The best white T-shirts for women in 2024, tried and tested

Fashion trends come and go but there are a few essential wardrobe staples that will never fade: a solid pair of jeans, a sturdy pair of sneakers and, perhaps the most essential, a classic white tee.

A white T-shirt is essential in any closet, whether it’s a fashion-forward or laidback one. Think about it: It can be worn so many different ways, every day. You can dress it up with a dapper blazer, toss one on for the gym, wear it as an extra layer underneath a sweater or elevate your plain white tee with a skirt and sky-high heels.

But how do you know which brand has the best white tee? That’s where we come in.

We scoured the internet and read every blog and thread to research beloved white T-shirt brands in various prices, styles and fabrics. To get to the bottom of this, we gathered our most curious editors at CNN Underscored to wear, wash, re-wear, style and ultimately pick their favorites. Here’s what we discovered.

Best women’s white T-shirt: Reformation Classic Crew Tee

According to the Reformation website, this $38 classic, 100% organic cotton crew tee was designed to have a relaxed fit. This meant the shirt had to be hand-washed and dried flat, but our testers didn’t mind showing it a little extra love to get so much use out of it. After washing the shirt, we all noted the fit didn’t change, unlike other tees we tested.

In addition to its cult-favorite dresses, Reformation is known for its goal to bring sustainable fashion to everyone, using low-impact materials, rescued deadstock fabrics and even repurposed vintage clothing. For us, the $38 price was worth the investment in our wardrobes while being a small contribution to slow fashion.

Although most shirts we tested looked similar upon first glance, we made sure to take note of the small differences between each one to find our favorite, and almost all our testers agreed the Reformation Classic Crew was the best pick for everyday wear for most body types. It’s ideal for professional office attire yet comfortable enough to throw on those days when you have nothing to wear.

Our testing pool agreed the Reformation shirt was also a winner for its comfortable and roomy fit, perfect length and versatility. We felt it could be styled both elevated and casual, all in a cozy and breathable fabric. Though it wasn’t the softest, we all liked the high-quality look and feel of the shirt, which wasn’t at all sheer or see-through.

Its versatility shined when our testers arrived at the office one day sporting this shirt in various styles. Home and gifts editor Amina Lake Abdelrahman paired the tee with pleated trousers and a leather belt for an elevated look, while fashion and beauty editor Sophie Shaw donned a street-style outfit with dark denim and sneakers. Shaw noted, “It has a boxy, relaxed cut that is flattering for my petite frame. It also feels high quality and gets extra points for sustainability.” Abdelrahman agreed, adding that she really loved that the shirt had roomier sleeves: “I loved the boxy fit and that the sleeves were loose around my arms.”

Editorial director Chelsea Stone also loved the length of the shirt, which other testers appreciated as well. Shaw noted, “It’s still long enough that I could tuck it into jeans for a relaxed look but short enough that it hits the perfect spot untucked too.” Although most testers loved the looser fit, managing editor Rachel Quigley felt it wasn’t flattering on her smaller frame. “It has a decent fit, but it’s too boxy for me,” she said.

We all appreciated the cotton material, which had a sturdier weight and feel than other shirts we tested. Its thicker material also makes it more durable and high quality, and makes it feel more expensive than it actually is.

Best budget women’s white T-shirt: Uniqlo U Crew Neck T-Shirt

Uniqlo is best known for its high-quality casual wear and simple basics that are sold at affordable prices. We all know and love Uniqlo but were all very impressed with this $20 white shirt that felt like it should have been more expensive.

According to the Uniqlo website, this white shirt is made from 100% imported, compact white cotton with a smooth surface. It also features textured ribbing at the neck and a snug fit for a flattering silhouette. This shirt is part of the Uniqlo U collection, designed by international designers from the brand’s Paris Research and Development Center.

Our testing team agreed this shirt was well worth the price, especially considering the heaviness of the cotton, which was the main reason we all thought the shirt felt more luxe. The weight and feel of the Uniqlo tee was comparable to some of the other higher-end shirts we tested, like the $50 American Giant Premium Slub Crew Tee.

Shaw noted that although the shirt was soft and incredibly thick, it felt less breathable. “It could be a better option for colder months, but I wouldn’t pick this going into summer,” she added. On the other hand, editorial coordinator Rachel Dennis loved how thick the fabric was, which she felt could be “a great layering piece.”

Almost all of us agreed the Uniqlo shirt was more fitted than other, boxier tees we tested, especially around the arms and neckline. Some testers even recommended sizing up for a looser look. Dennis, for example, added that despite how much she loved this budget pick, she would have to size up since the sleeves felt too tight. Quigley, on the other hand, raved about the fit of this pick, to the point where she claimed this was her new go-to white shirt. “This fits me perfectly,” she said. “I thought the length was perfect too, while the others came in quite short on the body,” she added, noting she does have a long torso.

Since this shirt is made from 100% cotton, it’s recommended to be machine-washed cold. We all agreed the shirt looked and felt the same after putting it through the washer and dryer, which earned the Uniqlo tee bonus points. I felt this shirt didn’t get as wrinkled or creased as others, thanks to the thicker fabric.

For context, many of our testers already owned and loved this classic T-shirt from Uniqlo. Nevertheless, we felt we would purchase this style in different colors, especially for the summer with the very affordable price tag in mind.

