Enough is enough... or is it?
How Many T-Shirts Should a Woman Own?
Whether you're a minimalist when it comes to your wardrobe or you've converted your spare room into a walk-in closet, the humble t-shirt is usually a staple for most women.
We're sure that's the case for you, too. Who doesn't have a favorite band shirt or two or maybe a handful of shirts from your alma mater that you throw on when it's time to work in the yard? But this begs a pretty important question. How many, exactly, should you own? Do you need a few more, or is it time to make a run to GoodWill? Don't worry — we've got the answers here.
How Many T-Shirts Should a Woman Own
Strictly speaking, if you wear one shirt every day of the week and do laundry once a week, you need seven shirts. But who the heck is that utilitarian? Everyone wants to have options to some extent. That's why, when surveyed, most women say they own between 20 and 30 T-shirts. But a lot of decluttering experts suggest that might be a few too many.
Before we get into tips and tricks for decluttering your wardrobe, we decided to ask some of our friends and colleagues what they thought. Here's what they had to say:
Alicia Arroyo, 33, Marketing Manager at TeamShirts:
"Honestly, for me, it's less about the number and more about the type. Quality over quantity, if you will. And that all depends on the woman's personality and lifestyle. If you're into activewear, you should have a few moisture-wicking T-shirts on hand. These types of T-shirts are perfect for Zumba, yoga, or any other physical activity that makes you sweat.
Moisture-wicking T-shirts use special fabrics that help draw sweat away from the body and evaporate it quickly. They also help keep your skin cool and dry during any activity. These types of T-shirts are also lightweight and comfortable, making them ideal for any physical activity. TeamShirts offers a range of athletic and moisture-wicking t-shirts, including the Adidas Women's Performance T-shirt. Aim to have at least two to three moisture-wicking T-shirts."
Monica Andrews, 28, Graphic Designer:
I'm a pretty active person, and I'm not overly concerned about my wardrobe, per-say. I work from home, and I'm not all that client-facing, so I have the handful of zoom-friendly professional tops that I need. But other than that, when I'm not at work, I'm in T-shirts.
Let's see… Off the top of my head, I can probably count about 10 that I wear in regular rotation, and maybe 15 more on top of that that don't usually see the light of day. Most of those, though, are shirts I bought at concerts or shirts that have some sort of sentimental value. I actually have one that's completely destroyed, but it belonged to my older brother, who isn't around anymore. That one, I'm going to keep forever.
Well, shoot. Now that I'm actually thinking about this, I probably have more like 40. Is that too many? Haha, now I don't know! Maybe I need to go home and look in my drawers.
Austin Cobb, 41, Senior Marketing Manager at TeamShirts:
As a man, that's a tough question to answer, haha. Luckily my wife is not looking over my shoulder, so I can be honest. Personally, I'm definitely a t-shirt and jeans type of guy. So I can completely understand why a woman would want 30 to 40 t-shirts, but should a woman really have that many? Maybe? Obviously, it also depends on where the woman lives. Somebody living in Alaska probably won't need as many t-shirts as someone living in Texas. So, I would say around 15 T-shirts would be a good number.
A few of those could be performance-type shirts for working out. Then, of course, everyone needs two or three classic white tees for either wearing underneath other clothes or dressing down some nice slacks… did I just use the word "slacks"? Geez, I am not that old, I promise.
My wife has a few solid-colored t-shirts she uses to mix and match with cardigans and overalls. It's a nice look. Then, of course, a couple of campy, fun T-shirts are always a good idea to show your personality. Past that, everyone probably has a couple of custom-printed t-shirts from a fundraiser, a corporate event, or some type of celebration like a bachelorette party that they have kept as a memento. Oh, and every woman should have at least one large, oversized, comfy t-shirt to sleep in. That's always a good move.
Daniel Kemp, 34, Software Consultant:
Why are you asking me how many shirts a woman should have? Haha, no… it's okay. I think my girlfriend has about 30, maybe more? That said, I think she only wears a handful of them regularly. I know there is a lot that she's keeping from her childhood and stuff, but there are quite a few that are just sitting in the drawers.
I guess that would be my answer. You should own as many shirts as you regularly wear. If you're not wearing them frequently and they don't mean something to you, you could probably stand to get rid of them. If you're going to press me for a number, I'd say 15.
So there you have it. Takeaways from our very technical and scientific survey would be this:
- Own as many shirts as you'd wear frequently
- Hang on to the ones that mean something to you
- Consider function over quantity
- Have different styles on hand to go with different outfits
- Have a few shirts for different occasions — sleeping, working out, lounging, yardwork, going out, etc.
Now that you've got a good idea of the numbers, let's talk about the shirts you currently have and consider if you really need them.
How to Know Which T-Shirts You Need
T-Shirts are one of those pieces of clothing that tend to just… accumulate. They're stuck in the back of closets, shoved onto shelves, and otherwise tucked away because what if you need it someday? Here's a tip: You probably won't. If you find yourself swimming in T-shirts, here are a few tricks to make things more manageable.
