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An excellent white T-shirt should be the following: comfortable, durable, flattering, and, of course, versatile. That can be surprisingly hard to find — so as one of the Strategist’s writers on wardrobe basics, I’ve set out to find the best of the best tees for every occasion. First, I dug through our archives of editor-approved and celebrity-loved picks. Next, I spoke to a dozen stylish women — including founders, artists, and designers — about their personal favorites. And finally, my colleague Arielle Avila and I tested several expert-approved picks and tried a few shirts that were already on our radar. Below, you’ll find the very best women’s white T-shirts, from standard crewnecks and V-necks to cropped and oversize tees. And, if you’re looking for more wardrobe staples, make sure to check out our articles on cashmere sweaters and slippers, and our Womenswear 100.
What we’re looking for:
Sizes
I did my best to highlight size-inclusive brands whenever possible. I’ve called out size ranges here to make shopping easier.
Fabric
Pretty much every pick on this list is made from cotton, except for a select few that are a blend. The breathable, versatile material ages well and comes in all sorts of weights, which I get into below. But not all cotton tees are made equal — some are made of organic cotton or partially hemp, which contributes to a heftier price tag, whereas others claim to be sustainable. All the T-shirts function about the same, so you can’t go wrong with any of the below choices.
Weight
Most of the T-shirts on this list fall under the lightweight category simply because that seems to be what most of the experts consulted prefer. But I actually love a heavyweight T-shirt, as it feels substantial and much less delicate than a wispy tee. To satisfy both camps, I included a plethora of both options, plus a few medium-weight shirts, for you to consider.
Fit and neckline
A typical plain white tee is usually loose-fitting, which is mostly what you’ll find below. I also sought out some oversize, boxy, cropped, fitted, and tight tees. Necklines range from V, crew, scoop, wide, and bateau. Combined with different fits, the styles to choose from grow exponentially. The most universal pick tends to be a crew or scoop neck, but a few other options are sprinkled throughout. As with most of these traits, everything comes down to personal preference and how each fits your body.
Best white T-shirt overall
Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric: Slub cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Loose crewneck
It’s well documented that Strategist staffers love Buck Mason’s T-shirts with more than five of us recommending them. I’ve had mine for about a month now, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite shirts for layering and wearing solo. The cotton material, which isn’t stark white but rather textured in appearance, has an effortless yet polished look. I’m five-foot-five and tested a size small, which hit just below my hips. Usually, this would mean added bulk after tucking in a tee, but not so with the Buck Mason — its lightweight and airy material made it easy to tuck in smoothly.
“It seems to get softer and more breathable with every wash,” says Avila, who has owned the Slub Easy Crew for over a year. Other Strategist staffers are fans too. Senior writer Liza Corsillo used to wear Buck Mason’s men’s tees because they were soft and comfortable — but since the launch of the womenswear line, Corsillo has found a new favorite in the Slub Easy Crew. “It’s just as good as the men’s with one exception: It fits my body correctly,” she says.
Best less expensive white T-shirt overall
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Heavyweight | Fit and neckline: Fitted crewneck
Uniqlo’s U Crew is less than half the price of Buck Mason’s, making it an excellent choice, especially if you prefer a heavyweight tee. The thicker material isn’t as easy to tuck in or style, but a denser cotton means the fabric is more opaque (and less likely for your bra to show through). With that said, it isn’t so thick that it feels suffocating. Compared to the Buck Mason tee, Avila found this one to be slightly more fitted without clinging to her body. And, it comes in a pure, crisp white as opposed to a faded off-white color.
Best budget white T-shirt
Sizes: S to 3XL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit and neckline: Loose crewneck
While not the most sophisticated shirt out there, a simple Hanes T-shirt does the job. Despite its low price, it doesn’t feel or look cheap. Its weight is right in the middle between Buck Mason’s and Uniqlo’s and is slightly rougher without being scratchy. It’s loose without being baggy, and hits right below the waistline. Because it’s so inexpensive, you can stock up in case one endures one too many spaghetti dinners. Experts also pointed me to Gildan and Fruit of the Loom boys’ T-shirts for bargain bulk-buys in case you’d like to shop around.
Best V-neck white T-shirt
Sizes: XXS to XL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Loose V-neck
A V-neck can be fairly polarizing because the length and width of the V needs to be spot-on. Elizabeth Rose, a server at Cafe Gitane, says the V is fairly deep on this Everlane tee, but because it has softer, slightly curved lines, the shape looks less severe — which is further enhanced by the lightweight Supima cotton that drapes flatteringly on the body. The hem hits right at the hip, giving it a not-cropped but not-too-long silhouette.
Best cropped white T-shirt
Sizes: S to XL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit and neckline: Cropped crewneck
A tricky proportion to nail: the cropped T-shirt. Avila recommends this unisex tee from Everybody.World — which happens to be the wholesale supplier for brands like Noah and Online Ceramics — for its looser, higher crop and mid-weight fabric that isn’t tissue-paper thin. The fabric is actually made from recyclable and biodegradable material (so a good pick for the sustainably minded), and the cut is just about ideal for a cropped tee. Avila says it hits right above her belly button, but the sleeves are regular length, so they don’t dig into her armpits like the cap sleeves on many other cropped tees. It also comes preshrunk, so you don’t have to worry about it in the wash. “It’s just gotten cozier every time I pull it out of the dryer,” says Avila.
