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A good white tee shirt is a wardrobe must-have; you can wear it with jeans or chinos, under a jacket or sweater, with skirts and capris and shorts. Dress it up with a beautiful necklace or scarf, or just toss it on and go. Wear a lot of tees? Don't limit yourself to white; there's a world of color out there. A basic tee is a staple, but it is not something you should spend a fortune on. Tees last about one season, particularly white or light-colored tees. Anything that is stained or pilled or stretched out should go in the rag bag. Fortunately, basic tees are available lots of places for not a lot of money.
Pick up one (or several) of these this spring:
Old Navy's perfect fit tees are the best bargain; regular price, they are $10.50, but often they're two for $15.00. Available in a variety of cool colors, in sizes XS-XXL. Keep in mind that the most successful way to shop for basics at Old Navy is to check back frequently, both for changes in price and for availability. Just now, there are no white tees on the web site, but you may have better luck in store.
For something a little pricier, you can look at J. Crew's perfect fit short sleeved crew neck tee. These are cut a little slimmer than the Old Navy tees, and the fabric is a slightly better quality. Available in thirteen colors, in sizes XS-XL, for $19.50. My personal favorite.
Boden has some beautiful, sun-washed tees. Eight colors, each $28.00. I am not convinced that you REALLY need to spend twenty eight bucks on a tee shirt, but they are really lovely. See sizing info at Boden.com.
Not into the slim fit? L. L. Bean's got your number; their 1x1 rib short sleeved crew top fits without clinging. It's "classic; neither too slim nor too loose." This is a good option for women with larger chests, or with a little extra through the middle. $14.50; available in twelve colors, in XS to XL. And! You can order a free swatch, if you want to check the fabric and color ahead of time. Now THAT'S a deal.
Tees don't have to be basic black or white (although those are good wardrobe staples). Navy is huge this year, and the striped tee is a terrific piece to have around for those days when you want to look nicer than usual but without the fuss. Gap's striped cap sleeve tee comes in navy and charcoal heather, for $19.50. Available in sizes XS to XXL.
Feel like splurging? Don't buy a really expensive cotton knit tee; buy a well-priced cashmere tee. I know I'm always going on about the virtues of cashmere, but a lightweight cashmere tee is a terrific and versatile piece for work and play. J. Crew makes beautiful cashmere sweaters in really lovely colors; the tee pictured below will run you $115.00. Available in thirteen colors, in sizes XS to XL. Like their cotton tees, the cut is fairly slim. Banana Republic also has a cashmere crew sweater on sale. Order fast! Colors and sizes are limited.
Finally, please PLEASE be sure you're wearing a bra that fits properly. Wear a flesh-colored bra with a white tee (not a white bra, which will show right through); avoid cotton bras under cotton tees (the fabric will cling to the bra in odd places). As always, if you're not sure what size bra you wear, go have a fitting. Then buy yourself a great white tee to celebrate!
Susan Wagner writes about fashion at Friday Style and everything else at Friday Playdate. She just threw three white tee shirts into the rag bag.