- Get Rid of Worn-Out Shirts
There's something to be said for the broken-in look, but there's a difference between broken-in and worn-out. If your shirt has stains in the armpits, fraying hems, stretch-out necklines, or bleach stains, it's probably time to toss them.
- The Hanger Trick
Now that you've culled your T-shirt collection a little put them on hangers and put them in the closet backwards. When you wear one, replace it on a hanger facing forward. At the end of a set period of time — we'd say about six months — see which hangers are facing which direction. Those still facing backward are shirts you can probably stand to lose.
- The Kondo Approach
A few years ago, Marie Kondo made a big splash with her now-famous decluttering method, and it's one you should apply here. By now, you should have a pile of keeps and giveaways, but you might still be feeling a bit of anxiety over that pile that's going to the donation bin. So take a moment to consider each of the shirts you're getting rid of. Do you remember when you got it and why? Does it mean something special to you? In Kondo's parlance, does it bring you joy? If not, you should feel at peace with saying goodbye.
Now that you've pared your T-shirt collection down significantly, you might find you need to replace some of them. After all, as we said above, you do want to have enough options to fit any occasion life throws your way when throwing a t-shirt on would be the right move. Here are some things to consider when shopping.
How to Purchase New Shirts You'll Actually Wear
One of the reasons why so many women have piles of T-shirts they never wear is because they weren't purchased with intention. Here are a few things you should think about when you're restocking your closet's shelves.
Consider the Quality
When you're purchasing any piece of clothing — T-shirts included — you need to consider the quality of the piece you're buying. Fast fashion trends are hugely destructive to the environment, and although it might seem appealing to buy a six-pack of shirts for a nickel, they're not going to last long. They won't hold their shape, and you'll be getting rid of them sooner rather than later.
Consider the Fit
You might think that almost every T-shirt is about the same. That's where you'd be wrong. There are a huge number of factors that influence exactly how a t-shirt will flatter you, and you want to find ones that work with your body. When all else fails, you can always take your t-shirts to get altered — that way, you'll be sure you're looking your best.
Consider the Function
Like our coworker Alicia mentioned above, sometimes the function of your shirts will dictate how many you need. If you like to go jogging after work, you'll probably want some more sporty styles. If you're more interested in sitting on the couch and watching Netflix, there are t-shirts that are perfect for that, too. The point is that your clothing should match your activity — that's where you're going to find the perfect mixture of comfort and style.
And if you're looking for high-quality shirts to express your own personality, TeamShirts has just what you're looking for.
TeamShirts Offers Multiple Sizing and Product Options
If you're shopping for new T-shirts, TeamShirts should be your first stop. We have thousands of women's t-shirts in stock from some of the best manufacturers out there in styles, colors, and cuts that you're going to love. But we go further than that — with our design wizard, you can customize your t-shirts to fit specific needs. Whether you're memorializing a special vacation or you just can't find exactly what you're looking for in stores, TeamShirts has you covered.
Need a Few More T-Shirts options? TeamShirts Can Help!
There are plenty of reasons why TeamShirts is your one-stop shop for all of your t-shirt needs. First, we have a huge variety of styles and colors to choose from that are sized for every body type. We also make it super easy to customize your order — from one-off prints to bulk orders, we can do it all.
And when it comes to pricing, we strive to be your most affordable option. We offer free standard shipping with every order, and if you need it in a rush, you can pay a little extra to have your custom-designed apparel in your hands within three working days. Not totally satisfied? We offer free returns within 30 days — even if you just ordered the wrong size. We have nearly 15 years of experience in this industry, so you know you're in good hands.
Regardless of the size of your order, we're going to be one of the most affordable options available. We offer standard shipping for free, and if you're in a rush, we can have your custom-designed shirts to you within three working days. But what if you're not totally happy with your order? Don't worry — we offer free returns within 30 days. We'll do everything we can to make it right, and since we have 15 years of experience in this field, we're sure we can.
Ready to get started? You can head on over to our design tool to start creating your new favorite t-shirt! If you still have some questions, you can reach out to our friendly customer service team through our online help form or give us a call at 1-833-395-0347. We can't wait to help you create the best t-shirt you've ever owned!
Tight Turns and Terrific Customer Service
We needed some blue hoodies with our custom design for a class trip to Washington DC. It was a tight turn around and there was an issue when they didn’t have enough youth sizes in the color we needed, but they communicated to me right away and helped find a solution that didn’t slow down production. The hoodies arrived days before the trip and everyone was thrilled. I’m definitely coming back to TeamShirts for all our school project needs in the future.
Karl Archer
Terrific customer service
Terrific customer service, speedy delivery and exactly what I wanted!
Brenda
Great, Affordable, and Quick
Really Cheap. Really good quality. Really fast delivery. Really simple to order. Everything was perfect!
Allison Coedden
Excellent customer service
Excellent customer service, very knowledgable about the products, they are kind, accessable and very helpful. I would highly recomend this company for all your printing needs!
Moshe Levy
Shirts came out perfectly
Shirts came out perfectly! Shipping was awesome considering I needed them so last minute
Kasey Ficken