The best white T-shirts for men are the ultimate wardrobe essential
The white T-shirt has been a wardrobe mainstay for everyone from James Dean to David Beckham. Shop GQ’s pick of the best white T-shirts for men you can buy
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If there's one item in your wardrobe you can always count on, it's a white T-shirt. Trends come and go, but throughout history, the humble white crewneck has never run its course as a menswear staple. Chances are, you already have more than one stowed away in your collection of your best T-shirts for men.
Once a Second World War uniform regulation, the white T-shirt has an illustrious history. Starting life as an undergarment, way back in the medieval period, before eventually becoming a part of the British naval uniform, it wasn't until the turn of the 20th century that brands such as Fruit Of The Loom began manufacturing white T-shirts in bulk. Picked up later by the likes of Chanel in the 1920s, it soon became a fast-fashion staple. After all, everything Chanel does, others will copy.
Over time, its simplicity has been a blank canvas for portraying the age we live in. Whether a symbol of the working class (just look at the iconic photos of the workers constructing the Empire State Building) or rebellious teens (see James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause) it has long served as a men's fashion staple. The white T-shirt has been championed by everyone from Kurt Cobain to John Travolta's Danny Zuko and its staying power is second to none – Harry Styles, David Beckham and Robert Pattinson are all advocates of the humble white T-shirt. It's easy to see why – going with absolutely everything, worn under a suit or with a pair of jeans in any colour, it is fashion's safest bet.
Here, we've outlined what exactly to look for in the perfect white T-shirt, along with a selection of the very best you can buy for every budget.
You'll find all the white tees worth your consideration in the gallery below, but first, here's what our editors are wearing:
- Best all-around white T-shirt: CDLP Midweight T-shirt
- Best budget white T-shirt: Arket Midweight T-shirt
- Best multi-pack T-shirts: Cos' three-pack of T-shirts
Percival Auxiliary white T-shirt | Percival linen trousers | Duke + Dexter loafers
So, how exactly do we choose what constitutes the best white T-shirts for men in 2024? Simple. We know our stuff, we do our research, and we get out there to experience as much product as possible.
Our section head of menswear for GQ Recommends, Heidi Quill, is obsessed with clothes. Joining British GQ in 2021, Heidi might primarily look after clothing content, but she spends a healthy amount of time up to her neck in samples, checking product for the very best quality, price and design, all before recommending it to you. That includes knowing everything there is to know about a perfect white tee.
To the untrained eye, all white T-shirts might look the same, but Heidi and our team of contributing writers and freelancers (Jessie Atkinson, Faye Fearon, and Adam Cheung) disagree: they're on the hunt for subtleties in cut and fit, and are particularly interested in heavyweight cotton/cotton-blend numbers.
Unless you're shopping for a white T-shirt to work out or play sports in (in which case, sweat-wicking short sleeve polyester is probably best), you should ideally be looking for cotton, due to its lightweight, breathability and ultra-durability. For extra softness and breathability, some brands have also delved into lyocell fabrics, which is especially popular for those more loungewear-centric styles.
A tighter fit could prove flattering for musclier men, so you might consider buying lighter-weight cotton T-shirts that cling to the biceps better, à la James Dean. Alternatively you can accentuate a svelte physique by going a size down in a heavier cotton. For looser fits, look for a T-shirt on which the seams fall below the shoulder. Otherwise, hit a happy menswear middle ground by coveting a seam that sits perfectly on the shoulder.
Unlike your best white dress shirts, white T-shirts aren't quite as complex in this department. White T-shirts can be particularly prone to stains, be it a clumsy spill or discolouration under the pits (our guide to the best men's deodorants should soak some of that up, though). The important thing to remember is to keep whites separate to colours in your washes and though hot is better, stick to what the label says to avoid shrinkage. A good whites detergent, such as that of The Laundress (£15.50 for a litre. At Selfridges. selfridges.com) will do its bit to keep your white T-shirts pristine.
Looking for something a little more buttoned-up? Check out our guide to the best shirts for men.