Remember these rules if you want to wear a T-shirt to the office

What’s the best T-shirt to wear to the office?

A T-shirt is a great office equaliser: the right one looks as good on a managing director as an intern. Superior fabric and cut may betray executive-level taste but, overall, it’s as democratic as a sausage sizzle on election day.

In a creative environment, you can get away with a well-ironed and immaculately clean T-shirt with jeans but, in a more formal setting, a pair of tailored trousers or a skirt will lift its appeal higher than Jennifer Grey in the final scene of Dirty Dancing.

While the fit of the T-shirt is obviously important – it should always skim the body rather than cling to it, caress the biceps rather than squeeze them – a well-chosen, accompanying blazer or jacket is key. A T-shirt on its own is casual; a good jacket instantly makes it cool and gives you the air of someone who knows their way around an Excel spreadsheet.

Your T-shirt must be able to compete with those of your colleagues who are embracing fashion’s return to tailoring in collared shirts and ties, so look for styles in solid white, grey or black. A crew neck is the safest bet, but a scoop neck can work elongating wonders on those with less-than-swan-like necks. Look for a mid-weight cotton that will hold its shape throughout the day.

I’ve recently been converted to merino-wool T-shirts, which look more polished in the boardroom. Now I just have to be invited inside.

Got a style conundrum? Email damien.woolnough@nine.com.au

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