Where is good for cotton t-shirts & long sleeve tops now that GAP aren't?

[abigboydidit]

Having been pregnant for most of the last 3 years I am trying to refresh my wardrobe. I had always been a fan of GAP plain t-shirts & long sleeve crew/v neck tops but all mine look a bit tired & are the old fashioned shorter length style (end on waist not on hips).

I had a 40% off code so I ordered loads in my usual size but the fit was awful - shapeless and clingy in equal measures - and the fabric was really thin & poor quality. I don't really have cash to spend on what is really just a wardrobe basic for layering but equally need something that washes well & ideally isn't that shiny jersey fabric which clings to my flabby belly.

Anyone able to suggest a reliable alternative? Thanks.

Next do some good "essential" long sleeve tops and I'll second the recommendation for Sainsburys. Theirs are often fairtrade cotton, too and they do regular 25% off clothing weeks.

American Apparel

All Primark tops shrink and end up hovering round my belly button when I bought them at hip length.

They got a pasting on another thread recently, but I really like La Redoute for tops. I don't think they're all 100% cotton, but they wash and wear well.

I have bought 3 t shirts this year: Monsoon (ripped in the wash) Boden (shrunk) Dorothy Perkins (still going strong)

Uniqlo, Sainsburys and, like a previous poster said, Laura Ashley.

Can someone link to one of those good quality Dorothy Perkins tops please?

Surfdome are doing this Esprit one at a bargainous price, can recommend Esprit for decent quality.

Which American A ones do people rate? They always feel really thin.

Just bought some of the Next basic ones - a mix of long sleeved/short sleeved/vests. Have washed them a few times now and they seem be be holding up ok. They are pretty cheap too (much cheaper than Gap)

Dorothy Perkins (which I can buy in Singapore) and Tu at Sainsburys (which I stockpile on annual UK visits). I live in T shirts year round and the Tu ones are amazing.

Brora t shirts and long sleeve tops are excellent. Very good quality.

Expensive but you can usually pick them up in the sale.

Also have 1 Dorothy Perkins one which is reasonable.

H&M are fantastic, reasonably long in the body, nice fabric and last forever.

Uniqlo. Or Primark.

Uniqlo. Great cut, great price and wash very well.

Just got a H&M catalogue through the post with a free delivery code so was going to order a few as they look a good length & nice fit but notice they are jersey fabric. Does anyone know if its that awful thin, shiny stuff that clings to my belly & trouser waistband or the nicer jersey that sort of drapes? Thanks.

Just adding my 2p's worth! I started a thread about this very thing last week and was recommended long-sleeve tees from Peacocks. I bought a couple at the weekend and can report that they are nice thick cotton and long in the body. I need to check what happens post-washing but am quietly hopeful.

At £6 they are bargainous and certainly much nicer than the crap that I tried on in Gap

Peacocks? I thought they went bust?

Jersey is just the name for knitted fabric such as t-shirt fabric. Look for cotton or mostly cotton rather than polyester "modal", nylon or viscose (which is the stuff that looks great for 3 minutes, then creases like mad and goes baggy)

There's a Peacocks at Washington Galleries. I was pretty surprised to see it there. I never went in, since it looked like it was full of little more than cut price shiny leggings.

Another vote for uniqlo. Good quality and lots of colours. Boden is also good, washes and wears well.

Sainsbury's have some short sleeved with Modal(?) cotton which feel like the ones that M&S have sporadically (but hardly ever when I'm there). Think they had white, green, blue and poss black. These are much nicer feel to the standard Primark/M&S ones.

I bought one reduced in sainsburys yesterday for £3.75. Bargain!

Isabella Oliver/Baukjen. I am still swearing long sleeved maternity t shirts from 4 years ago (not pregnant!) and they are by far the best I have ever owned. Expensive, but cost per wear will be ridiculously low. Size up for a nice, skimming fit.

Err, actually, Gap. They do do great cotton t shirts that are a good fit. Not sure which ones you ordered but try the Pure Body range.

I also like the Primark ones but find the quality has gone downhill (amazing! I know!) and they now shrink in the wash and the hems Frey.