3 Steps To Look Awesome In a Crewneck T-Shirt
I love a crewneck t-shirt on a guy! It’s so versatile and works for many occasions, from daily errands and weekend picnics to casual dinner dates.
When styled right, a crewneck t-shirt is a real fashion workhorse! I always say that among the top items in every guy’s wardrobe, there should be a few crewnecks in different colours.
However, sometimes men can turn even this straightforward piece of clothing into something sloppy. Well, not on my watch!
Here are 3 steps to looking AWESOME in a crewneck t-shirt.
How To Wear
Before we get into the three steps, let’s talk about styling. If the only thing you can come up with is a crewneck t-shirt and your old jeans, you might want to rethink your fashion strategy.
For inspiration, you can always look at such celebrities as Chris Hemsworth or Ryan Reynolds, but it’s quite simple to have a few outfits at the ready.
Men’s Health says that this classic can be worn simply with a pair of well-fitting jeans for every day à la James Dean and Marlon Brando, or it can be a base layer under your workwear button-downs and cozy winter sweaters as a barrier for sweat protection.
Besides that, a crewneck t-shirt looks great with chinos and a casual blazer, under a cardigan and with summer shorts and boat shoes.
Step 1: The Fit
Let’s dive into the first step of choosing your best crewneck t-shirt – the fit.
You can buy the most expensive tee in the store, but you won’t get the desired effect if it looks sloppy.
The perfect fit needs to highlight your best attributes yet not resemble a cyclists uniform.
Here’s what you should remember:
Length. A crewneck tee should be long enough to tuck into your trousers but not too long to cause bunching.
Shoulder fit. Always make sure that the t-shirt shoulder seams sit nicely at the edge of the shoulders.
Sleeve fit and length. Never get a crewneck tee with sleeves extending to your elbows. Never. Also, make sure they’re fitted or at least not too loose.
Neckline fit. Yes, a crewneck is not a V-neck, but it shouldn’t feel like a choker! On the other hand, too loose of a neckline creates a big gap and looks just bad.
Step 2: The Fabric
The right fabric is just as important as the fit. I always say that you can never go wrong with 100% cotton, like Egyptian or Pima cotton or cotton blends. To find out more about other materials that are equally as good, you may want to check out this post on viscose.
These fabrics last longer, are more breathable and look better. If you’ve been buying cheap t-shirts until now and wondering why they stretch and rip so quickly, it’s because they’re made out of low-quality cotton.
From now on, always get your high-quality crewneck t-shirts from trusted brands like Fresh Clean Tees. Check out their collection here: freshcleantees.com/collections/crew-necks
To learn about the fabric of the tee, read the label. Here’s a short guide to the most common fabrics (I did not include polyester as you should avoid it):
Organic cotton. Soft, made from organically grown cotton with minimal fertilizers and pesticides.
Combed cotton. Cheaper yet still high-quality cotton that’s strong yet soft.
Pima cotton. The highest quality cotton is resistant to stretching, fading and piling.
Jersey. Stretchy, comfortable knit fabric usually made from cotton.
Rayon or viscose. Artificial fibre made from wood pulp. Very soft and smooth.
Step 3: The Color
The last important step to looking awesome in a crew neck t-shirt is picking the colours.
I’m a firm believer in the classics like white, variations of grey, black, navy and burgundy. You’ll be able to pair these tees with basically any trousers, blazers and knitwear without spending more than a minute.
These colors are classic for a reason – they make you look put together and work for both casual and more formal occasions.
However, it’s still okay to experiment with brighter colors, as long as you’ve checked that it looks flattering on you and you feel confident in it.