The search for the perfect T-shirt can be difficult — kind of like the search for the perfect jeans, or the perfect swimsuit. Basics, it seems, are the most impossible clothing items to find. The challenge for most people, woman or man (and maybe kids, too), is T-shirt weight and shape: Some are too thick and shapeless; others are too thin and clingy.
Then there is the matter of cost.
A James Perse T-shirt will set you back $100 or more depending on your tastes while a three-pack of Hanes T-shirts from Wal-Mart comes in at about $4 per shirt.
Though most of us probably fall somewhere in the middle, Cheapism.com recently offered a comparison test of lower-priced T-shirts. They purchased navy tees for men and boys from Old Navy, Fruit of the Loom, Gap, Target and J.C. Penney's house brand, Arizona Jean Co. All of the shirts were priced under $20 and were tested for fit, shrinkage and durability.
None of the shirts proved a perfect 10. Here’s how they fared:
Old Navy T-shirts ($10 for the Classic men's crewneck, $8 for a boys' jersey ringer tee) and Fruit of the Loom T-shirts from Wal-Mart ($4.50 for men, $3.50 for boys) earned top billing, in Cheapism reviews. Fruit of the Loom shirts won't win in the softness department, but they do have the durability that some wearers seek.
Target T-shirts, sold under the Merona and Circo house brands ($13 for men, $6 for boys), also tended to stretch out at the collar, but also scored well overall.
Arizona Jean Co. T-shirts from J.C. Penney ($12 for men, $14 for boys) were too thin and after washing, the men's tee had an awkward fit.
They did not test T-shirts for women, but a roundup of favorite brands from top fashion magazines revealed a penchant for designer labels such as James Perse, Alexander Wang and Vince. None of these is priced under $20.
I’ll let Cheapism’s research suffice for men’s T-shirts, but for women, here are a few options that are affordable and last longer than a few wash and wears:
H&M: You can get basic tanks and short- or long-sleeved T-shirts in the $5-$15 range. They are often 95 percent cotton and 5 percent spandex, which allows for a heavier weight but also a nice fit.
Target: Target's online Tee & Tank shop gives you a handy guide to the fit and fabrication of their tees, including their Mossimo and Merona brands. Prices start at $9.
Fruit of the Loom: Since they scored high in Cheapism reviews, why not give them a try? But not the ones for women. Buy the tees for men in a smaller size and cut off the neckline (unless you like your T-shirts with a really high collar).
Everlane: I haven't tried this brand, but I keep hearing about it, so I will soon. The 3-year-old company has the mission of reducing retail markups, and it offers some good-looking T-shirts in the $15-$20 range.
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