Value for Money

CONOR POPElooks at white t-shirts

Marks and Spencer €8

This is a fairly thick-spun and practical garment that was able to withstand our rigorous washing and tumble-drying efforts without losing its shape. It is made with 100 per cent cotton and comes from the retailer’s Blue Harbour range, which is, we imagine, slightly more upmarket than its regular range. It is certainly not high fashion but nor is it likely to go out of fashion too quickly, either. The stitching is solid and there was no give when we picked at the seams. The sleeves were a little on the long side for us and we thought it was a weird that this was found in the Christmas gifts section of the shop. It’s nice and all, but if we got it as a present . . .

VerdictSolid

Star rating ***

Dunnes Stores €5

With two T-shirts selling for a tenner, this is the cheapest option tried this week and cost more than eight times less than the most expensive T-shirt we tracked down. It was very high necked, which some people might like, and the cotton was on the thin side and almost flirted with being see-through – again, which some people might like. It was nice and soft and we reckon it would age quite well – and quite quickly judging from how it fared in our laundry test. While it did not go from being a T-shirt to a square shirt after a single wash, it did not hold its shape as well as some of its pricier rivals.

VerdictNice and cheap

Star rating ***

Zara €14.95

We have long had a soft spot for Zara and its cheap-as-chips-but-still-cool clothes, but we were mildly surprised by the price of this (at least until we happened across the T-shirt from D&G), which put things into perspective.

Yes, it was three times dearer than the cheapest option but was also a whole lot better, as long as you are a certain body-type – that is, a slim body type.

It is made with 8 per cent elastane (which is a less alarming word for spandex) and 92 per cent cotton, which gives it a stretchiness and/or clinginess that is not to be found in the looser-fitting garments.

VerdictCool, clingy, comparatively cheap

Star rating ****

Dolce & Gabbana €42

This is not the most expensive (or even the second most expensive) plain white T-shirt being sold by Brown Thomas – we saw others than had price tags of €125 and €75 – but it is still horrendously priced.

It is fine quality and like the Zara shirt is made with elastane. It is similarly unforgiving, however, and will not suit the, um, how should we put this, more amply proportioned man. If you’re looking to show off your torso, then this is the one for you, and if you want a T-shirt to come with a monogrammed label to reassure you of the price, then you’ll not go far wrong with this.

Verdict:Heavy on the heavage

Star rating: **