Most t-shirts are fine. That’s the problem. They sit in the drawer, they do a passable job, and they never quite earn their place in an outfit. We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what separates a t-shirt you just own from one you actually reach for, and it comes down to a few things: the weight of the fabric, the way the neckline sits, whether the length works untucked as well as tucked. Small things that are not small at all when you’re standing in front of your wardrobe at eight in the morning.

The t-shirts we’ve pulled together here are the ones that pass that test. Some are classic white and cream because those never stop being useful. Some are in colours we’ve been genuinely excited about. There are fitted cuts and relaxed ones, because both have a place depending on what you’re pairing them with. Nothing here is trying too hard. That’s the whole point of a great t-shirt.

The best one in your wardrobe should feel like an answer, not a compromise.