Best T-Shirt Colors - The 7 T-Shirts You Need

Many of my clients end up in a t-shirt at some point in the day, whether it be an actual sartorial choice or something they change into at the end of the workday. Plus, weekends beg for t-shirts. This means the average man who does laundry once a week needs at least seven well-fitting t-shirts in colors that complement their wardrobe. The color portion is the constant struggle. It is easy to find quality t-shirts with a good fit, but the colors that are available for men are very limited. Generally, a brand provides black and white options — both of which I rarely put on a man. Black is too harsh for most skin tones, while a white t-shirt looks like an undergarment.

The next most common color is blue, which flatters every single man, but doesn’t pair well with standard blue jeans — the go-to pant for most men. After blue, the next most popular color is grey, which is a solid choice, albeit a tad tame. It works with almost all short and pant colors (except grey of course). After those four basic t-shirt colors, brands provide a series of pastels that honestly look like shit on just about everyone.

If you’ve done the math, this leaves us with only two easy-to-find, flattering t-shirt colors: blue and grey. “Argh!” you say. “There are still five more days in the week.” I know. It’s okay. Here is how we get to those seven t-shirts…

The 7 T-Shirt Colors You Need

Medium to Light Grey
A Darker Grey
Dark Blue: Pair dark blue shirts with grey or tan jeans and shorts. It also works with light-wash denim.
Medium Blue: Don’t go too light or it can wash you out or look juvenile. James Perse does a great job of providing various blue shades.
Burgundy/Maroon
A Graphic T-Shirt in one of the colors on this list, i.e. washed out black, grey, blue, burgundy, or green.
Rich Green

Note: You can wear a black t-shirt if you have light brown to blonde hair combined with a mild tan or olive skin tone. If you don’t have this combo and you really want a black t-shirt, choose a washed out shade of black that basically approaches a more charcoal tone.

The Best T-Shirt Color

Yes, the right blue is the most flattering t-shirt color, but it is constantly and readily available, and everyone is wearing it. All that saturation is tiresome. Plus, a blue shirt rarely goes with blue jeans — your staple pant. So in my opinion, green and burgundy are the absolute best t-shirt colors. They are just as flattering as blue, but have more versatility and pairing perfection.

Despite green and burgundy being the most flattering and versatile t-shirt colors out there, they are rarely available, which is why so few of you have these color tees in your wardrobe. The upside of this is if you do invest in some green and burgundy t-shirts you will stand out while everyone else is in their blues. Since those colors can be hard to find, I’ve done the work for you. Listed below are the best t-shirts in green and burgundy available right now. Order a few and see what fits your body best.

Threads 4 Thought Frederick Luxe Henley

Threads 4 Thought $58

Available at Nordstrom and Threads 4 Thought.

Sizing: S-XXL

Material: 92% recycled polyester, 8% spandex

Under Armour Men’s Tech™ Short Sleeve hydro teal

Under Armour ~~$25~~ $19.99

This Under Armour tee is a flattering addition to your gym wear, and the teal color is a must-have.

Available at Macy’s, Amazon, and Bass Pro Shops.

Sizing: S-4XL

Material: 100% polyester

Threads 4 Thought Slub Jersey Organic Cotton T-Shirt, seagrass

Threads 4 Thought $38

Available at Nordstrom.

Sizing: S-XXL

Material: 100% organic cotton

Threads 4 Thought Soloman Luxe Jersey T-Shirt

Threads 4 Thought $44

Available at Threads 4 Thought.

Sizing: S-XXL

Material: 92% recycled polyester, 8% spandex

Goodlife Tri-Blend Scallop Crew T-Shirt

Goodlife $60

Available at Nordstrom and Goodlife.

Sizing: S-XXL

Material: 50% cotton, 38% polyester, 12% rayon

Threads 4 Thought Slim Fit Crewneck T-Shirt midnight

Threads 4 Thought $28

Available at Nordstrom and Threads 4 Thought.

Sizing: S-XXXL

Material: 50% recycled polyester, 38% organic cotton, 12% rayon

Mott & Bow Classic Crew Driggs Tee

Mott & Bow $40

Available at Mott & Bow

Sizing: XS-XXL

Material: 100% combed cotton

Travis Mathew The Crew Performance T-Shirt

TravisMathew ~~$59.95~~ $29.99

Available at Nordstrom.

Sizing: S-XXXL

Material: 62% recycled polyester, 31% pima cotton, 7% spandex

Cuts Trim Fit Split Hem Crewneck T-Shirt

Cuts $54

Available at Nordstrom.

Sizing: S-XXL

Material: 62% polyester, 33% cotton, 5% spandex

BOSS Tiburt Slub Linen T-Shirt

BOSS $118

Available at Nordstrom.

Sizing: S-XXL

Material: 100% linen

Best T-Shirt Colors From Years Past

I originally wrote this post on the best t-shirt colors for men years ago and update it regularly due to its popularity. I’ve left these photos below for nostalgic purposes. Whenever I update older posts, I love to hold on to a collection of images as a bit of a time capsule so we can watch how our style evolves.