Hanes Basics Are the Unsung Heroes of My Wardrobe
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Though there is an endless number of brands out there offering basic sweats and tees, I can’t stop buying Hanes. Lately, I’ve been turning to the 125-year-old brand for everything: the sweatshirts for my morning walks, the Beefy Long Sleeves for my long(ish) Sunday runs, the tees for layering under sweaters, the fleece shorts for lounging around the house.
It took me a while to come around to Hanes, as I, like many in my circle of stylish Brooklyn moms and fashion Substack friends, have gotten swept up in recent years by the promise of perfect basics from all those other brands. And I’ve been known to spend — sometimes quite a lot — in my hunt for the perfect T-shirt or sweatshirt. Admittedly, there are a lot of great ones out there, and many of those fancy $95 tees have a cherished place in my wardrobe. But as my life has gotten busier and I find myself regularly covered in snot and food from my 2-year-old while also trying to keep up with her on the playground, I wanted something less precious, easily replaceable, and sturdy.
This fall, that search led me to Hanes, when a Substack friend mentioned her most clicked-on recommendation ever was a $10 Hanes sweatshirt. My interest was piqued, so I immediately bought a white one to try it out. Since then, I’ve been buying a few different styles, mostly in multipacks. The long-sleeve shirts and sweatshirts remain my favorites, but I now find myself searching for Hanes first when I’m in need of new basic tees or loungewear. They are great staples that are easy to reach for, alter as I please, replace, and move on from when they inevitably get ruined or stained.
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My gateway Hanes product. I was searching high and low for a good, basic long-sleeve to wear on my Sunday runs and to and from the yoga studio I teach at. This fit the bill since it’s made of a sturdy 100 percent cotton — my preferred material. I buy men’s mediums (I’m usually between a women’s small and medium) to get a slightly oversize fit. I considered buying thewomen’s versionbut determined it would be more fitted than I wanted, and while Hanes makes a fewperformance-wear options, I knew I didn’t want polyester. I now wear the Beefy long-sleeves multiple times a week for working out and lounging around the house, and even for a workday paired with jeans and a nice loafer. On colder days, they’ve been great for layering under sweaters for an extra bit of warmth. I run these through the washing machine at least once a week, and they’ve held up decently well over time, though the black color is starting to fade.
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I’ve been buying these men’s sweatshirts in packs of two (again, in a size medium for the oversize fit). One I leave as is and wear with jeans and sneakers for the playground; the other I chop the bottom off of to make it cropped, which I wear for yoga. They look nice enough to pair with trousers, a structured belt, and a heeled boot for the office, and I even wore one with a slip skirt and heels to a wedding rehearsal dinner. I own multiple colors and plan to get my hands on the safety orange next for early-morning runs in the dark.
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Hanes EcoSmart Hoodie
As with the crewneck, these go with everything and are good for everything. They can read a little more casual, so if I’m wearing them to the office, it’s often under a blazer, with nice jeans and a structured shoe. At home and on weekends, I pair them simply with jeans, sneakers, and a big overcoat in winter. The gray is my personal favorite, as I find it the most versatile, and in a unisex medium that’s big enough to be comfortable without looking sloppy.
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I wear these basic cotton tees for everything and buy in multiples. The thick cotton makes it easy to chop one or two up into a tank, a cropped tee, cropped tank (for pajamas, the gym, and yoga). Similar in weight and fit to the Beefy long-sleeves, these work best in my wardrobe in neutral colors (gray, black, white) and I buy size medium in the unisex fit, which leaves enough room that I don’t feel constricted, but doesn’t make it look like I’m drowning. In 100 percent preshrunk cotton, they hold up well in the wash; I find they even break in a bit after a few washes, making them a little bit softer with wear.
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As a year-round “shorts around the house” person, these are perfect for everyday loungewear and as pajamas when I can’t be bothered to put on anything more structured and when I don’t plan to walk out that front door. Black is my go-to for any workout or lounge bottom, and the thinner jersey has held up well through many washes. I sized up to a medium for that comfortable, slightly sloppy, “no one will see me but my family and my couch” look.
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