The Roundtable on What We Really Want: The Three Basic White Tees Edition

A white T-shirt holds endless possibilities—its simplicity means it blends into any styling. It might be the most versatile item you can wear in summer, but that same simplicity also makes it surprisingly hard to choose the right one. We asked staff members who handle ZUTTO's clothing every day, including white T-shirts from various brands, how they approach white tees.

▲Choose Your White T-Shirt/ZUTTO

This is a series where you can choose from three cotton fabrics, each differing in yarn and knitting method. The design is basic and the material is cotton—all plain white T-shirts—but each one incorporates its own careful details for long-term wear, so you can enjoy the differences in comfort. It's also recommended for those looking to find the white T-shirt that suits them best. For those who can't decide, we've also prepared a slightly discounted set of three.

Customer Service H:

I wear them very often, so I own five pure white T-shirts.

Customer Service A:

Five, wow (laughs)! Since it goes with any bottoms, I have three of the exact same white tee. I wear the one I like best, and once it gets dirty, I keep wearing it in rotation as loungewear.

Photography N:

Actually, I have a bit of an aversion to white T-shirts—I own some but rarely wear them. I always assumed any white T-shirt was basically the same as any other. Is that not true?

H, who loves white tees and owns five:

They're completely different! Accessories and patterned pieces look great against them, and once you find one you love, you want to own several.

N, new to white tees:

Is that really how it is! (surprised)

N, new to white tees:

There are so many affordable, mass-produced ones out there, and I don't like the idea of matching with a stranger by chance. But hearing how much you both love your white tees has made me want to give it another try.

A, who owns three white tees:

That's true—it's hard to find a white T-shirt made with special fabric in a limited run. I also buy affordable white T-shirts myself, but I do worry about whether I'll match with someone else, so I understand how N feels.

So the three of them decided to look for their favorite from the Choose Your White T-Shirt line.

H, who loves white tees and owns five:

I think it's best to choose based on the styling you want to achieve. Lightweight ones pair well with elegant skirts, while heavyweight ones go with casual pants. The heavier the fabric, the more casual the impression tends to be, I think.

A, who owns three white tees:

Choosing lightweight for coolness or heavyweight because it's easier to wash—that's also a valid way to decide.

N, new to white tees:

I don't have a habit of washing clothes separately, so durability is a must-have for me. I heard from the product planning team that the Choose Your White T-Shirt line varies its construction based on thickness so it lasts through long-term wear, meaning I don't need to worry too much about things like "it's lightweight so..." That means I should focus on the styling angle, but it's still a tough choice.

If you chose A → High-gauge/Lightweight

If you chose B → Basic/Medium weight

If you chose C → Heavyweight/Thick

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Here's what each staff member arrived at…

N, new to white tees: Heavyweight/Thick

H, who loves white tees and owns five: Basic/Medium weight

A, who owns three white tees: High-gauge/Lightweight

N, new to white tees: Heavyweight/Thick

N: I always had the impression that white T-shirts tend to be see-through, but this one has reduced see-through quite well. In particular, since I have sloped shoulders, I usually don't like designs with an open neckline, but this one has a moderately closed neckline that gives me a sense of reassurance.

N: I also didn't want to show my arms too much, so I really like that the sleeves are a bit longer. Trying on so many different ones like this, I realize it was a waste to decide I was bad at white tees. It really made me feel that it's good to keep trying new things, no matter your age.

H, who loves white tees and owns five: Basic/Medium weight

H: It has stretch that adjusts to your body, so you can wear it and relax. The sleeves are just the right length so they never get in the wayAnd it's easy to work in too, so I really like it. In summer I want to wear bright colors, so having a basic T-shirt like this on hand comes in handy—I don't think you'll regret owning one.

H: You can really feel the luxurious, fluffy texture of the cotton against your skin. The soft feel, free of any roughness, is something I'd especially recommend for people with sensitive skin.

H: Honestly, I want all three thicknesses (laughs). That's because there are occasionally days when a white T-shirt seems like it should work but just doesn't feel quite right. If you have three styles within the same line, you'll always find a white T-shirt that suits your outfit, so I think it's worth collecting all of them. Whatever the number, you'll definitely wear them—that's the great thing about white T-shirts.

Three Favorite White Ts A: High-gauge / Thin

A: I really love that the sleeves are just the length I like. It's also very light to wear. Since it's thin, I was a little worried about see-through, but these days there are plenty of nice padded camisoles and tank tops available, so if that's a concern, it might be a good idea to wear one of those underneath.

A: There are a few wrinkles though, so I'd like to iron it along with my other linen shirts when caring for it. I'd also recommend it to anyone who wants to stay as stress-free and cool as possible on hot days. I love pairing a white T with denim, and since this one is thin, it's easy to tuck in, so I think it'll be useful year after year.

A: The great thing about a thin fabric is how compact it becomes. When folded up small, it gets this small and takes up hardly any space, so I think people who love to travel will be happy about that.

Each of the three had their own take on white T-shirts, but it seems each found a favorite among the white T-shirts available to choose from. We also heard opinions that since there's always an occasion to wear a white T, it's fine to own as many as you like. The differences in fabric and silhouette for each are introduced in more detail 【here】, so we hope this helps anyone who's still deciding.

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