Who would have thought that the simple tee would fast become the hottest must have item. Like jeans the t-shirt is one item of clothing that is universally worn. They are now so hot that every fashion house has a range, with some tee's clocking up prices of $500. But to look absolutely fabulous your pocket doesn’t have to stretch so far.
Finding the perfect t-shirt is quite a simple task. There are a few key points to apply when shopping for one, but other than that it’s all about finding something that conveys your character and personality
The fit
Being a very uncomplicated garment, all that you really have to consider when buying a t-shirt is the fit. Most t-shirts come in the standard square shape which although great for the masculine figure is not so flattering for the female torso.
You then get the more fitted style, which sits a little closer to the body and is great for both sexes. Something to consider with this style is ensure that you have enough room for you body to move around. This just helps to create a clean line and allows the
fabric to hang correctly.
Then lastly you have the tight fitted t-shirts, this is usually better suited to the female sex and often you find that they have some sort of spandex or lycra to give more stretch and comfort. However let it be said that I have seen quite a few men donning a tight little number and lets just say they weren’t sports men.
The key to the fit is to ensure that you don’t go too loose because you can end up looking lost within the mass of fabric and then of course not going too tight, even for the ladies because the clingy fabric has the tendency to show up all those unwanted lumps and bumps. If you still want a very fitted look it’s best to go for something that doesn’t have a stretch in it because the lycra really moulds to the body where as a cotton will tend to accentuate the upper part of your torso and then drop straight down, hiding all that you desire.
Neck line
The neckline is probably the key feature to a t-shirt, being the only part of it that really plays a key role in terms of the actual construction of the garment.
If you have broad shoulders it’s best to stick to a neckline that sits close to your actual neckline. This really just helps to take the attention away from your shoulders and brings the focus to the neck. It’s always best to keep away from styles that put the focus onto your shoulder line such as boat necks. Boat necks however are great if you have smaller shoulders and you wish to elongate them.
The round neck is probably the most common neck that you will find in t-shirts and also the firm favourite with the guys. It’ s an easy neckline to wear and suits most body types. It’s always best to try and ensure that it doesn’t sit too close to the neck as this can look quite awkward and can be uncomfortable for the wearer. The ideal length for the round neck would be to have it sitting approximately 5 to 6cm below the bottom of your throat.
Then lastly you have the V-neck. This is a great style if you are looking at trying to elongate your neck and for the ladies to shift the focus onto your chest.
Length
The length of your actual t-shirt really is down to what you feel comfortable with and what the current trend is. The optimal length would be for your t-shirt to sit no lower than your hip, but it’s also great to team up different length t-shirts to create a different look. Always keep in mind that very long t-shirts make the legs look shorter which is not great if you are already short.
The sleeve length is also down to personal choice, apart from the obvious advantages with longer sleeves being great for winter and shorter sleeves for summer. For men the choices are quite limited with the short sleeve being the most popular option. Most men feel quite uncomfortable wearing the tank tops because it draws a lot of attention to their arms. But if you have the arms to pull one off then by all means do so.
For the ladies the choice is quite vast with the three quarter sleeve being the most versatile, because it works for most arm types. If you have great arms then by all means go for the tank top or vest.
Colour and Pattern
When you have grasped the basic principles of choosing the fit and style of t-shirt you can then get down to the fun part. This is really the area where your personality will determine the design that you opt for. Being the most affordable item in your wardrobe there is an opportunity to really run wild and have a wide selection that speak different character traits. Play around with colour, prints and patterns. Some t-shirts convey important messages to the world and these positive messages couldn’t be more effective at letting people know your point of view. A huge trend currently is the use of embellishment, with beads, buttons, ribbons and anythings that can create texture to a flat image and bring it to life.
Go out there and boldly make your statement, there can’t be a more comfortable way of doing so.
From the SimStylist team
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