Best less expensive cropped white T-shirt
Sizes: XS to 4XL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit and neckline: Cropped crewneck
If $32 is more than you’d like to spend on a T-shirt, I suggest this $10 cropped-but-not-too-cropped tee from Old Navy. It’s beloved by Strategist contributor and law student Mya Gelber, who uncovered it while hunting down a replacement for her favorite non-discontinued Uniqlo tee. She says it checks all the right boxes: It’s boxy with wide (just-long-enough) sleeves, extremely soft, available in a bright white shade, and 100 percent cotton. “I have been wearing this T-shirt with all of my favorite midi skirts and cardigans,” Gelber says. “It is just the right width to still fit comfortably under a cardigan, but not too fitted.”
Best white baby T-shirt
Sizes: XXS to XXL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Cropped crewneck
Last summer, Avila learned about lingerie brand Cou Cou after Strategist writer Kitty Guo made a convincing argument for its sleek, minimal slip dresses (contributor Nicolaia Rips is a fan of the cardigan, too). Since then, Avila tested Cou Cou’s baby tee and it’s quickly become her favorite in the category. She says the pointelle knit is delicate-looking and the fabric is lightweight without feeling flimsy. The ultrasoft fabric stretches nicely, and the hem hits right at the waist. This is the most fitted and cropped tee of the bunch, which I think is exactly what a baby tee should be.
Best sustainable white T-shirt
Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric: Pima cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit and neckline: Loose crewneck
If you’re in search of more sustainable, closed-loop-cycle options, consider this mid-weight crewneck T-shirt from the Big Favorite. Avila has owned hers for about two years and says it’s still buttery soft and loose fitting without being too oversize. The sleeves hit just a bit above the elbow, and the hem stops right below the waist. Once the tee’s worn out, you can send it back using this page or by scanning the QR code on the label. After it’s processed, you get a discount on future purchases.
Best hemp white T-shirt
Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric: 55 percent hemp, 45 percent cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit and neckline: Loose crewneck
Jungmaven’s wardrobe basics are beloved for their vintage look and feel — which is largely thanks to the hemp-and-cotton blend the brand uses. While Jungmaven offers tees with different fabric blends, I recommend sticking with the Lorel’s 55 percent hemp and 45 percent cotton. It’s soft and broken-in while still having a good amount of weight. For a more heavyweight version, go with the Dakota (actress Amanda Seyfried’s tee of choice), which is made entirely out of hemp. And for a silkier feel, the Ojai tee contains 30 percent hemp and 70 percent cotton.
Best slub white T-Shirt
Sizes: XS to XL | Fabric: Pima Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Loose crewneck
Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid never loved slub tees — until trying this one from Goldie. She received the tee a little over a month ago, and after testing it with various outfits — on its own, under an Agnès b. snap cardigan, under a crewneck sweater — she says she’s “officially a slub convert.” The material is supersoft and lightweight, and it’s the slightest bit sheer, making it an appealing option as temperatures start to rise. The cut is loose without being too boxy, and the weight is as ideal for layering as it is wearing on its own. And yes, the price tag is on the higher end of this list, but the tee looks and feels substantial. So substantial, in fact, that Reid told me Strategist editor Maxine Builder noticed the tee over Zoom and asked where it was from.
Best linen white T-shirt
Sizes: XS to 3XL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Boxy crewneck
Linen isn’t your typical T-shirt material, but after Avila tested Alex Crane’s Sun Tee — made entirely from the fabric — she quickly understood why it deserves a spot on this list. She says this top is even breezier than the Buck Mason tee, because the sustainably grown French linen is lightweight and the loose fit offers plenty of ventilation. “While it’s quite thin, especially compared to the cotton options, I wouldn’t say it’s tissue thin,” Avila says. That’s most likely because the linen has a slight texture to it that you don’t typically find with smooth cotton tees and which gives the tee a slightly more put-together feeling. All of those factors make it a more elevated shirt option, especially in the summer. What’s best is that it’s preshrunk, so you don’t have to worry about it on laundry days.
Best splurge-worthy white T-shirt
Material: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit: Boxy | Neckline: Crew neck
Multiple stylish women (including artists Jo Rosenthal and Lucy Litman) have recommended Re/Done’s classic tee saying it’s well worth its hefty price. The boxier shape looks good untucked, and it tucks in easily with high-waisted pants. New York Magazine features editor Katy Schneider prefers the cropped version and knows it seems like a lot to spend on a T-shirt but requests that you hear her out: “These T-shirts are the retail equivalent of no-makeup makeup. These T-shirts pull together an entire outfit handily, no matter what you are wearing — they’ll elevate jeans and even fancy pants.” And, most important, Schneider adds, “These are T-shirts you can wear almost every day — for days in a row without anyone so much as noticing.”
Some more women’s white T-shirts we’ve written about
Our experts
• Emma Allen, founder of Everyday Oil
• Chloe Anello, former Strategist writer
• Deborah Castel, material-design director at Nike
• Liza Corsillo, Strategist senior writer
• Mya Gelber, Strategist contributor and law student
• Sabrinna Fabi, costume designer
• Aishwarya Iyer, founder and CEO of olive-oil brand Brightland
• Simone Kitchens, Strategist senior editor
• Lucy Litman, artist
• Dominique Pariso, Strategist writer
• Hilary Reid, Strategist senior editor
• Elizabeth Rose, server at Cafe Gitane
• Jo Rosenthal, artist and writer
• Katy Schneider, New York Magazine features editor
• Meg Vázquez, creative director at Splice
• Amanda Seyfried, actor
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