine paying that much money for a staple item that will last a very long time. In terms of cost per wear, it's not actually more expensive. What REALLY bugs me is when you pay extra for an item assuming it will be higher quality, and then it isn't. And I can't always predict when it will! I think that's why I gravitate to certain brands that I've had previous success with.

Elle

Veteran

I think what makes your search difficult is that price is not necessarily a guarantee of quality. I've had good luck and bad with knits bought at Target and knits bought at high end stores. So I don't usually pay for more than $50 per item (but that's me.)

For you, you might do better focusing on what fabric composition you like (natural fibers vs manmade, spandex or no), how heavy a weight you are looking for, and then set a maximum price you are willing to pay. Sorry I can't be more helpful

SandyG

Veteran

Can't get by with only one 'classic' black top! I wear various black tops all year long and find that having 5-6 makes my life so much easier. If it fits and like Suz says, makes outfits, then snap it up (and keep looking for more).

Black tops can take more dramatic shapes than other colors so you can explore beyond classic cuts, too.

rachylou

Veteran

I'd say $100... but so far I've been too cheap to spend more than $30... lololol...

Style Fan

Veteran

I don't wear a lot of black so I am not a great one to answer that question. I do wear a lot of T shirts. I have one black T shirt that has been amazing. It was $30.00 from Jacob (Canadian) now gone. DH wears lots of black. He finds spending a lot is worth it. The best Ts were from Mexx. Now gone. He also had one from Hugo Boss that he has had for 10 years. Looks like new. Seriously.

I have a few (lots actually) dark brown T. Some were over $100.00. They have lasted years and years. Look great.

I like James Perse, Splendid, Three Dots and Sarah Pacini.

I have not been very happy with the quality of J. Crew T shirts.

K. Period.

Veteran

I'd plan to spend $30 to $40. What I'm willing to spend? Well, I just reset that. I had been looking for a chameleon short sleeved white shirt that would be dressy or casual depending on what I wore it with and was washable. I looked for three years. Finally I bought an Eileen Fisher one. It was $95. But it is perfect.

Susie

Veteran

I was just thinking about trying to duplicate- or find another color of- a black long sleeve knit top that I got in FL last year. It's soft, hasn't pilled or faded or gotten any of those tiny holes in the front, is just the right length and has enough detail to keep it from being totally plain. I think I spent $90 or $95 and while that seemed crazy at the time, it's been a go to casual top and has been worth the higher price.

Gigi

Veteran

I've only skimmed the other responses, but I like what Suz has to say. If the tee is going to be a very important part of your wardrobe, you can pay more for just the right thing. The tees I have in my closet are $25, I think, and they are indispensable to me. I would have paid probably $35 for them if I had had to. The quality is probably average. For a really well-made tee, I would probably spend up to $50 if it were really going to be a completer piece for a lot of outfits.

For me, if I am looking for a good-quality tee, I would look for cotton and rayon fabrics, but I am a fan of natural fibers.

annabelle

Veteran

I don't remember what I spent, but I have a Banana Republic black long sleeve t that I've had for years. What makes it "nice" to me (compared with, say, my Old Navy t's) is it is a lighter weight cotton which feels more sophisticated, and there are subtle details like a rougher stitching on the collar and a seam up the back to make it fit like a dream. I like owning a nicer t because I feel I can wear it to any event, and it matches whatever I'm wearing. I don't need to wonder what jacket to pull on, because the simplicity of a nicer t looks pretty, on its own. And BR seems to have sales, a lot, so one could probably find a decent deal on a basic like this.