WARDROBE ESSENTIAL: THE VERSATILE BLACK TEE

Why are plain black tees considered a wardrobe essential? They look polished and casual at the same time, black is slimming, they go with basically everything...we could go on. Seriously, how many things can you wear to a ball game and date night? Not to mention you can pair one with chinos, jeans, or joggers or layer it under wovens, blazers, and sweaters. Basically, black tees are a staple. Pair one with your pants of choice and you’ve got yourself a daily uniform. Easy.

Just in case you missed where we stand on black tees, we'll shout from the rooftops: EVERY man should have a perfect fitting black tee in their drawer! 

Now, like every garment, brands determine the fit of tees using a small number of individuals and try to make the sizing as broad as possible. But it’s the perfect fit of a black tee that makes it so versatile. The goal is to find the brand that fits your style and flatters your body. Too big and baggy and you look like you're helping a friend move. Too tight and it looks like you're wearing a base layer. And don’t get us started on bacon neck. If the neckline on a tee starts to shrivel and sag, it’s useless. We can’t have that.

We at Tresetter did our research and found that some tee brands fit some body types better than others. Here’s a quick rundown of our findings.

THE BLACK TEE FOR EVERY BODY TYPE

“I really like the Zara long tee. The chest and sleeves land in all the right spots and the longer body gives my torso a little extra length. It’s like the Goldilocks of t-shirts: not too loose, not too tight, just right.” – A Roy

“This one’s easy. The Goodfellow Lyndale Crew tee is the perfect fit at a perfect price. I buy them five at a time. In a word...it’s dope!” – A Jamie

“Most of the time I’m casual but I love to step it up a bit on occasion. The great thing about the crew from True Classic is that it highlights my shoulders and arms but isn’t too tight. Sometimes I’ll throw a blazer over it for work, and I love that I can feel serious and relaxed at the same time.” – An Issac

“I’m a big guy and it’s frustrating when my clothes are too big and too baggy. I like to look my best and I want my clothes to fit like a glove, not like a sheet. I wear the Dickie’s Short Sleeve Heavyweight tee. There’s room in the body without being too baggy, and the shoulders and sleeve length hit just right. It puts me in my happy place on weekends.” – A Nathan

“For me, it’s all about comfort. Vuori is making the most comfortable clothing you can imagine. The Strato Tech Tee is everything. Lightweight fabric, enough room in the body, and a long silhouette. I can wear it to work or on a hike and be comfortable no matter what.” – A Ted

SHOP THE LOOK

1. Long Tee from Zara

2. Lyndale Tee from Goodfellow

3. Crew from True Classic

4. Short Sleeve Heavyweight Tee from Dickie’s

5. Strato Tech Tee from Vuori