How to choose a T-shirt: fabric, fit and neckline

Knowing how to choose a T-shirt gets you tees that stay cool, keep their neckline and do not pill after a few washes. T-shirts look alike in photos but differ a lot in fabric, fit and stitching. This guide covers what to check before you buy, whether you are shopping for men's tees, women's tees or unisex T-shirts.

T-shirt fabric: read the label first

The fabric content in the product description is the single most useful piece of information. The common options are:

For a full day at school or work in hot weather, choose cotton or cotton with a little spandex. For workouts or travel where you need quick drying, polyester makes more sense.

Oversized or regular fit?

The cut decides whether you look sharp or relaxed:

• Oversized: dropped shoulders and a roomy body, great for streetwear with straight jeans, shorts or half-tucked into wide-leg trousers. It also adds some bulk to a slim frame.
• Regular: follows the body, looks neat tucked in and layers easily under a jacket or open shirt.
• Slim: flatters a muscular build but shows every bit of the stomach.
• Cropped: pairs with high-waisted bottoms to lengthen the legs.

Oversized tees are already cut loose, so buy your true size from the shop's chart. How to measure is in our size guide.

Neckline and stitching: where durability lives

The collar is usually the first thing to go. A thick ribbed collar with double stitching stretches out far less than a thin one with a single seam. Zoom in on buyer photos to check:

1. Whether the collar lies flat or ripples.
2. Whether the shoulder and hem stitching is even, with no loose threads.
3. Whether the print is a thick plastic layer that may crack or is absorbed into the fabric.
4. How the real colour compares with the listing photos.

Plain tees in white, black, grey and beige are the easiest to style. Three or four neutral tees cover a whole week.

Men's, women's and unisex tees: what is the difference

Women's tees are usually shorter, slightly shaped at the waist or cropped, with shorter sleeves. Men's tees are longer in the body and wider across the shoulders. Unisex tees use one shared pattern, usually close to the men's cut, so on women they fit looser and longer. That is perfect for an oversized look, but check the length carefully if you are petite, because a unisex tee can reach mid-thigh. Sizing for unisex tees is normally given by weight or chest width rather than by gender, so measure first and compare with the chart.

Washing tees so they last

• Turn tees inside out before washing, especially printed ones.
• Use cold or lukewarm water, and a laundry bag in the machine.
• Do not wring hard; dry in the shade on a wide hanger or folded over a line so the collar is not stretched.
• Iron cotton at a medium setting and never directly over a print.

A quick checklist for buying tees online

Before ordering, check five things: fabric content, cut, the shop's size chart, photo reviews from people with your build and the size exchange policy. With a new shop, buy one tee first before ordering a multi-colour bundle.

Browse T-shirts on sale, ranked by an independent score. To build a full outfit, see jeans or try the outfit finder.