Super soft shirt - but where from?
October 31, 2011 12:53 PM Subscribe
I need a ridiculously soft white t-shirt to complete the perfect pyjamas, the most comfortable money can buy. What brands would you recommend, and where can I buy them (delivery by Friday to, or physically in, London)?
Additionally, what goes towards making a t-shirt soft?
You can get James Perse clothing at a few places in London--their tee shirts are expensive but very soft cotton.
posted by crush-onastick at 1:05 PM on October 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by crush-onastick at 1:05 PM on October 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Specifically the American Apparel 50/50 shirt. MOST SOFTEST EVAR.
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:06 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by Lutoslawski at 1:06 PM on October 31, 2011
Yeah, I assume some kind of terrible dark magicks are involved in American Apparel shirts, because they are seriously like the finest silken babyhide or something.
posted by elizardbits at 1:07 PM on October 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 1:07 PM on October 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
(Keep in mind that they're sized to fit tight, so if you want something loose, go a size up.)
posted by griphus at 1:08 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by griphus at 1:08 PM on October 31, 2011
If you're open to shirts that aren't 100% cotton, bamboo is known for being ridiculously soft. Shirts with modal content can also be super soft, but sometimes they can pill a bit and wear more than 100% cotton.
posted by Madamina at 1:13 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by Madamina at 1:13 PM on October 31, 2011
Seconding James Pearse t-shirts. I love sleeping in mine... sooo so soft.. ahhhh.
posted by seriousmoonlight at 1:13 PM on October 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by seriousmoonlight at 1:13 PM on October 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, if you're not exclusively considering cotton and price is not an issue, I'd recommend garments from Icebreaker. They use incredibly high quality Merino wool for their garments, and it is warmer, more breathable, and more comfortable than any other garment I've owned. I know what you're thinking- WTF, wool? I've always hated wool garments, and have bad memories of many a grandma-knitted sweater chafing my neck. Trust me- this stuff is different.
posted by EKStickland at 1:24 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by EKStickland at 1:24 PM on October 31, 2011
Best answer: This is a little more pricey than AA, and without the sexual harassment concerns, but Norse Project t-shirts are like something from another planet: Planet Soft.
posted by roofus at 1:58 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by roofus at 1:58 PM on October 31, 2011
the most comfortable money can buy
To push this to the point of absurdity, Zimmerli shirts are supposed to be really nice and they better be at $179 a pop.
posted by mullacc at 2:26 PM on October 31, 2011
To push this to the point of absurdity, Zimmerli shirts are supposed to be really nice and they better be at $179 a pop.
posted by mullacc at 2:26 PM on October 31, 2011
Alternative Apparel Eco-Heather is pretty soft.
They don't launder very well though. After about a year of normal wash & wear, they're annoyingly see-through.
posted by elizardbits at 3:55 PM on October 31, 2011
They don't launder very well though. After about a year of normal wash & wear, they're annoyingly see-through.
posted by elizardbits at 3:55 PM on October 31, 2011
Best answer: I would suggest Sunspel - a classic english brand, top end construction and quality and unlike Zimmerli they don't use sea island cotton (which is a monopoly and so absurdly priced) so they are more reasonable.
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 4:09 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by Another Fine Product From The Nonsense Factory at 4:09 PM on October 31, 2011
I bought some Calvin Klein tank tops at Costco recently that are soooooooooo soft (and cheap)
posted by supermedusa at 4:10 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by supermedusa at 4:10 PM on October 31, 2011
Best answer: Seconding Sunspel - seriously good quality, incredibly soft.
posted by jack_mo at 5:56 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by jack_mo at 5:56 PM on October 31, 2011
"Soft" t-shirts are clothing that need to be broken in, preferably (?) by you and your skin oils.
100% cotton break in relatively more easily than mixed/synthetic fibres. I don't have experience with bamboo fibre, but hemp clothing can be incredibly soft, but take significantly more breaking in than cotton.
Is a second hand t-shirt acceptable? Wash at the hottest setting a couple of times and then make it your own...?
EKStickland brings up an interesting point; in my experience with merino, the fibre ends aren't pointy/squared off; merino wool isn't scratchy (and I'm very sensitive to wool, normally).
But I totally stand by worn-in cotton. Hmm, as a shortcut, perhaps try to treat a new cotton t-shirt with lanolin or mink oil?
posted by porpoise at 7:27 PM on October 31, 2011
100% cotton break in relatively more easily than mixed/synthetic fibres. I don't have experience with bamboo fibre, but hemp clothing can be incredibly soft, but take significantly more breaking in than cotton.
Is a second hand t-shirt acceptable? Wash at the hottest setting a couple of times and then make it your own...?
EKStickland brings up an interesting point; in my experience with merino, the fibre ends aren't pointy/squared off; merino wool isn't scratchy (and I'm very sensitive to wool, normally).
But I totally stand by worn-in cotton. Hmm, as a shortcut, perhaps try to treat a new cotton t-shirt with lanolin or mink oil?
posted by porpoise at 7:27 PM on October 31, 2011
As far as material, nothing seems to beat Combed Cotton.
posted by ajax287 at 8:36 PM on October 31, 2011
posted by ajax287 at 8:36 PM on October 31, 2011
Best answer: My husband only wears ridiculously soft t-shirts made of pure cotton. Some of those I've observed as particularly soft come from Sunspel, Nicole Farhi and Nudie Jeans. You might also want to look at Folk in Spitalfields (conveniently close to Sunspel). He recommends taking a look at Brown's behind Bond Street Tube and Diverse on Upper Street. All these are pricy options.
posted by tavegyl at 1:41 AM on November 1, 2011
posted by tavegyl at 1:41 AM on November 1, 2011
By which I meant to type, I recommend looking at. I can't yet read his mind.
posted by tavegyl at 1:43 AM on November 1, 2011
posted by tavegyl at 1:43 AM on November 1, 2011
Thirding James Perse. They look fantastic after many washings and the fabric is wonderfully soft and smooth.
posted by Dragonness at 7:56 AM on November 1, 2011
posted by Dragonness at 7:56 AM on November 1, 2011
I've never seen a bamboo t-shirt but bamboo towels are omg soft.
posted by dagnyscott at 9:21 AM on November 1, 2011
posted by dagnyscott at 9:21 AM on November 1, 2011
Response by poster: Thank you all - went with Sunspel in the end, and very happy!
posted by djgh at 11:43 AM on November 10, 2011
posted by djgh at 11:43 AM on November 10, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by griphus at 1:04 PM on October 31, 2011 [1 favorite]