The secret to a robust capsule wardrobe? A strong foundation. And no piece is a better starting block, sartorially speaking, than a classic tee. 

Like dad sneakers, T-shirts have enjoyed a relatively recent renaissance. There was a time when they were relegated to the ranks of sportswear, pyjamas, and off-duty attire (best not to dwell on those darker fashion days when form took precedence over function and comfort), but a change in sartorial penchant saw it slowly find its way into every aspect of our wardrobes. Today you’re just as likely to see a plain T-shirt styled alongside smart tailoring as you are jeans or a bomber jacket. 

Topping our list of summer wardrobe essentials, we’ve honed, tweaked, and perfected the classic women’s T-shirt and built five key outfits that hero the wardrobe staple. Find a home for these pairings in your rotation now and revisit them throughout summer and beyond. 

1 | LAYERED UNDER A SHIRT

Introduce a relaxed ease to smart shirting by wearing one open over a T-shirt.

Crafted from a comfortable blend of cotton and modal, our Forever Tee is exactly that: a forever staple. Clean cut and simple, this luxury T-shirt is topped with a round neckline framed by short sleeves and is shaped to a straight slim fit. Pulled on under our Bold Stripe Relaxed Boyfriend Shirt, it cements itself in both spring and summer styling. Add an extra layer over the shirt in cooler months - a classic trench or oversized blazer - and leave the layers at home in the summer, sporting the shirt as a lightweight alternative to a jacket.

2 | UNDER A BLAZER


A staple from your working week and one from your laid-back weekends meet to create the ultimate Monday-to-Sunday solution.

Updating a classic summer T-shirt, our Roll Cuff Crew Neck Swing Tee is crafted from pure breathable cotton with a soft hand feel. A lightweight style in a statement shade, it’s joined by a tailored blazer in a grounding neutral to achieve an effortless off-duty-to-office ensemble. 

For a directional edge that speaks to desk-to-dinner outfitting, swap soft tailoring for smooth by-product leather by pairing our Fitted V-Neck Rib Tee with our Supersoft Italian Leather Blazer. The tonal look introduces a covetable texture clash to your wardrobe that continues to gain favour when it comes to balmy summer evenings.

3 | WITH DOUBLE DENIM

We’re not interested in restricting ourselves to single doses of denim. Contrary to the age-old adage, more is more and the combination paired with a white T-shirt results in a refreshing sartorial palate cleanser that speaks to year-round outfitting.

Breathable and iron-free, our Shirred Cheesecloth T-Shirt acts as the perfect canvas to a double dose of denim, effortlessly achieving a feminine-masculine balance that appeals to more relaxed office dress codes and your weekends. With a shirred texture, it comfortably accommodates all bust sizes and is granted a feminine finish with a subtle pouf effect in the shoulders and lace detailing around the cuffs of the short sleeves. Team it with light-wash jeans and our Denim Cargo Jacket for an effortlessly trans-seasonal look that can be tweaked to address summer’s rising temperatures when you swap jeans for denim shorts.

4 | FIND A HIGH-LOW BALANCE


Combine an off-duty staple with tailoring and a good-quality T-shirt to strike a high-low balance.

We’re all familiar with the classic jeans-and-a-tee combo. The sartorial failsafe is familiar territory we’ve been treading for decades. The pairing grows up when our Tea Graphic Tee - which pays homage to the most British of foodie staples - is styled with check tailoring and our Split Seam Flare Jean in either a short or regular length.  
 
Swap denim for combat styles and choose a dark colour palette by building a look around our Cut Out Cap Sleeve Tee.  It still features a classic round neckline but also heroes cut-outs on the shoulders to combine a sleeveless silhouette with a short-sleeved one. Tuck it into the waistband of a pair of combat trousers and sign off your look with our Single-Breasted Forever Blazer in classic Italian tailoring.

5 | WITH ELEVATED KNITWEAR

Grant a classic knitted staple off-duty cool with a clean, round-neck tee.

Our Hand-Crocheted Trim Bouclé Jacket finds the balance between cosy knitwear and lightweight outerwear to see you through the seasons. For this approach, we’re showcasing our Fitted Rib Tee. The style perfects a fitted-yet-flattering silhouette thanks to its eco-conscious LENZING ™ ECOVERO™ Viscose fabric imbued with a hint of comfortable stretch and subtle ribbed texture. The fresh white hue creates a clean contrast with the blend of navy and red covering the soft knit for a covetable, contemporary finish. 

6 | WITH COMBAT TROUSERS

Err on the side of casual with a pair of combat trousers. Making a welcome return after its 90s and 00s heyday, the style has been given a 2023 makeover to create our Authentic Combat Trouser. 

Crafted from pure cotton that has been washed down, it finds a pared-back-polished balance and joins both our Forever Box Tee in a striking stripe print and Stripe Oversized Box Tee. If you need to reach for an extra layer, continue down the path of utilitarian-inspired staples with a leather bomber jacket and for a more elevated take that combines cargo cues with tailoring, our Engineered Leg Casual Trouser is the perfect accompaniment. Team it with our Rolled Cuff V-Neck Swing Tee to marry two faded neutral tones for a summery look that steers away from bold colours or pastels.