Today, the T-shirt has moved on from just being in the wardrobes of very famous actors with attitude and instead are worn by anyone anywhere. In the 1980s, when not in a suit, John F Kennedy Jr rocked T-shirts that hugged his athletic upper body, while Jeremy Allen White caused sales of white T-shirts to skyrocket in 2022 when he sported one as The Bear’s Carmy. Austin Butler, Idris Elba and Callum Turner have cemented them as part of their own downtime wardrobes.

In short, to be without a T-shirt in your wardrobe is to essentially be incomplete. To forgo T-shirts is to skimp on a very essential menswear item: the most versatile of all products that a man can wear. It’s the easiest garment to throw on when you don’t want to button up an Oxford shirt. And a T-shirt can be paired with just about anything, be it shorts, chinos or smarter trousers. It’s the low-key main character of any outfit and it has an unrivalled power. A year-round saviour, a T-shirt boasts style and practicality, with ease.

The easiest way to wear a T-shirt is, of course, on its own (plain is best), tucked into a pair of jeans or pleated trousers. But a T-shirt offers opportunities for layering, too. Wear yours beneath an overshirt or paired with a canvas chore jacket and matching trousers like Jacob Elordi, or else with a blazer akin to how JFK Jr would create a high-low aesthetic. Under a cotton crew-neck sweater, a sliver of tee offers its own styling edge, too.

But your T-shirts needn’t always be plain. Striped, like those worn by Kurt Cobain and now mainstays in Mr P.’s collections, or raglan, are just as easy to wear. And we’re currently in a new era of slogan tees. Think Paul Mescal sporting graphic band tees or Pedro Pascal co-signing trans rights. Japanese brand KAPITAL does its own graphic tees that riff on the band merch of the 1980s. More marks for band tees if they’re slightly cropped, too.

When buying a T-shirt, first think about its function, which will inform fit and style. Are you looking for a tee that will work well under your office wear? Well, we’d advise keeping the fit traditional with a tight crew neck and a slimmer shape, while the colour should be neutral, like white, grey or black. Are you after a T-shirt that will add some pizzazz to your outfit? Stripes do that, without working too hard or making you look like you’re trying too hard. Want a grocery store-run fit that’ll have you looking like Mescal? An oversized band tee, a louche bomber jacket and a pair of shorts are a good way to go.

When it comes to longevity, it’s wise to consider material before purchasing. One hundred per cent cotton tees are best – not only will they retain their shape after washing, but they’re also breathable, meaning less likelihood of nasty sweat stains. For printed styles, always wash inside out (unless they’re dry-clean only) and avoid fabric softeners that can degrade the print. Treat your tees well and they’ll repay you by becoming the sartorial backbone of your wardrobe for years to come.