For the die-hard fan of the humble t-shirt, finding the perfect fit can sometimes be a real drag. Luckily, every year, Uniqlo hands us the UT project – a collection of over 700 (yes, you read that right) t-shirts, featuring collaborations with some of the hippest artists of past and present. This year’s project uses the works of Warhol protégé, Jean-Michel Basquiat (look him up!) and is modelled by Chloe Sevigny in their ad campaign. Now you can’t get much cooler than that, can you?
With designers going wild for the artisan vibe – think Dolce & Gabbana’s hand-daubed, silk dresses and Basso & Brooke’s paint splodges – it’s no bad move to pick up on the trend with this impressionistic tee from Swedish jeanmaker Acne. With the lilac swatches bringing back just a hint of 80’s nostalgia, this creation has all the makings of a great t-shirt – well cut, soft and hyper-cool.
For another brand more famed for its jeans and sequined mini dresses than anything else, Sass & Bide continually impress us with their non-denim offerings too. This cute, baby pink tee would work a treat with a pair of the S & B’s trademark classic, the Frayed Misfit skinnies. (The slogan reads, ‘I See You’ en français, in case you didn’t already know, dahhhling).
While Kate Moss might solely favour the monochrome approach when it comes to picking her (vintage, of course) rock ’n’ roll t-shirts, times are a-changing and in case you hadn’t noticed, superbrights are the thang right now. Keep up with this ghetto-blasting, longline number from online retailer Oli.
You can always count on Topshop to be the, ahem, top dog, when it comes to summer dressing. Where else can you find rails and rails of sundresses, gladiator sandals and bikinis that look like they came straight from the New York runways but at a fraction of the price? This super-sweet hand-drawn tee is one of, oh let’s say three thousand, reasons why we’re loving the high street maestro right now.
Love it or hate it (or even remember it from its heyday), the acid house-loving, yellow smiley face has somehow found its way back into fashion and is emblazoning t-shirts up and down the high street. And, you can accuse us of rose-tinted spectacles if you will, but we really kind of like it. Plus, who knows, if you keep it for another twenty years, it might end up being en vogue all over again…
Who says t-shirts have to be made of cotton? This silk shirt is enough to silence the doubters - with its hand-detailed sequins and shocking bright orange hue; it’s soft to the touch and is so light it won’t have you sweating on the bus. The downside? The hefty price tag!
When the Costume Institute announced its ultimate chic party – the annual MET gala – would be themed around superheroes, it seems we all went a little crazy for our cartoon friends. Topshop has dedicated their whole window display in its flagship stores to the superhero theme and the MET even has a whole exhibition going to honour the comic creations. Get in on the act with this fab Wonder Woman shirt from River Island – but remember as Spidey would say: “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
If you’re not a pin-thin Mary-Kate Olsen look-a-like, like many of us who actually have some curves you might find the whole insouciant, slouchy, ‘just rolled out of bed’ t-shirt look a bit tricky to pull off. Head to Topshop for something built with the ‘real’ woman in mind – this flattering little number (complete with irresistible William Broome illustration) is cut to skim your curves, not accentuate them in unsightly ways.
No t-shirt round-up would be complete without the obligatory stripy version. From the Left Bank of Paris to Audrey Hepburn’s wardrobe, nautically-influence navy and white stripes have carved their niche into the history of eternally chic style. Dolce and Gabbana show us just why we love them by reinventing this classic print with a beaded neckline and little red bow tie. Who could say no?