Decent basics - what's worth the investment?

[leftshark]

Where does everyone get their decent investment basics from please?

My style is clean minimal, so a mix of H&M/COS/some more high-end stuff; I have a good roster of trousers/skirts/seperates I'm happy with, but really struggle with t shirts and basic tops and am getting frustrated with my cycle of buying basics that last about 3 wears before they get ratty or out of shape and are relegated to pjs. I love the quality and heaviness of COS t shirts but as I'm pear shaped they tend to be quite loose and long, and I need things that are either a bit cropped or shaped well for those of us with more curves. I bought a couple of lovely linen tees from H&M but they have already lost their shape after only 2 washes, and I want something more sustainable.

I'm happy to invest - I like the fit and quality of M&S ribbed vest tops on the lower end of the scale, but their t shirts just don't flatter or hold their shape - I want some heavy weight t shirts that will survive, are flattering, and have some options of cropped vs long line to mix with high waist bottoms. Have been looking at Boden, All Saints and Baukjen this evening - any thoughts? Trying hard not to just keep buying cheap ones from h&m and continually replacing them when they stretch, both for my sanity and also to be more mindful about shopping. Have been told Uniqlo might be a good shout?

Seasalt style in general isn't for me but I do have their long-sleeve Easel t-shirts in a range of colours. They wash and last well.

Arket is supposed to be good quality. I’ve heard lots of good reviews about their t shirts. Me&Em also get good reviews.

The COS clean cut T shirt is a lovely flattering fit, heavy fabric and a bit more cropped than others I’ve tried, so looks smart tucked in or left loose https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/t-shirts/product.the-clean-cut-t-shirt-white.0960679001.html I’ve got it in black white and navy and wear them loads and still going strong.

Next have some lovely heavyweight ones at the moment too, they’re longer and more oversized so you can definitely size down on these https://www.next.co.uk/style/st235944/c58299#c58299

I am very impressed with Kettlewell. Huge array of colours and they are plain.

I have some nice staples from Baukjen

I haven't been that impressed with Baukjen recently. Uniqlo basics have been great over the years, but I have been less impressed with their knitwear in the last 12 months. Tops, shirts etc have all been fine though. M&S generally rocking it at the moment, but still a few issues with fit. However they are much better than they used to be.

& Other Stories and Arket are in the H&M group so you would probs like their stuff.

Massimo Dutti is good too.

Next

Weekday basic t shirts are good and have washed and kept their shape. The white one hasn't kept its brightness for me but that could be my washing methods not the t shirt.

Around £10-12 each

www.asos.com/prd/204433940?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

APC and Perfectly Basics are both great quality.

I wrestle with this every year although I'm looking for different things from you op. (I want long sleeves, right neckline, not black or white).

My most recent ones were from Rapanui. They're ok but I wouldn't rave about them.

I'd try Community Clothing if they did some that weren't either short sleeved or striped. I'm not sure if they'd work for you but everything I've bought from them has been good quality.

The best ones I've ever had were from Toast. They were £45, nearly killed me but they're still going strong about 8 years later. I think they're about £60 now and I gather the quality isn't as good plus this year's colours were grim.

The best ones are supposed to be Sunspel but so they bloody should be as they're about £80.

Weirdly I've found Amazon basics to be good quality t-shirts. Decent weight and they wash and tumble dry well. I'm not sure that any white T does more than a year of wear. I'm not tall and also pear shaped and they hang well.
I have concerns about sustainability and their efforts to produce clothing ethically. I haven't found any info which leads me to believe they are not doing anything.

I agree with Toast. I also love White Company. I would search vented and try get good quality second -hand.

I hardly ever find decent T shirts second hand sadly. I think a good T is such a rare thing that people must hang on to them till they fall apart.

Primark menswear t shirts have lasted the best for me, I have had American vintage and James Perse but they haven't lasted as well, I guess the fabric is thinner to start with so its different maybe.

For the coming winter, I need warm tidy clothes - new job in London / so browsing the sales online.
A slim cut wool blazer in burgundy from Pure for under £90.
Sweaters and ankle boots from Celtic &Co in the sales.
Now I'm looking for long sleeved shirts or tops. I check out anywhere that has a sale. House of Bruar is hardly my age range but found good quality cotton Tshirts for £20.

I’ve got several long sleeved t shirts from J Crew which wash well and keep their shape. They come in lots of colours. I’ve never tried their short sleeved ones but have no reason to believe they wouldn’t be just as good.

I really rate the Saint and Sofia T-shirts - the material is quite heavyweight and flattering and the sleeves are folded so they are a bit more 'interesting' than a standard plain tee. They're not cheap but I've had a couple of mine for at least three or four years and they have lasted fantastically, both in colour (they're black; I mostly wear black!) and shape.

Last about three years?

I don't think you can expect this of basics - they will have lost their sharpness. These are things that need to be bought regularly surely?

I'm pear-shaped too OP and totally second @lemonlollies recommendation of the new Cos Clean Cut. Their Full Volume is also shorter than usual, and if you want a proper crop the High Line (currently only in stripes but I expect they'll do more solids soon).

I love the weight of Uniqlo U tees but they come up long. Their shorter styles are not in such nice weighty material, boo.
Other anti-recommendations (on basis of length): Arket, Muji, Community Clothing, Colourful Standard.
The struggle is real!

Uniqlo t-shirts are nice and thick, don't lose their shape and in all colours. I personally don't like the shape on me though - the neckline is too high and the short sleeves too long. But they're decently long in the body and fitted shape (I'm 5ft 11 so need length)
I recently bought a boxy cropped-ish t-shirt from Sainsbury's and am super impressed with the fit and fabric. Their linen t-shirt, not to much.

I find quality on Baukjen excellent, although the choice isn't huge.

20+ years ago H&M's quality was decent. I have a grey 90% wool large funnel-necked sweater of theirs: must be 20 years old and still very wearable. But the quality plummeted and I wouldn't look for classic items that you hope to wash and wear regularly for years from H&M.

I think if you really want stuff to last you need to spend more in the first place. I see the names that immediately spring to mind have been mentioned. You might also find Arket of interest. Unfortunately when I link to their heavyweight t-shirts, it's the neon yellow that comes up but there are other colours.

https://www.arket.com/en_gbp/women/tops/product.heavyweight-t-shirt-yellow.1135758008.html

All Saints have shorter boxier t-shirts: this is just one style:
https://www.allsaints.com/women/t-shirts/anna-t-shirt/WM215Y-5479.html

Me+Em have a number of shorter t-shirts and are good quality that should last:
https://www.meandem.com/tops/t-shirts

I was going to suggest Acne but their t-shirts seem to start at around £150 and you don't need to spend as much as that!

Baukjen too, but they have increased their prices so much ! I tend to buy in the sales only now and I do miss their jersey basics.

I buy lots of basics from Muji and Jigsaw. Uniqlo for base garments but I wish they were cut longer. marks and spencer used to do a long line basic long sleeve but then they stopped.