Plain tops that still look good after washing...

[Hopefully]

OK, I have just flung most of the contents of my wardrobe into a recycling bag, having come to the realisation that
a) I can no longer use the excuse of having recently given birth to look crap, given that DS is over 7 months
b) black makes me look like a corpse (colour me beautiful lady told me this a looong time ago yet i have only just seen the truth in her words).
c) The t-shirts that I wore when pregnant have been stretched totally out of shape, making me look like I have a floppy pregnancy every time I wear them now, which is not a fabulous look.

I need to go buy some jeans after DP forcibly removed the maternity jeans and threw them in the bin, but the other thing I am really lacking is plain long and short sleeved tops. So where can I get t-shirts that won't go all faded and sad after only a few washes? Don't mind spending £20 on a t-shirt, but only if I'm going to get at least a couple of seasons' use out of it. Gap? Kettlewell Colours? Kew? Anyone had success with any of them, or anywhere else?

TBH, and I am ashamed to admit, the only place I have found that just plain basic tops that last (even the black ones) is M&S, not their basic ones but the ones that are about £10 each. They do do some dodgy colours though.

GAP

no shrinking, dont seem to go baggy

boden
uniqlo

www.landsend.co.uk

Gap
Fat face
Espirit

All wash well

These are all such grown up shops. I have just thrown out approximately 5 tonnes of H&M/TopShop type crap.

Tragically I think I am also going to have to cut down on some of the quite expensive clothes I have that go with nothing at all in my wardrobe. What on earth possessed me to buy:
a) A very nice shaped short sleeved top in what can only be described as Coleman's mustard
b) A giant houndstooth patterned overcoat
c) A Boden fun skirt in a size 8 (I was last a size 8 when I was about 13)
d) A pretty wrap dress in just about the only shade of green that doesn't look nice on me
e) 3,000 pairs of high heels from places like LK Bennett, when I can only really cope with wearing them while sitting at my desk at work

I'm sure I used to be stylish. It all went wrong when I tried to brave the world of office attire while retaining some individuality. I'm only 26 and I need a makeover!

Hopefully

My DS is also 7 months and I have also just had a wardrobe purge. Am now living in one pair of jeans and about 4 t shirts. The Ts are good mind - recently got some Boden longsleeved scoop necks ones - one white, one blue/white stripes) and have washed and worn them a few times. Still good shape, colour etc. In fact very pleased. Am going to get some short sleeved ones too. I won't do a link because I am away from home and on dial-up and it would take the rest of the night!

I bought a couple of Gap ones a few weeks ago but thb I am really disappointed with them. After one wear and one wash each they have both gone a bit 'loose' around the neckline and don't sit properly. Had I paid full prive for them I would have been very disappointed.

The couple I have from M&S on the other hand (not their cheapest range / organic cotton) have washed really well.

i agree with janeite about the Gap t shirts. i bought several of the l/s scoop necks and have been disappointed - they do go baggy pretty quickly.

i have not been desperate enough to try M&S but may have to do so

the best t shirts I have ever had were a blue one from H&M and a red Next maternity t shirt.....seems pretty random

I am watching this thread with interest, I am always looking for great base layers like t shirts....had a quick look on Boden, and also found these little cami tops at £15, which seems pretty bargaineous (am pondering whether to order or now...)

American Apparel does amazing tshirt basics - you must look here!store.americanapparel.co.uk/. You have to ignore the dodgy 'underage' aesthetic of the photography though.

I am having a clothes clear out as well and one of my best wearing t-shirts is from Fat Face, been puked on/snotted on/left in a heap on the floor/washed/tumbled dried tons of times and still same shape. I think the trick is not to actually go for t-shirts but things like t-shirts such as this:

www.fatface.com/Tees+Tops/QUITO-TEE/invt/21363

you mean rather than this lovely dress from American Apparel??

Gosh, I should order one of those dresses in every colour...
Had completely forgotten about American Apparel, despite owning two tops from them which I stretched to death while pregnant.

Interesting about Gap - I will avoid! Will brave an M&S top and an AA one (and a boden one if I have a discount voucher kicking around) and see which one lasts better before ordering more. Really need more bottoms too, but am in that annoying inbetween phase

I actually threw a salmon pink overcoat into the charity bag last night. I am assuming I bought it from a charity shop, but I literally have no recollection of ever owning such a thing.
And the Uggs are gone - they had worn in that uneven way that Uggs do and made me walk with a kind of limp. Also a moth or something had eaten a small hole in them

Another vote for uniqlo. Good quality, cheap, avaliable in a range of colours, next shapes and sleeve lengths. They wash well and last beautifuly.

I have been very pleased with the ones I have had from Kettlewell - a great choice of colours, seem to wash well and retain their shape.

Deffo Fat Face, they last for ever - oh and ignore the 'do not tumble dry' on the label, they lie!

Would uniqlo be ok for a long-bodied type?

To of my best vest tops are from Primark and at 5'10" they are the right length for me. They have been washed and tumbled dried a 100 times. The label says atmosphere which I presume is a sub-section of Primark (I've actually only been there twice).

I used to love Gap Ts. Bought one about a month ago and it now looks like a rag. Similar Boden top arrived the same day and still looks fab.

I vote for uniqlo too - especially their t's that have a bit of stretch, as this means they really keep their shape. I like the fact that the styles are simple, flatteringly fitted without being tight and they come in a really wide range of colours.

DownyEmerald - I wouldn't say they are very long though - the opposite in fact. I am fairly short-bodied and they fit perfectly on me but I never use them for that long under-shirt layered look...

I ordered some Uniglo t shirts and was disappointed. They were really REALLY skin tight and showed every line of underwear. And they would have highlighted every bit of back flab and saggy tummy if I happened to have any. Which I don't as I am toned and gorgeous and a size 6

So the search for a decent t shirt goes on...sigh

I will venture into Fat Face for the first time next week on the recommendation of this thread. They better be good at £35 for a t shirt [shocked primarni shopper]

SoMuchToBits - what is kettlewell sizing like? I'm a 16-18 and their sizes are 16 or 18-20, so I'd be tempted to go for the bigger one, but if they're quite generous I might get away with the 16!

MissGB, I would say the sizing is fairly average. I am a 12, and found them to be a good fit. I bought the "lifestyle" tops, which are cotton with stretch, and they do have a fair bit of Lycra, so fit reasonably snugly, but also retain their shape well because of this. I haven't tried their natural tops (100% cotton no Lycra) or their Simply Smart tops (viscose), so I can't really comment on them.

I think if you were buying the Lifestyle ones, I would be tempted to go for the larger size, just because of the Lycra content. Hope this helps.

Thanks for that - will def go for the bigger size as I don't want them to be too figure-hugging!