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Basic t-shirts for men. Find your ideal style!

All fashion chains have a line of basic t-shirts that is refreshed every season. Classic colors like White, black, beige, brown, or navy blue are always available.

Don't be deceived by its simplicity, my friend. Although a basic t-shirt may appear unassuming, it holds great potential as one of the most adaptable pieces for your capsule wardrobe.

Inexpensive, easy to wear and incredibly comfortable, the T-shirt is a sexy classic that should be a part of any menswear collection. Let's review what matters to you when buying yours.

Basic T-shirt Styles

There are many types of basic t-shirt to choose from. When you say "cut" or "fit", you are talking about the shape of a garment. The amount of fabric used, the way it is cut/sewn and other details such as the sleeves or neck , are the fit of the shirt:

Classic cut. These "lifetime" shirts are nice because they give you a little space to live. You can wear it alone, tucked into your pants (or not) and we have them so visible that no one has to be afraid of them.

Tshirt for men 2024
Slim fit. Sometimes a classic cut t-shirt makes a lot of bulk under a jacket or jumper but this slightly narrower design is perfect for layering with other garments. And it also allows you to show off the body a little better.
Super slim. Fitted T-shirts with an athletic look won't do you any favors if you're overweight because they're made from fabrics that are quite clingy to the body, but they're great if you want to accentuate your torso shape.
Long and oversize t-shirts. It is not the same to buy a t-shirt that is too big for you, than to choose an oversize t-shirt. These extra long t-shirts with large body/sleeves, give a nod to Hip Hop and do not stick to the "normal" dimensions of a t-shirt.

Round or V-neck T-shirts?

A round neck broadens the shoulders/chest visually while a V-neck narrows and lengthens. The round neck adds visual volume to a slimmer face and broadens the appearance of the shoulders. The V-neck lends itself better to stretching/slimming, elongating a short neck, narrowing the shoulders and making round faces look more angular:

 

There are stores that take the issue of neck cutting to extreme limits. They open or close the shape of the neck more to… well, I don't know why they do it but I'm not a fan. If you insist on buying basics with the weird neckline, I highly recommend keeping the "full neckline" no higher than your armpits.

What shape of basic t-shirt is best for your body?

By proxy, you can wear the basic shirt that you like the most. The magic of finding your ideal fit is that you can divert attention from the areas you're not passionate about while showing off better parts. And this is where knowing what body shape you have comes into play. I am going to give you some ideas of fits that you can look for / try:

 

Rectangle. With a rectangular torso you have nothing to hide. Choose slim fit or super slim t-shirts, with a V-neck if you want to look a little narrower and a round neck to look more corpulent.

Triangle. When you have narrow shoulders, you should widen the upper part of the torso. Choose a round neck with a classic cut and try to select the size of your shirt very well than hiding under a huge shirt is worse.

Trapeze. If you're a trapeze, you've hit the body lottery and classic-cut T-shirts will suit you just as well as slim-fit, super-slim and oversize ones. Get out there and try them all to find your look 10!

Oval. When you are an oval you can choose V-neck t-shirts to narrow your lines. Do not be tempted to buy oversize t-shirts to cover the shape of your body, a classic cut of an appropriate size will give you perfect lines.

Inverted triangle. If you've been working your torso in the gym for months, you're going to want a slim or super slim fit. You do not have to avoid the other cuts but the tightest shirts will give you the marked look you are looking for.

What size shirt to buy

A bigger shirt does not hide anything and a shirt that is too small does not show the muscles better. Each body has its ideal fit to highlight what is beautiful/hide what is strange and it has NOTHING to do with the size you end up choosing.

Shoulders. The seam on your sleeves should line up where your shoulder bone ends. You can go down a little more if you want (1-2 cms) but a seam that is well below this level is too big for you: Change the size or cut.

Sleeves. Sleeves that are too short restrict movement and sleeves that are too long make you look like a short-armed T-Rex. The ideal length (except in the case of oversizes) is halfway between the armpit and the elbow. With a classic cut t-shirt you should have an inch or so of fabric left over on the sides of the sleeves WITHOUT having to stretch the fabric. In the Slim fit, a tad less but you should always be able to take a bit of fabric.

Torso. Slim fit and classic T-shirts should never mark the curve of your tummy or your nipples. You need to have a couple of inches extra on each side of your torso (can be pinched with your fingers when you're wearing it) because we don't want to Hulk from behind or see weird stretching in chest or tummy areas.

Full length. With the exception of oversize and ultra-long t-shirts, your basic t-shirt must exceed the height of your belt by a couple of cms. So you can raise your arms without showing your navel and wear it "inside" or "outside" your pants without having too much or too little fabric. Short men have to take special care with the length because some "standard" basic shirts can be too long and you run the risk of appearing even shorter.

Quality, color and price

Most stores manufacture their basic t-shirts in 100 cotton, of greater or lesser quality. Sometimes narrow cut shirts such as muscle shirt or super slim, have a cotton / elastane mix to better grip the body. Generally, polyester ones (for their brightness level) are reserved for sports-type shirts or for going to the gym.

If you are a follower of the blog you already know which colors favor you. All fashion chains have a line of basic t-shirts that is refreshed every season. Classic colors like White, black, beige, brown, or navy blue are always available. From there, they also bring several colors based on the trends of the season:

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