Operation Wardrobe Upgrade: cotton tops

[badgermonkey]

So one of my New Year's resolutions was to buy less, but buy better. I've already started with vowing not to buy acrylic knitwear any more (it always looks so bright and promising in the shop, then turns bobbly and horrible after one wash) and have been scoping out better trousers and skirts, but what about basic cotton tops? I wear either vest tops or long-sleeved scoop-necks mostly, and my Primark/New Look buys are always a disappointment, what with being all misshapen and the seams coming undone quickly. I'd rather pay more and have two or three really nice ones - but where do you get them? Don't mind paying more than usual but I'd hate to do that and get nothing better than usual.

I find Primark cotton tops with lycra realy good! Just stocked up on loads of different colours for layering purposes.

No more acrylic? why not??!!

Gap and Boden do good quality t-shirts and tops that wash well and last. Gap are good for neutral colours, Boden are good for colours & patterns.

Enjoy your new year wardrobe .

American Vintage is always hyped on here. Worth a look.

gap merino tops are lovely, good length too

There might be good acrylic out there, ubergeek, but I haven't found it! I always love them for a month and then they start to look cheap.

Will check these brands out, thanks! I don't think my Primark ones have lycra, maybe that's the problem.

Cotton vest tops from M&S underwear dept.

I like these.

Are the Gap merino tops machine washable, does anybody know?

I wash them in the machine, on a wool wash, they are doing fine so far Janeite

No they are handwash - I am wearing one at the moment!

another vote for american vintage

American Vintage - absolutely brilliant.

Looks and feels lovely but needs careful handwashing.

10% discount through mn.

pretty limited stock but half price here

Yes - the tight long sleeved Primark ones are surprisingly good - mine have lasted over a year with regular washing.

Primark vests on the other hand are a pile of shite.

American Vintage looks amazing. How seethrough is it? Do you always need a vest under it?

Yes you do Milly.

I just wear a basic h&m vest top underneath.

some of their things are thicker than others. I've got an inky purple tee from then which is fine solo.

How do you get the 10% mywardrobe discount, traceybath?

Go through the mn discount page.

I have had some terrible cotton tops from Gap recently, but Boden always seem to be pretty reliable.

For good value, non-acrylic knitwear, look here www.woolovers.com/. I have several, and they are lovely. The cashmere/merino mix is fabby.

I bought two Primarmi long sleeved, longer length tops two years ago, and they were of wildly different quality to each other, although I still wear them. They're ok.

White Stuff stuff seems to last me well, but can be too short for my long body/mama tum.

Topshop does some good basics IMO.

Thanks Dexter and Ducky.

I have a couple of decent long sleeved t-shirts from M&S but you have to pick and choose, as some of them aren't so good. Gap ones are dreadful nowadays.

I tried a lovely one on in the sale in Hobbs but to my surprise it seemed to come up very small (unusually for Hobbs).

I really need some new ones, so will keep watching this thread with interest. I don't shop at Primark and I need to try on in store rather than buy online. The American Vintage ones are far more money than I would be willing to pay.

Must say I find gap pretty useless for everything nowadays - what has happened to it?

The AV one is expensive but I'm hoping I'll buy one rater than 3 from h&m. Must say I didn't like the m&s ones - just not a great cut on me.

Can I second the Marks 'perfect' ones?
Have only got in white but it is wonderfully soft and nicely long .Have washed a few times now,haven't risked the dryer though.

Fat Face have these which are very nice. I have a pale blue one.