The Perfect White Tee Pt. 1

If I HAD to choose ONE top to wear for the rest of my life, it would definitely be the perfect white tee. Despite (and also due to) its simplicity, its versatility is limitless. It can be worn alone or as a layering piece; daytime or night; dressed up or dressed down.

Although one might resort to a cheap version of a white tee due to the common perception that it's a what-to-wear-when-I-have-nothing-else-to-wear piece (I'm guilty of this as well), I realize an investment in a premium tee will go a long way.

I will say the key differentiating factors between a cheap and premium tee (other than the obvious factor of cost) is the fabric and fit:

While a cheap tee will appear soft at first glance and maybe even touch, you'll most likely be left with pilling and change in behavior once it's put through the wringer i.e. the wash. Excuse me for digressing, but doesn't this comparison sound alarmingly similar to meeting the right guy? Ahem* moving on. A premium tee on the other hand will go through several washes and the tee will actually feel softer as it's broken into with time (unfortunately, due to the nature of cotton, it will eventually have to be replaced at some point but much later than the former.)

A cheap tee will most likely do for most body types especially when worn as a layering piece, but it's not the most flattering when worn alone. It tends to cling to areas where you'd prefer it not to and/or hang awkwardly in others. Not to say that this is always the case, but I found this to be true with most lower end shirts. However, a premium tee can hold its own, so to speak, no matter how you wear it. 

Another factor that often differentiates the latter from the former is country of manufactured good. This topic can be discussed on another day but to keep it short, most tend to overlook this, but consider quality-control, job suppliance, etc.

Considering all this, premium shirts are the clear winners, right? Except we should reintroduce the small factor of cost. When you look at the booming popularity of companies such as Forever 21 and H&M, we all know that cost is actually a HUGE factor in determining what you buy. I'm not pointing any fingers here... I gravitate towards stores such as these (especially Zara) when it comes to buying the newest and fleeting trends. But that's exactly it. Trends come and go and unless you're Ivanka Trump or J. Lo, most people don't (and shouldn't) shell out the big bucks for the neon stretch dress inspired by scuba wear. However, if it's something that will be worn time and time again, wash after wash, it might actually be worth the extra dollars to invest in say...that beautiful white shirt :)

Here are some that are made with high quality fabrics--(su)pima cotton, modal, tencel and/or silk--with an amazing drape (costs range from $50-$250):

Net-A-Porter

1. Helmut Lang   2. T by Alexander Wang   3. Splended    4. James Perse   5. Kain   6. The Row

How it's worn as a layering piece:

whowhatwear.com

Kate Moss

wenn.com

Charlize Theron

whowhatwear.com

Alone:

Agyness Deyn & Dree Hemingway

whowhatwear.com

Mary-Kate Olsen

skinnyblondegirl.com

Kate Bosworth

whowhatwear.com

-B

Simplicity is beautiful

J and I are finally back from our vacation in Europe. As much I didn't want to leave our last destination (Paris--who would, right? sigh) I knew we had to get back soon to complete a daunting number of tasks. But to transition slowly back into work mode, I decided to post an entry.

Over the years, I've come to learn who I am as a designer. When I got my first sewing machine at the age of 12, I was nothing close to a prodigy designer or anything of that sort. I simply took pieces I already owned and wasn't wearing for whatever reason and mended them to make them wearable. I turned an outdated blouse into a simple, sleeveless shirt. The plain old long-sleeved knit transformed into a shirt with the trendy 3/4 sleeve. Fast forward to fashion school and I was still designing pieces that were minimalistic and classic.

Even now, the designers that I'm inspired by (Alber Elbaz, Phoebe Philo, Derek Lam among many others) are all insanely creative but they're all about sophisticated clean lines. And although many avant-garde designers produce beautiful, awe-inspiring pieces, it's the simple yet chic designs that still catch my eye.

Some of my favorites from Fall 2012:

style.com                                                                      style.com

Raf Simon's last collection for Jil Sander. The beautiful simplicity just takes my breath away...

style.com

The Row. Love the beige on beige. So dreamy and feminine!

(side note: it's amazing that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen for the Row were the 2012 recipients of the coveted CFDA womenswear of the year award! They have come long ways since Full House, producing their girls' line at Wal-Mart and their tabloid days. LOVE their line!)

-B