Getting Started
So last month I realized all my basic white tees looked like crap – stretched collars, weird yellow stains near the armpits, you know the deal. Decided to hunt for designer-level quality since cheap ones just don’t cut it. Grabbed my laptop at 8PM with cold pizza and started digging.
Mall Disappointment
First hit the fancy department stores downtown. Checked the usual suspects:
Nordstrom: Basic tees felt like sandpaper for $80. Sales guy kept pushing graphic tees I didn’t want.
Neiman Marcus: Found a $120 James Perse tee that felt amazing… until I saw the thread coming loose at the seam.
Saks: Entire men’s section smelled like perfume. Zero decent white shirts but got sprayed by three testers.
Online Deep Dive
Switched to online next morning. Wasted two hours on:
Mr Porter: Crazy luxury brands like Brunello Cucinelli for $300+. Added three to cart then choked seeing the total.
SSENSE: Filtered for white crewnecks under $100. Got twelve pages of beige, cream, and off-white nonsense.
Direct Brand Sites: Checked Buck Mason and Sunspel. Shipping costs murdered me – $15 to return if sizing sucked? Hell no.
Discount Hunting Mode
Got smart and stalked deal forums. Pro tips I learned:
– Sign up for newsletters for first-time discounts (scored 15% off at COS this way)
– Check last season’s colors section (found APC tees 40% off because they called white “vintage ivory”)
– Department store sale racks (Bloomingdale’s had Rag & Bone tees for $45 with coffee stains – hard pass)
Final Scores
After three weeks of trial/error:
Massimo Dutti: $29.90 for heavyweight cotton. Threw in washer-dryer twice – minimal shrinkage, collar still stiff.
Uniqlo U: Grabbed three for $14.90 each during promo. Thicker than expected but sleeve length runs short.
* Garment-Dyed: Waitlisted for sales. Snagged at $25 (original $45). Feels soft but shows sweat patches faster.
Lessons Learned
Never trust “white” filters online – always check hex codes in descriptions. Physical stores are useless unless you enjoy perfume assaults. Budget for returns when trying new brands. And ALWAYS wash cheap pizza plates before starting research.
