I Tried (Almost) All The Le Bon Shoppe Tees
If American Apparel left behind a colorful-basics-brand power vacuum, it would be quickly filled: with Everybody.World, Entireworld (RIP), and now, e-retailer Le Bon Shoppe. Another Los Angeles–based brand, it follows a slow-production model — meaning it makes limited quantities of products— and doesn’t offer many discounts (except at a Ban.do Warehouse Sale). You’ve probably read about it on someone’s Substack. It made a name for itself with its socks — worn by Joanna Goddard and Harling Ross Anton — of which there are 23 sock varieties now: Boyfriend, Girlfriend, Crew, Gym, Her, Trouser, and Ballet, to name a few. It’s also expanded into apparel, from the Arc Pants (fans include our senior editor Winnie Yang and deals editor Sam Daly) to the Dana Cami (the object of a recent Strategist tank-top-related hunt).
But really, the category that’s taken off for Le Bon Shoppe is T-shirts. The flagship Le Bon Shoppe tees come from the made-in-America line. There’s the Go-To, Little Boy, Darling, Fille, Her, Ease, Vintage Boy, La Vie. The brand has a dedicated fit guide with search terms like “vintage-inspired” and “cropped length” and “dolman cap sleeve” and “rounded tail.” Priced from $49 to $64, the tees live in the mid-tier of T-shirt pricing. Unfortunately, they’re only available in letter sizes S to L, a size range that’s even more limited than the standard XS to XL. But after the Little Boy made an appearance in one of our best T-shirt lists and the Darling in Viv Chen’s color-blocking guide, I had to try the tees out for myself.
For an even playing field, I tried every single one in a size large (I’m a medium in most tops but always get a large in T-shirts). And for the most part, that was the right call; some cropped styles could’ve been too short otherwise. (Le Bon Shoppe very helpfully includes each garment’s measurements in every listing.) Some takeaways after trying out eight Le Bon Shoppe tees: The ones that are “vintage” will come with some distressing and others with similar-sounding names (like the Vintage Boy Tee and Little Boy Tee) don’t necessarily have the same fit. Here’s everything I tried:
Her Tee
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Small: Chest 20½”, length 26”, sleeve length 5”, sleeve opening 6½”
Medium: Chest 21½”, length 26½”, sleeve length 5 ¼”, sleeve opening 6¾”
Large: Chest 22½”, length 27”, sleeve length 5½”, sleeve opening 7”
All the Le Bon Shoppe tees I tried are made from 100 percent cotton, which has a midweight feel (somewhere between the lightweight Everlane Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee and the heavyweight Cos Clean Cut Regular T-shirt). The Her Tee has an oversized fit, with a drop shoulder and rounded tail. It’s described as fitting like a boyfriend’s T-shirt. I’d say it’s schlubby (affectionately)! I don’t know if it did anything good for me, but it didn’t do anything bad for me. I could roll up the sleeves, which hit right above my elbows, for something less slouchy. This might be one of those T-shirts that needs to be tucked to be better. Yang thinks it leans casual, “especially in the kind of faded garment-dyed-looking colors” she has (a now sold-out artichoke and still-available vintage navy). She’s had hers for three years and says they look more or less the same, adding “perhaps there is some minor fading, but I would guess that’s due to my washing machine and dryer.”
Vintage Boy Tee
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Small: Chest 18½”, length 24”, sleeve length 7”, sleeve opening 7”
Medium: Chest 19½”, length 24½”, sleeve length 7¼”, sleeve opening 7¼”
Large: Chest 20½”, length 25”, sleeve length 7½”, sleeve opening 7½”
I like the fit of the Vintage Boy Tee more than the fit of the Her Tee. It’s the perfect length for me: not too long or short. Unlike the Her Tee, the Vintage Boy Tee has a slightly boxier silhouette and straight hem. (It’s made of organic cotton rather than the plain cotton of other Le Bon Shoppe tees, but there’s no noticeable difference in feel.) The crewneck is wider than a traditional crewneck would be. It shows a little bit of collarbone, too. There’s some distressing on the neckline (and hemline) in the form of tearing and fraying. It’s done not in a circa 2011 Urban Outfitters way, but in a ratty band T-shirt way. Because the fit of the T-shirt’s vintage-inspired (there’s a reason it’s the Vintage Boy Tee and not just the Boy Tee), it makes sense in context. I could live without it. I could live with it. Not a plus, not a minus.
