For our column “What I Can’t Live Without,” we’ve interviewed hundreds of famous people about their favorite products — here, we’re going deep into their favorite T-shirts. If you needed any proof that these celebrities really are just like us, many of them told us that once they find their Goldilocks tee, they stick to it. And some of them are so obsessed with their favorite that they buy it in bulk and wear one every day. Here, you’ll find plenty of basics from affordable brands, including Hanes and Uniqlo, as well as some splurge options from Strategist-loved brands like Noah and Jungmaven that will last for years. To help you peruse their picks, we’ve organized this list by gender, and when more than one celebrity has recommended the same tee, we’ve included all of their quotes.
Unisex T-shirts
Carrie Brownstein (March 2024):
“I probably have these T-shirts in six or seven different colors. I’m actually wearing one right now. That is how on-brand I am. There’s a pocket, which I love, and sometimes I’ll put my glasses in it. The shape is narrow, but it’s not tapered. It’s also not boxy, which I like. And it’s not cropped. So it has great proportionality. It’s soft and it washes well, which I think is important. One indicator of a good T-shirt is that it can withstand being put through the laundry week after week because that’s what we do with T-shirts. They should grow with you, get worn in, and last for years.”
Geoff McFetridge (June 2023):
“I wear white T-shirts almost every day. These wear really evenly — I’ll wear them until they’re destroyed, but they have a good lifespan. And the fit is really good — I’m a medium, and it fits right. I used to wear Velva Sheen shirts, but I like that these are made locally here in Los Angeles. They’re made of reclaimed cotton fiber.”
Editor’s note: McFetridge wears this tee with a pocket, but that style has been discontinued. We’ve linked to a similar style without the pocket.
Catherine Opie (June 2021):
“I was wearing other T-shirts that started to get holes in them; they were expensive and disintegrating. So then I went to Buck Mason, whose T-shirts are half the price. I love the cotton they use, and I love the way these fit. They’re cut well enough that if I put a sport jacket over one, it can be somewhat formal. I have stacks of them in my closet.”
Cheyenne Jackson (January 2021):
“I’m a dad and I’m running around a lot, so I live in T-shirts. I like something that isn’t too schlumpy, isn’t too tight, and has some weight to it. I’m a bigger guy up top, and I love how these fit me in the shoulder; they fit my frame well, and I feel good wearing them. I own maybe 20? All different colors. I’m not too keen on shopping — I love to feel good and look good, but spending all day picking out clothes and trying stuff on is not my thing. So once I find something I like, I get a bunch.”
Shantell Martin (April 2021):
“This specific Noah tee checks all the boxes for me. It’s kind of a medium weight that feels really good. It’s nice quality, made in the USA from 100 percent cotton, and so simple. It just has the little Noah logo on the pocket. The pocket is important to me because I can put stickers in it. I carry these stickers around that say ‘Who are you?’ or ‘You are you,’ or ‘Are you you?’ If I bump into someone, like a fan who says they love my work or someone I know, I’ll give them a sticker. I’ve been doing this for about ten years. A shirt pocket is the easiest, most accessible place to keep stickers.”
Maggie Holladay (February 2021):
“My go-to uniform is this white tee with black Levi’s. If I’m trying to be fancy, I’ll wear a blazer or a trench coat, too. I walk to Kmart and get packs of them. And when all the tees inevitably get stained, I can just get a new pack because they’re so affordable.”
Shannon Maldonado (February 2021):
“It just has this really nice, relaxed, vintage fit. I like a true crewneck. I don’t want an open Bieber crewneck. I also like a longer short sleeve. I wear a lot of vintage clothing, and this feels like the vintage shirts I wear but in a reimagined lightweight cotton. I have the black one, and the inside seams are white, which I think is really nice.”
Women’s T-shirts
Amanda Seyfried (July 2023):
“I just wear T-shirts and jeans all the time. It’s what I feel comfortable in. I own at least 13 to 15 Jungmaven T-shirts. I have a bunch in my New York apartment and a bunch upstate, so I never have to pack them because they’re always around. They’re sustainable and organic, they fit beautifully on everyone, and they hold up in the wash. I like the lightweight cropped tee that’s a cotton-and-hemp blend. I wear them every day. I have one in my bag right now.”
