Plain good quality basics. Where are they???

[stringbean]

Went to my local town this morning, looking for some plain short-sleeved t-shirts. I just want some in neutral colours - white, navy, grey, and maybe one with a navy/white stripe. I came away with precisely nothing.

I don't think I'm demanding too much. I'd like good quality cotton, not that see-through thin crap. I don't want artificial fibres/viscose. I'd like a slightly scooped neck, long enough in the body that they go further than the top of my jeans (a perennial problem - I'm 5'8 and quite long torso) and don't shrink after the first wash.

So where are they? Which shops sell these? Gap used to be my port of call for these, but they've got increasingly thin and poor quality in the past couple of years and the white rapidly yellows.

Any ideas anyone? Many thanks.

Seasalt and Ralph Lauren t-shirts very good quality and don't shrink on washing. Neither are cheap, but I buy in the sales and as they last longer, I think that justifies the price.

Sainsbury's
Best tops I've got are Sainsbury's and dotty Ps.
DD1 uses a very cheap ASDA Tshirt for drama and that's washed really well.

i like J crew and hush, also zoe karssen for graphic tees

I love my Alexander Wang Tshirts they are only £70 and look good with everything.

They also come in an array of colours.

www.net-a-porter.com/product/175088/T_by_Alexander_Wang/classic-jersey-t-shirt

I also love my tshirts from The Row they are approx £200 so a little more then high street but worth it.

www.net-a-porter.com/product/423789/The_Row/andi-jersey-t-shirt

I second Sainsburys. Have bought some great ones there just recently.

Sainsburys t shirts are all fairtrade cotton, they can come up a little big though.

I love my Alexander Wang Tshirts they are only £70

only!

rollonthesummer, my thoughts exactly.
I've seen a few of Puddles1234's stealth boasts posts and they all refer to spending £££s on designer clothes, fine if you earn enough to spend that sort of money on clothes, but seems disingenuous to assume that most others do.

I am like Simon Cowell and have billions of the same clothing item, only mine are white t shirts. I wear them with everything. I did like M & S but have gone off them a bit now. I ordered a couple (well more like 5) of GAP t shirts this year in the sale - they were dreadful - thin and horrible. I do limit what I pay for each t as inevitably I spill food on them when cooking or they just go manky after 1 or 2 seasons. So £70 no way!!

£200 for a t-shirt? You've been had, Puddle. Or you're having us on.

Objection !! 70 for a t shirt

I have a few Alexander Wangs, they are good but can be picked up from the outnet for c. £30. No need to pay full price. Helmut Lang to be avoided, great shape but don't last.

My most enduring t-shirts have actually come from Uniqlo.

I've just checked uniglo's website and like their t shirts, what's the sizing like - are they big or tight fitting or what?

The White Company long sleeved t shirts are good quality

Many thanks for all your suggestions - they're all much appreciated.

Having done some investigation, it looks as though Uniqlo offers closest to what I'm after. However, I will check out Dotty P's next time I'm in my local town (the website is one of those with a bit too much choice - I find it a bit overwhelming!); we also have a massive Sainsbury's fairly close by, so I will check that out when I get a chance. Quite like the look of American Apparel too (is that the shop with the dodgy adverts and mannequins? Might not have the courage to go there!).

Dh is running the London Marathon next month, so I might be able to wangle a trip to Uniqlo while we're there to check out sizing.

H and M perhaps.
Threes no one reliable source. You'll have to look everywhere.

John Lewis own brand are excellent but I also second Dorothy Perkins. They do a winter weight and a summer weight, and they do several block colours in a frw different necklines and sleeve lengths. Most importantly they keep their shape unlike Gap rhymes with crap and they're very reasonably priced.

Haven't been to uniqlo for ages but have always been pleased with their longevity and quality.

I could have written your post, OP! I'm the same height and also long bodied - I find it hard to get good basic tops too.

Uniqlo came up trumps for me, and I have a couple from DPs too. Gap: very thin; m&s: waaaay too short.

[Sigh] who thought it would be so hard?!

I'm 5'10", not especially long bodied but long enough to cause issues with some t-shirts. My collection (all plain or striped) are from H&M and Next. Next have loads of colours this season in various necklines and sleeve lengths. I sent back the white one I ordered as too thin and transparent but the colours have been fine. I have a couple of DP t-shirts from previous years but only 'just' long enough - may be different this year.

Uniqlo sound worth investigating...

american apparel and uniqlo

Puddles at T-shirt at £200 is a little more than high street prices

Where do you shop? Harrods?

In the real world £70 and £200 are hugely expensive for basic T-shirts.

I find the H & M organic cotton T-shirts a much better quality and thicker than most. They don't always have them in the shops, but online. Gap T-shirts are very thin. I manged to buy some reasonably quality ones in Next a few weeks ago.

LTS has some in different colours, 2 for £25, I've had them from there before and they are OK.

£200 for a t-shirt?! Are you on something? What a waste of money, and I say that as someone who might pay that for good knitwear or jeans.

dont' be scared of the american apparel shops, they staff are really helpful usually! would recommend their products as mine have lasted years.

H&M and Petit Bateau.