Top to Tee

I wore a t-shirt on my first day at Marie Claire.

Some may call me crazy, but I view t-shirts as an "always" option. Comfortable and confident without trying too hard, the humble tee is a quick ticket to effortless style without screaming “I-really-really-thought-about-this.”

Of course, I didn’t exactly breeze into the Pacific Magazines building wearing a holey tee and pilled trackie pants*. Swagger-rending t-shirts may be, it is still worth dressing them up in the trappings of something fancier.

Softest heather grey and brushed silver hardware / photo: me

If it’s heather grey and as soft as hugging a bunny, let a dazzling statement necklace drape lazily over the neckline. There is something so sophisticated about shining, clear gems resting atop easygoing, light cotton. It always makes me feel like a rich, Russian ballerina, even though I am not remotely any of those things.

No introduction necessary for (by now) cult Jil Sander brights / photo: Susie Bubble

On the flipside, a white tee cuts like a diamond. The shape (crew, v-neck, whatever-you-please) and fit (baby, oversized, form-hugging – you name it) are almost irrelevant, so long those fibres are as white as they were on Day One. Plus, it presents a surprising opportunity to be bold. Colours will pop, so take the chance on fuchsias, or electric blues, or marigolds. Or all of them together, who cares? You can get away with flashing fashion borlz, so long as you play it out against the crispiest of white tees.

The lineup / photo: me

Then, there is the addictive black tee. Of which I currently own about six, with no signs of slowing down. Somehow, it is an incredibly liberating feeling to head out at cocktail hour – to a bar, a club, a party – wearing a t-shirt. Subversive, even. But it’s far too versatile a piece to ignore. Leather shorts, flippy skirts, palazzo pants…it all works. My favourite thing to do is come over all Emmanuelle Alt (read: cigarette jeans, four inch heels and a blazer thrown over the shoulders.) Try it and see if it doesn’t make you positively stomp around with attitude.

Easy luxe / photo: Rosie Tupper for Vogue.com.au

But the reason why the simple t-shirt hits staple status is because there is literally something for everyone. For a current season update, source one in military green. For girly cues, there are floral prints and pastels. For the adventurous, embellishments so heavy you will slouch.

Cool points: 10,000

* PS: In case you were wondering, I wore my grey cotton v-neck with black-on-black brocade cropped pants, grey Prada tote, black croc-print pointy flats, and a longline blazer draped over my shoulders Alt-style.

By The Industry Baby with 4 comments