Claudia Soare (February 2022):
“I think Skims has the best basics ever. I have their shirt in black, but I love this almost bleached olive color. They do such an incredible job with desaturated colors, and it’s very unique to them. They’re also so comfortable and made of very good material. It stays perfectly stretchy and doesn’t get loose around your waist after wearing it for a while. It stays tight, and they don’t shrink, either. They’re also a great cut. Sometimes I don’t like T-shirts like this because the sleeves are too short and make my arms feel and look weird — like, Why is there so much arm coming out? But this is just the perfect cut.”
Jessica Alba (December 2021):
“These T-shirts are awesome. I own them in all sorts of colors. They’re super flattering and cute, but they’re so comfortable. I wear them on planes. I wear them to run errands. I wear them to sleep. I wear them literally any time I can.”
Bobbi Brown (October 2018):
“I’m always looking for the perfect upgraded Hanes T-shirt. When I was a makeup artist in Paris, the models would all roll in wearing Hanes and jeans right out of bed, and of course they looked amazing. I tried the look, and it didn’t work on me. I wear this instead because it fits really nicely and holds up, unlike other T-shirts that can look ratty after one wash. You throw a Chanel blazer on it and you’re ready for anything.”
Gillian Flynn (August 2018):
“Their tees are ecofriendly and so soft it’s like a million puppies wore them for a million days and then sent them to me care of a pink cloud in the shape of a kitten.”
Men’s T-shirts
Eric Ripert (October 2023):
“I wear this every day of my life (unless I need to go somewhere elegant and I have to wear a suit, of course). But my uniform is jeans and a black T-shirt, every day of my life. I find the black color easy: If you sweat a little bit, it doesn’t show. If you stain it a little bit, it doesn’t show. I go to Uniqlo down the street from Le Bernardin or order 24 T-shirts online, and I wear them until they start to have holes. I like the way they feel. I like the neckline and that they’re not too long or short.”
Luka Sabbat (May 2024):
“I wear all black almost every day, so the black T-shirt is a staple of my closet. I hate when my shirts are longer than my jacket but also when shirts are too cropped. This specific T-shirt fits perfectly and goes with everything. It has a boxy fit, but the body’s not too short. And there’s this seam in front that makes it look like you’re wearing the shirt backward, but you’re not. I currently have five in my suitcase.”
Mick Jenkins (August 2023):
“Goodfellows are definitely the best white tees you’re going to get from a Target or Walmart. The collars are thick but not too thick — sometimes convenience-store white tees can end up choking you. It’s not a heavy shirt, but it’s not too light. I think with white T-shirts, if they’re too light, they can feel flimsy. Also, I’m tall, and I can get frustrated with shirts that, when you get to XL, they’re either not very large or they’re extremely long. Goodfellows is right in the middle. All you need is an iron, and it looks like a much better quality than just wearing it out of the packet. I think the only downside is it is very much a one-wear shirt: After you wash this shirt, it’s over.”
Fat Joe (August 2023):
“Think of a mechanic or a bus driver and how they have to wear a certain uniform — well, this is mine. On an ordinary day, I throw on a black tee, a pair of shorts, some sneakers, and I’m gone. I’ve got hundreds of black tees because I never wear them twice. I open a pack, put it on fresh. It’s like, Today’s a brand-new day. Let’s keep it moving.”
James Kennedy (July 2023):
“A white cotton T-shirt is like an old friend. It feels good and is always there for you. This is one of my go-tos. I’ve had mine for a while. I can wash it a ton and keep wearing it, and it looks and feels the same as it did on day one. Every time I wash it, it comes out great — nice and fresh. It’s supercomfortable and just easygoing. And my favorite thing is I can dress it up or down. I’d dress it up with black jeans and nicer shoes or with some shorts for a more daytime look.”
Marlon Wayans (March 2023):
“I’m a Calvin man. I don’t know how I went all these years without having an ad. It’s in my rider. I perform in these T-shirts because they’re soft without being too soft, formfitting yet loose, and durable — and they soak up sweat so I’m not looking crazy onstage. They’re perfect. I wear them on tour, at the gym, and as an undershirt.”
