Alright folks, let’s get real about this Perry Ellis tee I picked up. Saw it hanging there looking sharp, price tag made me blink twice, but thought, “Hey, it’s Perry Ellis, gotta be quality, right?” Spoiler: My wallet felt lighter for a minute, but was it worth it? Buckle up.
The Grab & First Impressions
Spotted it last Tuesday at the mall. Honestly? Mostly grabbed it ’cause I needed a plain tee that didn’t look like crap for a casual meeting. Tag said “Premium” something or other. Material felt… different? Like smoother, maybe a bit silkier than my usual Fruit of the Looms? Pulled it off the rack, gave it a quick stretch-test behind the counter. Seemed okay, didn’t feel flimsy. Paid the guy, tossed the bag in the backseat.
First Wear: The Comfort Test Drive
Threw it on Thursday morning. First thought walking around the house: “Okay, comfy. Real soft against the skin.” Felt lightweight, didn’t cling weirdly. Sat down at my desk for emails – still felt good. Didn’t get that annoying bunching up around the waistband like some cheaper ones do. Points for initial comfort.
But here’s the rub: After about… 3 hours? Felt like it got kinda thin. Like the fabric relaxed a little too much. Started feeling less substantial, like maybe it wouldn’t last a hundred washes. Still soft, but started questioning that “premium” tag.
The Wash Day Blues
Washed it cold, gentle cycle like the tag says, hung it dry. Didn’t want to risk the dryer meltdown horror stories I kinda vaguely remember reading somewhere. Pulled it off the line. Big mistake.
- Wrinkles? Oh yeah. Major league puckering. Not a cute lived-in vibe, more like it slept in a ball.
- Texture change? Yep. Lost some of that silky smoothness from the first wear. Felt rougher, more generic.
- Fit? Seemed… a tad looser? Like the shoulders dropped just a fraction. Not mega baggy, but definitely not that crisp “just bought it” fit.
Ironing that mess took longer than brewing my coffee. Not the kind of low-maintenance I signed up for with a basic tee.
Style Points: What’s the Vibe?
Look, it’s a solid color tee. Perry Ellis label on the chest is subtle, which I like. Collar held its shape pretty well after the ironing session, didn’t get all floppy immediately. It drapes fine. But honestly? Once it’s washed and kinda wrinkly without effort, it looks… just like a lot of other tees. The “style” premium basically vanished after laundry day. Just becomes a plain tee. A plain tee that cost too much.
The Big Question: Worth the Cash?
Okay, price tag time. This wasn’t cheap. Paid more than I usually do for a simple shirt, call it “brand tax,” expecting maybe longevity or magic thread. First wear felt premium, I’ll give it that. Super comfortable out the gate. But long term? That pre-wrinkled look right outta the plastic after one wash? The way the feel changed? Knowing I gotta baby it with air drying and ironing?
Honestly? Nah. Feels like paying extra for the name on the chest and the initial feel, but the thing underneath doesn’t hold up any better than decent basic tees costing half as much. Comfort faded after the first few hours, style ain’t anything special once washed, and maintenance is a pain.
My Verdict: It’s comfortable initially, sure. Feels kinda fancy. But that magic disappears fast after wear and especially after washing. For the price? I expected way more. Expected it to stay feeling premium. Expected less hassle. Feels like buying hype instead of actual quality that lasts. Next time I need a solid tee, I’m probably sticking with the cheaper regulars. This Perry Ellis one? Just didn’t earn its keep in my drawer. Save your bucks or lower your expectations.
