By “simple tee shirt,” I mean one that we can buy without trying on. My answer is no–unless you’re restocking a brand and style that’s already in your closet.
I used to think that any combination of gorgeous color with a scoop or V-neck would do. When I found stacks of these at JCPenney last Friday (St. John’s Bay, $8.99), I almost proceeded directly to checkout. Fortunately, I stopped in the dressing room first.
Even after weeding out the weird-looking shirts in the dressing room, I didn’t go far enough. I thought this purple sweater-like top looked great until I took these pictures on Saturday night.
- I’m wearing size Large . . . perhaps I should have tried a Medium.
- It looks okay in the bottom right corner photo, but straight on, you can see how shapeless it is. The fabric is 60% cotton and 40% polyester–probably a contributing factor.
- Those of you under 5’4″ can probably relate to the wrinkled back. It would have been great to find this in a Petite Large, but sometimes that means a tradeoff between a well-fitting back and a too short front. (I just saw a selection of petite tees on the JCP website, including these for only $4.20, but once again, you never know until you try them on.)
I have reluctantly decided to return the teal version of this top that I also bought. $8.99 is just too much for something that I don’t look and feel great in.
Finally, the tee shirt that I didn’t expect to like turned out to be my favorite.
- I’m wearing it in Large, but you can still see my waist.
- It’s 100% cotton, and the hem hugs my hips instead of there being a little overhang from my bust.
- It still wrinkles in back, but I don’t care since I like everything else about it.
- The top left and center photos demonstrate the principle that I shared from Karen Hughes in June: For every place you’re covered up, reveal a little more skin elsewhere. Rolling up the sleeves keeps me from being one giant green grape.
What has your experience been shopping for a simple, basic tee? Have you managed without a dressing room? If so, what factors tell you the tee is going to look good once you have it on?
I have a few more tee shirt thoughts to share this week, but before I sign off tonight, did you notice how lifted I am in these pics? I’m wearing my Empreinte Kaela!
I haven’t had much luck either. My husband picked up a bunch of T-shirts from Old Navy for me a couple of months ago and they basically look like shapeless sacks. I still wear them due to lack of anything better but they’re really unflattering and the back is just huge on them.
Mostly, I can’t wait for my AJ Rumina shirts to arrive. I’m really hoping they fix this problem. 😀
I should say that I have had some luck in the past with shirts than are very stretchy and in smaller sizes than I’d normally buy. But anything with a pattern/design on it is out because it would look very stretched over my bust.
Interesting about stretchy and smaller sizes–I’m just beginning to consider that based on the fact that some Mediums look really good on me.
I also can’t wait for your AJ Rumina shirts to arrive!
I never buy anything without trying on first-even brands and sizes that I own-these days companies have their clothing made in different countries so you can have a different fit depending on where it is made. I used to be able to pick up my size at Ann Taylor, Gap, Old Navy or Banana Republic-but no more-must try everything-
I don’t think I own any long sleeve tees-they just don’t seem to look right-I will layer in the cooler weather-short sleeve ones from the above stores