Best fitted women’s white T-shirt: Skims Cotton Jersey T-Shirt

Skims has made a name for itself as an inclusive shapewear and loungewear brand, designed to enhance curves with high-quality fabrics, co-founded by Kim Kardashian and Emma and Jens Grede. Its soft lounge long slip dress took the internet by storm with users loving its stretchy fabric and universally flattering fit on almost every body type. Its white T-shirt has also gone viral, with many TikTok users raving about the comfortable, body-hugging fit.

According to the Skims website, the $48 shirt is made from imported cotton and, unlike any other shirt we tested, spandex, a synthetic petroleum-based fabric made to stretch while retaining its shape. Spandex is typically found in compression garments, swimsuits and activewear, so I was curious to see how this material would feel on an everyday basic like a white tee.

All testers noted the elasticity of the shirt, thanks to the 10% spandex woven into the fabric, which Shaw compared to the feel of activewear. She even wore the shirt while practicing pickleball and noticed she didn’t have any pesky sweat stains. I wore this tee to an infrared body-rolling massage and also noticed that I left with an unstained white shirt. Hats off to Kardashian for crafting an unbelievably stretchy white shirt with a workout-gear feel that was indeed form-fitting on every tester. A few other adjectives our testers used to describe this shirt included “body-hugging,” “perfect,” “insane” and, most commonly, “skintight.”

The tee’s “skintight” nature was a mainly positive experience for our testers, who all ranged in sizes XS to XL. As someone on the petite side, I loved how fitted this shirt looked, which was unique from the other baggier, more structured shirts we tested. However, some testers didn’t like the “insane tightness.” Stone noted it was too body-hugging for her taste and felt the sleeves pulled slightly. Quigley thought the tight fit of the shirt would make it a great undershirt option, while I wore this shirt practically every day after testing, styled with maxi skirts, under slip dresses and with jeans.

The main downside to this otherwise comfy, stretchy tee was its sheerness. “It has a tight fit, so you see every bump and detail of your bra,” Dennis said. Abdelrahman agreed, adding, “I did not notice it being too see-through,” so we recommend pairing this tee with flesh-toned undergarments.

Abdelrahman noted she was also initially worried about the sizing of the shirt, considering how shrunken it looked right out of the package. “Based on past experience with Skims, I knew it would stretch and actually fit. It was the perfect ‘fitted’ size but was not tight on me at all,” she said. Despite how teeny-tiny the shirt looks, it held up perfectly after several rounds of washing and drying. According to Skims’ instructions, this shirt needs to be machine-washed cold and tumble-dried low (and should never be dry-cleaned).

We especially loved the buttery feel of the fabric, which everyone agreed felt soft and nonirritating once on. “It’s hard to find fitted tees that are comfy and fit well, so I would definitely pay the price for this in more colors,” Abdelrahman said. Shaw agreed, adding, “If you’re looking for something that can give you that bodysuit look without the hassle of a bodysuit, this is a great option.”

Best splurge-worthy women’s white T-shirt: Leset The Margo

Leset is a Los Angeles-based women’s clothing brand by Lili Chemla, who set out to design collections that could be comfortable enough to be worn at home or out — hence its tagline, “Night in. Night out.”

The brand is organized with a modular approach, meaning its pieces are built with a system of mix-and-match sets for this day-to-night versatility. Leset is also organized by fabric set, and throughout the year, the brand rotates an interchanging group of seasonal fabrics around these capsule collections.

Leset’s the Margo tee is one of their bestselling pieces, which has been spotted on celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Taylor Swift and Margot Robbie. It’s made from 100% cotton and is designed with a relaxed silhouette, which one online review said could be worn in a meeting, to take a nap in and then out again at dinner. All testers agreed this would be an ideal, breathable shirt for either sweltering summer days or freezing office cubicles. Dennis, who ranked this as her favorite shirt, even wore the Leset shirt to the office with tailored trousers and sneakers.

As a petite gal, I wasn’t a fan of its baggier fit, which hung loose around my neck. However, our taller testers loved the more relaxed fit. “I prefer my tees to be on the looser side, and this one absolutely fits the bill,” Stone said. “The XL was perfectly roomy, and I loved the width of the sleeves and slightly boxy feel for a bit of style.”

According to its website, the Margo should be machine-washed in cold water and laid flat to dry. We all noticed the shirt looked and felt the same before and after doing laundry, which earned it bonus points.

However, every single tester agreed this shirt was a splurge. Shaw put it best when she said, “I could get four of the Uniqlo tees for the price of one Margo.” At nearly $70, we felt the price was way too expensive, but it could be a nice splurge if you’re in a spendy mood and looking for a white shirt you can wear from day to night.

How we tested

Landing on a favorite shirt boils down to a few simple factors like fabric, style, comfort and personal loyalty to a brand. But here at CNN Underscored, we thoroughly test everything to evaluate what is actually worth your hard-earned dollar.

To find shirts that fit the bill, we mapped out our favorite brands, ranging from affordable options like Hanes and Uniqlo to higher-end lines like Leset and Buck Mason. We included fan favorites that received rave reviews like Skims and American Giant. We also ensured we had sustainable options from brands like Patagonia, Reformation and Allbirds.

Our team of testers, ranging in size from XS to XL, wore each shirt for a minimum of two weeks to properly test the look and feel of each shirt. We also washed and dried each shirt according to each brand’s recommendations. We also considered the following.

Other women’s white T-shirts we tested