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The Insider Pick:
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In the past hundred years, the T-shirt has evolved from an unseen undergarment into one of the most popular and prominent articles of clothing a man wears.
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The Buck Mason Pima Curved Hem Tee is our top pick because the shirt is comfortable, flattering, and made to last.
In the course of any given day, I go through an average of three T-shirts. Which might seem (and might be) excessive, but it will make sense if I lay things out for you. In the morning, after my son wakes me up with loving taps on my forehead sometime in the six o’clock hour, I slip on the T-shirt I was wearing right before bed the night prior and head downstairs for coffee and playtime and such. I’ll sometimes change into a different T-shirt when I get dressed for work, but as I work from home, usually I just put on real pants and step into my office.
Midday, I go for a run, during which I wear a shirt specifically designed for athletics and which we’re not featuring here. Most of my running shirts are great performance-wise but are about as stylish as neon Crocs. After exercising and showering, I put on another T-shirt which, depending on the shape of the rest of the day, may serve through to the next morning, or which may be replaced yet again.
So I own and wear a lot of T-shirts. If you’re looking to add a few fine T-shirts to your wardrobe, you’ve come to the right guy. Today, I’ve selected six of the best men’s T-shirts that are perfect for guys who treat this noble garment not as a layer, but as the grace note to the ensemble. Oh, and I also threw in one that is ideal for layering. And one that’s best suited to lazy days spent at home. And one that looks good enough to wear out to a coffee shop or bar but that’s also ready for an impromptu hike or pickup ball game.
One note before we start our odyssey: Except where a brand’s product name is specified otherwise, I’ll be using the term “T-shirt.” Not tee, not t shirt, but just T-shirt. After all, these garments are named for their T-shape, and they are shirts.
Here are the best T-shirts you can buy:
- Best overall: Buck Mason Pima Curved Hem Tee
- Best for comfort: Everlane Cotton Crew
- Best V-Neck T-shirt: Mott & Bow V-Neck Driggs
- Best Undershirt: Mack Weldon 18-Hour Jersey Crew Neck Undershirt
- Best for sports: Columbia Silver Ridge Short Sleeve Tee
- Best for satin resistance: Threadsmith Cavalier Hydrophobic T-Shirt
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
The best men’s T-shirt overall
Buck Mason
Why you’ll love it: You can feel the quality of the Buck Mason Pima Curved Hem Tee the first time you put one on, and you’ll enjoy the shirt for years to come.
As the name suggests, the Buck Mason Pima Curved Hem Tee is made from 100% pima cotton. Pima is American cotton prized for its long fibers that allow for a tight, durable weave and that yield an amazing softness despite that durability.
Also as the name suggests, the hem of this shirt has a curved arc along the front and back that adds a bit of stylish accent, hides your stomach when you lift your hands, and helps keep the T-shirt in place should you ever tuck it in.
The Pima Curved Hem Tee comes in a dozen different colors, all of which are muted yet masculine. And it arrives pre-shrunk, so you should choose a size that will fit you well right out of the box. Oh and one more note: Not only is this Buck Mason shirt made with American cotton, but it’s made in America, too.
A writer with Time Magazine was effusive in his praise for Buck Mason T-shirts, saying they have a “perfect fit” and held up well even after repeated washings.
Pros: Comfortable from day one, well-made and durable, available in many colors
Cons: I haven’t found one yet, folks…
Buy the Buck Mason Pima Curved Hem Tee for $ 28
The best men’s T-shirt for casual comfort
Everlane
Why you’ll love it: The Everlane Cotton Crew is comfortable the first time you put it on, but even softer and more comfy the hundredth time.
To be honest, there’s nothing all that interesting about the appearance of the Everlane Cotton Crew T-shirt. Sure, it comes in 14 different solid colors and in a few two-color striped patterns as well, but the shirt’s cut, length, collar, and really all of its design elements are rather basic and certainly just what you’d expect from any good slim-fit T-shirt.
It’s how the Everlane Cotton Crew feels that sets this shirt apart. Made from a durable mid-weight cotton that softens over time, the more you wear and wash an Everlane T-shirt, the more comfortable it will get. As a go-to hang around the house or walk the dog shirt, there are few better options out there. And given how well these T-shirts hold up over time, the $ 20 price tag is more than fair.
One Everlane customer called his Cotton Crew a “great everyday shirt” that was comfortable and clearly of “great quality.” Another said he “loved the fit… and the feel” of the T-shirt, a garment he had grown to “treasure.”
A quick note to keep in mind for sizing: Some customers felt the shirt ran a bit too long.
Pros: Fabric softens over time, available in solid and stripes, good price point
Cons: Shirts run a bit long
Buy the Everlane Cotton Crew T-Shirt for $ 20
The best men’s V-neck T-shirt
Mott & Bow
Why you’ll love it: The Mott & Bow V-Neck Driggs will fit most men to a T, if you’ll pardon the pun, thanks to the “not too slim, nor too loose” cut.
Finding a T-shirt that fits your body well, that both looks good and feels comfortable, can be a harrowing journey. Many T-shirts are too tight for one body type; some are too baggy for others. Few manage to suit myriad men’s torsos with a fit that’s flattering and comfortable, but into that narrow space marches the (still relatively) new line of T-shirts from Mott & Bow.
The V-Neck Driggs T-shirt has a cut the company describes as “not too slim, nor too loose,” and while I take issue with the company’s grammar (“neither too slim, nor too loose” or “not too slim, or too loose” for the record. Also, that comma is superfluous), I’m a fan of its wares.
The Mott & Bow V-Neck Driggs shirt is woven in Peru using cotton jersey fibers that give the garment a soft, flexible feel. It’s a great shirt to wear on days when you want to stay comfortable while active, such as when you’re traveling, touring a city, or spending a long evening with friends. And while $ 32 per shirt starts to edge out of my usual comfort zone for spending money on a T-shirt, these are worth it. They weather well.
Several writers and editors from Business Insider also tested out Mott & Bow T-shirts and found them “comfortable with a cool and lightweight feel” and durable in construction.
Pros: Cut fits many body types, preshrunk, soft and flexible feel
Cons: Slightly overpriced
Buy the Mott & Bow V-Neck Driggs T-Shirt for $ 32
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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