Cover source: Wallpaperflare
For this summer, I am offering you a series of 8 articles where I will discuss:
- On the one hand, 4 pieces that many men
worn instinctively, without asking too many questions but whose stylistic interest is not as strong as one might think. My point here is therefore not to say that these pieces are without interest.
I will instead focus on providing you with a list of alternatives with a little more pep, character, and relevance also for certain uses. - On the other hand, 4 pieces that few men wear but which have a lot of style and which are not that difficult to appropriate.
The idea here is to say “ this item of clothing that you haven’t necessarily thought about deserves your attention, that’s why ”.
In any case, my goal will be to help you go a little further in terms of style.
See the other episodes:
We begin our saga with a must-have in the men's wardrobe. If I asked you to name 5 men's basics, there's a good chance this item of clothing would be among them.
I'm talking about the t-shirt:
- short sleeves
- plain, in a simple color
- 100% cotton .
And that's normal: it's a reassuring piece of clothing, no fuss, that everyone wears, that we find for all budgets and that we can wear on many occasions.
But then, what could we blame him for?
Uniqlo t-shirt
What stylistic interest? 🤔
There was a time when I owned as many as 5 basic Uniqlo t-shirts in my wardrobe:
- White
- Dark gray
- Navy blue
- Olive green
- Bright yellow
Apart from the white t-shirt, which we'll talk about right after, I didn't really wear the others.
I found them a bit bland actually. These t-shirts didn't really create any surprises, didn't add added value to my looks.
On its own, a basic plain t-shirt doesn't do much. Apart from the beautiful physique that he highlights, he needs other clothes with more character to shine.
Below, it is mainly the very beautiful Bermuda shorts with a shimmering color, a bold belt assembly and beautiful pleats which give the flavor of the outfit:
In layering, I didn't find much interest in it either: how can I create a look with character if in the first layer I wear a very smooth navy blue or dark gray t-shirt?
In short, in casual chic silhouettes, although this garment works without problem, I find that it is nevertheless a little too conventional.
I ended up ditching these Uniqlo t-shirts.
This look works pretty well. But how can we go a little further? Asket
Exceptions: the white and gray t-shirt
We can of course set aside the white t-shirt, full of history and perfect as a first layer under whatever you want, in whatever looks you want.
Clear, it brightens up an outfit. Under a cardigan, a shirt, an overshirt, a jacket, it draws the eye upwards.
We can also apply this reasoning to the light or medium gray t-shirt, often mottled, which can give a slightly more vintage look and which also goes with everything.
The alternatives 💡
If the plain t-shirt in its simplest form is sometimes a little bland, what would be good is to find alternatives.
T-shirts that have more to tell , that stand on their own.
Here is what I have to offer you.
1. The textured t-shirt
If you follow BonneGueule, you know that we like materials with texture and relief.
They add style while allowing you to stay in sober tones and styles, without a large logo or print.
Benjamin Jezequel offers a gray t-shirt that goes further than other gray t-shirts. This Japanese material, called sponge with its loops that stand out and irregular with these random ecru streaks, is magnificent.
Here is another material with a nice texture. Maison Cornichon T-shirt , presented by Michel here .
2. The t-shirt with a cut, a color, a differentiating detail
A slightly oversized cut, a cleverly chosen color off the beaten track, a contrasting pocket, a yoke... there are many ways to make a t-shirt more lively without necessarily using a very textured material.
Here are two examples:
I really like the style touch at Maharishi . Here, on a plain olive green t-shirt, a contrasting khaki yoke on the shoulder and a vertical zip (and brand inscription) have been added.
Then look at this t-shirt, in a kind of lilac that I have trouble defining more precisely. The color is striking because it is unusual but does not shock because it remains gentle on the eye.
3. Henley
If you are not familiar with henley, I invite you to read the full article that we have dedicated to it .
If you already know it, you know that its button placket at the collar and the sometimes very raw materials used provide that extra soul that we are looking for.
A round neck t-shirt with this material might have lacked a little pep. With a buttoned collar, contrasting fabric on the throat and ribbed cuffs on the sleeves, there is suddenly something extra that emerges from this Schiesser henley .
4. The striped sailor-style t-shirt
Don't tell me you can't wear a sailor t-shirt, I won't believe you.
It is a garment that is easy to adapt and which can be found in many variations: short or long sleeves, with variable width or different stripe colors.
A sailor top with a slightly ecru base as well as gray and gold stripes to change from the classic white/blue.
Shuhei Nishiguchi often wears such striped t-shirts, and with great panache:
5. Linen or wool t-shirt = thermal advantage
Finally, for winter or summer, linen and merino wool t-shirts are ideal instead of the traditional cotton t-shirt.
Their appearance differs from cotton t-shirts: in addition to the hand (drier of linen, softer of wool), these materials are also quite often slightly mottled.
Linen (or cotton/linen) t-shirt when it’s hot
Linen is in fact a cooler and more breathable material than cotton, therefore more suitable as a first layer when the thermometer rises.
We sometimes mix linen and cotton to provide more stability to the material and make it a little less creaseable.
Merino wool t-shirt for cold weather
Merino wool is a more insulating material (which keeps you warmer) and also more breathable (especially if you sweat on public transport) than cotton.
We
The extra warmth is noticeable and very pleasant. For winter, in addition to good sweaters or a good coat, try the merino t-shirt . You will not be disappointed.
The perfect t-shirt for winter: ecru, long sleeves, in merino wool (merino/silk on this Hanro model ). In addition to warmth, it can be used for layering like any other white t-shirt.
If you want to know even more about t-shirts and know all our brand recommendations , I'll let Michel take over: how to choose the right t-shirt?
The final word
As explained in the introduction, I am not saying here that the plain cotton t-shirt is an uninteresting item of clothing and that you should not wear one.
I'm saying rather that it's not just him, that alternatives exist.
So, I don't particularly advise you to make a big collection of 10 or 15 basic plain cotton t-shirts in all the colors like I sometimes see.
If possible, bring variety by incorporating into your rotation:
- One or two t-shirts in linen and merino wool, for their thermal properties
- One or two t-shirts with a little more character, for style
