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How To Find The Perfect White T-shirt (that is good for the planet).

How To Find The Perfect White T-shirt (that is good for the planet).

The Summary

The white t-shirt is no longer just for the weekend. It’s totally acceptable (and encouraged!) to wear under your blazer with some trousers to a meeting, out for dinner with a leather pant and heels, and - dare I say it - to a cocktail function with your favourite silk skirt, our Baby Jug Chain necklace, and a great pair of heels.

It’s what it's made from, how you wear it and what you wear it with that makes it so versatile and hard-working. And if you're not into a tee then the white tank is just as versatile. 

Maddie is wearing a white REDONE Tank with the Michael Lo Sordo Boy Linen Suit.

The Sustainability

It takes up to 2,700 litres of water to make just one cotton t-shirt, according to WWF. To make it an even harder fact to comprehend, this equates to enough water for one person to drink for 900 days.

With this in mind, we recommend looking for alternatives to traditional cotton for your trusty white t-shirt, such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, pima cotton and linen, that use less water and pesticides significantly minimizing the environmental impact.

We’ve rounded up a number of these options we love below.

The Styling

As a core piece for so many outfits, it’s important to find the right one for you and how you want to style it.

The key things to keep in mind are the fit and the fabric. As a piece on high rotation, buying quality will pay off.

Em is wearing the 70s Loose Tee by REDONE with the Wynn Hamlyn Partner Trouser.

 Fleur is wearing the Re/Done 70s Loose Tee and 70’s Stove Pipe in medium vein.

If trousers or jeans aren’t your thing then pair your white t-shirt with a silk midi or floaty mini and the look becomes instantly daytime appropriate. Just add a sneaker and off to brunch you go.

In true After Eight form, both Emma and I love a boxy fit paired with denim, as styled below.

Em wears the Viktoria & Woods Joplin Jean with the organic cotton Jac+Jac tee.

Fleur wears the Outland Denim Harriet Jean with the organic cotton Jac+Jac tee.

If you prefer something a bit dressier, the shoulder pad style is trending big time and is the perfect example of your ‘dressy’ white tee.

(Yes, it’s more than okay to have a few styles of a white t-shirt as it truly is one of the most versatile pieces in your wardrobe!)

Don’t be afraid to try a few on to determine your favoured style. You may prefer a v-neck to a round neck, or a more cropped style rather than a long line. Keep an eye on the shoulder seams as drop shoulders don’t suit everyone. The same goes for the more boxy-style t-shirts.

Head over to our tops page to see our edit of the white tees and tanks. 

My final tip: storing your tees. It’s okay to have your casual white t-shirts folded but keep the dressier styles hanging.

This will come in handy when you are trying to put an outfit together as your reliable ‘dressy’ white t-shirt is ready to go - no ironing required. Bliss.

Got questions?

We’re always here to help. Just send us an email hello@itsaftereight.com.

We also offer virtual styling service: perfect when you need a little help with your wardrobe or online purchases. Your own personal coach for online shopping from the comfort of your own home.

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