The Ultimate Blanks
My favourite blank tees and sweats
If you’re into fashion you’ve probably spent hours trying to find that perfect blank (or maybe that's just my OCD). I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect basics for the past few years and I’ve invested way too much time and effort into my search. I get asked all the time where I buy my blanks and it’s also one of the most common questions I see online, so I've decided to settle the debate.
The Uniqlo U Crew Neck Short Sleeved T-Shirt is without a doubt the ultimate tee. This 100% cotton T-Shirt is unbeatable for its price (at just £9.90) and is readily available in all Uniqlo stores. Coming with a wide boxy fit, a thick collar and being super soft it ticks all the boxes. Whilst this is the heavyweight iteration, Uniqlo also offers an ‘Airism’ equivalent which is lighter and flows better, although I personally prefer the thicker version. The tee is available in a wide array of colours, meaning it’s perfect for any occasion! Coupled with the fact it’s readily available and its perfect fit, I strongly believe this is the best blank tee you can buy, especially in this price range. I’ve found myself buying almost all sizes in basic colours (M-XL) in order to achieve whatever look I’m after, but keep in mind they do fit slightly oversized.
Moving on to the more difficult search, sweats. I had a much harder time finding the ultimate everyday sweats and found there was a distinct lack of options from my usual retailers (unless you’re willing to spend £400+ on a crewneck). Having bought and returned countless blank sweatshirt, I ultimately found my two favourites- Rue Porter and LA Apparel. Unfortunately, as they are both large manufacturers the shipping times are generally longer and you can expect orders to take 1-2 weeks to arrive. It’s also worth noting that Rue Porter typically offers 50% off their entire store on Black Friday.
The Rue Porter Ultra-Heavyweight Crewneck is a 100% cotton, 465GSM French Terry sweatshirt made in Portugal. These heavyweight crewnecks are not fleece lined, making them perfect for Spring and Autumn, as well as those cooler summer days. One of the biggest selling points of these crewnecks is the fit. They are hands down the best fitting blanks I've ever tried, with a cropped but super boxy fit and a great fitting collar. Whilst they are extremely wide, I would recommend going true to size in order to achieve the desired baggy fit. The crewnecks are super soft and comfy, whilst also being very durable and having a heavyweight ribbing. Rue Porter offers a variety of colours and washes (Vintage being my personal favourite) with crewnecks retailing at $59, a fair price point considering the high quality.
The LA Apparel heavy fleece pullover crewneck sweatshirt is also a great option. This 14OZ crewneck is made in LA and has been a favourite blank for many influencers starting out their own brands. Sporty and Rich, Sicko and many others have all previously used LA Apparel blanks due to their availability, price and great quality. The key difference here when compared with Rue Porter are the fleece lined garments. The fleece lining is super heavyweight and cosy- perfect for the cooler months. The sweatshirt is also thicker than Rue Porter’s offering with a slightly more premium feel. Whilst they do have a similar fit, LA Apparel’s dimensions are less exaggerated with a not so cropped body, however still offering a lovely boxy fit. I would recommend going true to size in order to achieve the desired look (they also offer measurements on their site for all products). LA Apparel also offers a wide range of colour-ways alongside a non fleece lined version of their crewnecks (however I personally have not tried these). These sweatshirts come in at £64, meaning they are also more expensive- however I'd once again say this is a fair price point for a fleece lined heavyweight crewneck.
As a final verdict, I’d recommend Uniqlo U tees to anyone looking for an affordable and easily accessible t-shirt. Both LA Apparel and Rue Porter offer good quality, great fitting sweats. If you’re looking for something for the colder months I’d go with LA Apparel, whilst if you’re looking for a more versatile option I’d probably go with Rue Porter- you won’t be disappointed with either option! This is just my personal opinion based on blanks I've tried, if you know of any other good alternatives feel free to reach out and let me know! I’m happy to provide measurements for any of the items mentioned.
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@understated.awe
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