Tan France (June 2021):
“If you ever see me in a plain T-shirt, it is probably the J.Crew Broken-in Tee. It comes in an array of colors and feels so much softer than most other T-shirts. I want my clothes to be as comfortable as possible, and this is really, truly soft to the touch. Too many other T-shirts I’ve tried feel too box fresh. A small in this tee fits me perfectly, but if I want to French tuck, I’ll wear a medium. Here’s the thing with the French tuck: If the shirt you’re wearing is too fitted, it does not look right. It has to be a bit oversize, so I bought a few mediums specifically for French tucking.”
Russell Tovey (October 2020):
“I only discovered J.Crew T-shirts about five years ago, but I already have about 30 different ones, all slightly different colors or tones. Basically, whenever a new shade comes out, I buy one (in large). They’re deceptively simple, they wash well, and they’re an amazing fit. And I like that the colors aren’t too pop-y; they’re quite muted. To me, there’s nothing better than a plain T-shirt that just works — the more you wash it, the more you wear it, the more faded it gets, the nicer it is.”
Marc Newson (April 2021):
“I’ve been wearing Sunspel T-shirts for at least 30 years. I’m always trying to identify the ultimate product of its type, if for no other reason than because it’s one less thing for me to worry about. I set out to find the ultimate T-shirt, determined it is this, and now will go and buy 20 at a time. They’re fantastic: They fit brilliantly, last forever, and are the perfect combination of something you’d wear as an undergarment but also as a main shirt. They’re not too heavy, not too light, and stretch just the right amount.”
Antoni Porowski (October 2019):
“I have tried everything from the highest of the high to the lowest of the low. From Hanes to The Row, I’ve tried them all. What’s so nice about the Sunspel is that the collar is really nice and thin, not too thick. The sleeves are just the right length where you don’t have to roll them up, but you can once and it doesn’t look too much like a muscle tee. They’re not overly long or overly short. The proportions are perfect. I wear Gillette deodorant and it tends to yellow a lot of my T-shirts, but for some reason the Sunspel ones have not yellowed and I wear them all the time. And I never put mine in the dryer. Never, ever put them in the dryer. I just let them hang dry. I study this shit. Sorry to talk so much about T-shirts, but I’m very passionate about white T-shirts.”
Rumaan Alam (October 2020):
“At some point in the past couple of years, I stopped wearing white T-shirts and started wearing black T-shirts. It’s one of those things where your taste changes, and it’s hard to explain why. I bought, like, 12 black T-shirts from Everlane, so I always have one waiting for me. I wear them all the time. I think they fit really comfortably. They’re not close-fitting in a way that a feminine shirt would be, but they’re not baggy in the way that an athletic shirt might be. Part of what’s key is that they don’t go down too long — a lot of men’s clothes go down too long, and I’m short so it just makes me look ridiculous, like a child. I like that these land just below the waist.”
Alexander Chee (July 2018):
“These T-shirts have just a very nice V-neck shape that’s flattering both when you have a shirt over it and when you wear it as is. It’s good-quality cotton that holds up. I was never a deep-V person, no offense to those who are, but I think this is another thing I’ve had to think about that I never anticipated: How much of your chest hair do you want to show people when you’re out socially? As far as something I can wear under a dress shirt or with shorts or jeans, this is what I want.”
Richard Meier (March 2018):
“On weekends, you want to dress casually, and this T-shirt fits well and is nice material. You can wash it several times and it doesn’t fray. I prefer black T-shirts over any color.”
Kevin Kwan (May 2017):
“What can I say? I have one in every color of the rainbow. They’re the staple. They’re so comfortable and so flattering. I’m wearing one right now, actually. You can wear it when it’s warm outside and throw a blazer on and feel dressy. I buy them in bulk — they’re like my version of a Hanes T-shirt. Something about the cotton blend feels so good and cool against the skin. Also, the way it drapes is great. I’m a V-neck kind of guy, too, because I think it’s just a bit dressier.”
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