Vintage La Vie Tee
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Small: Neck drop 6½”, chest 18½”, length 24”
Medium: Neck drop 6¾”, chest 19½”, length 24½”
Large: Neck drop 7”, chest 20½”, length 25”
The Vintage La Vie Tee is the Vintage Boy Tee with a V-neck. Or at least that’s what I thought it would be. This is one Le Bon Shoppe tee I should’ve gotten in a medium instead of a large because it runs big. I’m not entirely sure that trying the medium would’ve helped, though — only an inch separates the chest measurement between the medium and large. It’s too loosey-goosey. Not to mention the V-neck reminds me of the V-necks American Apparel made; it’s a deep V that’s almost a very deep V. Grment-dyed and pre-washed, there’s a lived-in quality to the color (it only comes in maroon now, while the vintage black I received is lighter than the true black the Vintage Boy and Her tees come in).
Ease Tee
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Small: Chest 20”, length 26”, sleeve opening 7”
Medium: Chest 21”, length 26½”, sleeve opening 7½”
Large: Chest 22”, length 27”, sleeve opening 8”
If I were to say what my favorite T-shirt was, it might be Khaite’s Devra. Le Bon Shoppe’s Ease has a comparable cut for about a seventh of the price (or $380 to $49). It’s a dolman style, with a higher crewneck that falls right at the throat and ribbed sleeves that have wide-ish armholes, though not enough to get a peek of bra. I don’t have well-toned arms, and while the Ease’s sleeve length was shorter than the Vintage Boy and the Vintage La Vie, it was longer than what you’d get with most muscle tees. (If you want a true muscle tee from Le Bon Shoppe, there’s the Jeanne. Strategist senior writer Lauren Ro, who’s short-torso’ed, loves that it’s cropped.)
The Little Boy Tee
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Small: Chest 17½”, length 20”
Medium: Chest 18½”, length 20½”
Large: Chest 19½”, length 21”
I had high expectations for the Little Boy Tee, as it’s our contributor Mya Gelber’s new perfect T-shirt. It’s not my perfect T-shirt. It was snugging and hugging in places I didn’t want to be snugged or hugged. This isn’t the way I like my T-shirts to fit. It’s made from a knitted jersey (that’s still 100 percent cotton) that makes it maybe a hair stretchier, though not enough to make me comfortable. I’m looking for grown-up tees, and it’s a baby tee. (It’s not you, Le Bon Shoppe; it’s me!)
The Go-To Tee
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Small: Chest 17½”, length 23”
Medium: Chest 18½”, length 23½”
Large: Chest 19½”, length 24”
The Go-To Tee is the Little Boy Tee but longer, and the length makes a big difference. I don’t fear accidental navel-flashing when I lift up my arms. It might have a similar slimmer silhouette to the Little Boy Tee, but there’s a little more breathing room for my ribs.
Darling Tee
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Small: Chest 17¾”, length 20”
Medium: Chest 18¾”, length 20½”
Large: Chest 19¾”, length 21”
Between the Little Boy Tee and Vintage Boy Tee is the Darling Tee. It has the Little Boy Tee’s length and the Vintage Boy Tee’s distressing. I think it has a slightly easier fit than either the Little Boy Tee or Vintage Boy Tee. Do with that information what you will.
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Le Bon Shoppe Vintage Fille Tee
Small: Chest 21”, length 21”, sleeve length 3 ¾”, sleeve opening 7 ½”
Medium: Chest 22”, length 21½”, sleeve length 4”, sleeve opening 7 ¾”
Large: Chest 23”, length 23”, sleeve length 4½”, sleeve opening 8”
At about two inches longer than the Little Boy Tee and Darling Tee (which are 21 inches long), the Vintage Fille Tee (which is 23 inches long) is about as cropped as I’ll go. It’s the definition of short but not too short. Here the distressing feels less necessary. Yang feels it’s a little bit too ragged to wear outside the house, comparing it to wearing PJs that you’ve held onto for too long. Maybe it has something to do with the length. On the longer Vintage Boy Tee and Vintage La Vie Tee, the distressing feels not as conspicuous (on account of more fabric). But on the shorter Darling Tee and Vintage La Fille Tee, it makes them seem threadbare-y. I wouldn’t be embarrassed about wearing them out though. If asked, I would tell anyone I’ve them for years.
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