Once frowned upon, the suit with a t-shirt combo is now a viable sartorial statement, effortlessly merging formal with casual. Opting to ditch your button up in favour of a t-shirt under a suit adds a rakish sensibility to a once traditional garment, making the suit void of any notions of stuffiness and allowing it to be suitable for everyday wear and casual office attire.
How to style suits with t-shirts
Keen to infuse your tailoring with a sense of casual elegance? Here’s how to wear suits with t-shirts.
Casual
A debonair take on streetwear, wearing lightweight suits in cotton or linen with t-shirts and white sneakers makes for an effortlessly stylish look. Plus, you can get more wear out of your suit during the summer months without having to sweat it out in a collared shirt and tie. Alternatively, pairing cropped trousers with a blazer and loafers (sockless, of course) exudes just the right amount of IDGAF-energy. While white or neutral colours are always a safe bet, don’t discount the power of a good graphic tee.
Smart casual
For smart casual attire suitable for the workplace or evening drinks, opt for suits in failsafe colours like charcoal, navy, deep blue, and grey, pair with a neutral t-shirt and finish the look off with some leather brogues, loafers, or derby shoes.
Streetstyle
Streetstyle looks are the perfect opportunity to experiment with unique suit and t-shirt colour combinations. Opt for a patterned suit (like Chris Hemsworth’s paisley print number) with a white t-shirt, or play around with vibrant complementary colours. Good colour combinations include a navy suit with a pale pink t-shirt or a green suit with an orange t-shirt.
What type of t-shirt should you wear under a suit?
Finding the right t-shirt to wear under a suit isn’t as simple as simply throwing whatever’s in your freshly washed pile on and heading out the door. Much like selecting the right button up shirt to wear with a suit (Dress shirts! Silk shirts! Cuban collars! Patterns! No patterns!), choosing the right t-shirt requires a little forethought. As a general rule, a slim to regular fit t-shirt that sits flush with the body works to emulate the clean lines of a well-fitting dress shirt and conveys a higher level of formality and intentionality than a baggy t-shirt. However, a slightly loose t-shirt imparts a more relaxed vibe and can aid in dressing down a suit for more casual occasions. When opting for a looser t-shirt, it’s always a good idea to tuck it in to prevent your ‘fit from coming across as sloppy.
When it comes to fabric and fabric weights, aim to match the heft (or lack thereof) of the suit you’re wearing. For example, a tweed, cashmere, merino, or flannel suit should not be paired with a gauzy v-neck t-shirt or a thin Hanes tank. Instead, look for heavyweight cotton t-shirts with a well-defined crew neck, such as those by Uniqlo or CDLP. For more refined occasions, formality can be projected through either a knitted cotton fabrication with ribbed details at the hem, or even a merino wool t-shirt.
In the same vein, a linen or seersucker suit should be paired with an equally breezy t-shirt — this is the time for lightweight cotton styles (make sure the fabric isn’t too thin though, nobody wants to see nips).
Best t-shirts to wear under a suit
While there’s no shortage of t-shirts out there, not all tees were created equal. Here, we’ve rounded up the brands making our favourite t-shirts to wear with a suit.
1. CDLP
Swedish brand CDLP has some of the best t-shirts to pair with a suit in terms of fabric and weight variety. The brand’s midweight and heavyweight t-shirts are cut from a blend of lyocell (a semi-synthetic fibre derived from certified renewable wood sources) and pima cotton and boast a soft texture with a good drape. Both styles have a thick collar that holds up well and looks neat under a suit, however the midweight is our favourite for its subtle ribbed knit texture.
2. Asket
Capsule wardrobe proponent Asket has just one short-sleeved t-shirt in its lineup, but it’s a good one. Cut from a heavyweight cotton jersey, it has a straight fit and a neat ribbed neckline. We particularly like the autumnal tones within the lineup, like the burgundy and dusty green.
3. Axel Arigato
With its irreverent and idiosyncratic fusion of Scandinavian and Japanese design principles, Axel Arigato has made a name for itself in the emerging luxury space. The Swedish brand’s t-shirts err on the oversized size; crafted from cotton, they often feature dropped shoulders and are dyed using a specific technique to cultivate a vintage look. Ideal for guys who are trying to imbue their suits with a sense of edge.
4. Loro Piana
As with any garment, luxurious materials can elevate a t-shirt beyond being ‘just’ a t-shirt. Such is the case with Loro Piana’s lineup of The Gift of Kings wool t-shirts; crafted from delicate low-micron-count virgin wool and executed in a classic body-skimming cut, they’re impossibly soft and light and won’t have anyone missing the presence of your button up shirt.
5. Uniqlo
There are a few certainties in life. Death, taxes, and Uniqlo’s cotton t-shirts. To date, the Japanese retailer’s pure cotton t-shirts have never failed to provide a solid value proposition. Our favourite Uniqlo t-shirt to style under a suit is the Uniqlo U 100% Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt, thanks to the sturdy binding at the collar that helps keep its shape and prevent sagging.
6. Venroy
Homegrown Australian brand Venroy has a vast selection of classic plain and printed cotton t-shirts. However, it’s its selection of knit cotton, tencel, linen knit t-shirts that piques our interest. With ribbed and raw edge details, they’re the perfect way to add textural interest into your outfit. Their airy fabrications and undone aesthetic mean they’re particularly well suited to laidback coastal style; think teamed with linen suiting or odd trousers.
7. Sunspel
British brand Sunspel has been perfecting the humble t-shirt for well over a century. The result? Regular- to slim-fit styles crafted from Californian Supima cotton. Even James Bond is a fan — with Daniel Craig’s Bond wearing a Sunspel t-shirt (tailored, of course!) in Casino Royale. The aptly named Classic T-shirt is a failsafe option, but the brand’s heavyweight and midweight iterations are also good options for those wanting something with a little more heft.
8. Artknit Studios
Artknit Studios prioritises natural fibres across its lineup, with its knit t-shirts crafted from cotton, linen, and wool. While the brand has classic t-shirt silhouettes crafted from knit fabric, we favour the iterations that come with a ribbed hem, which gives them a neater look when teamed with a suit.
Enjoyed this guide to styling t-shirts with suits? Check out our other men’s style guides here.
Words by Theo Rosen
