Having trouble deciding what undershirt to buy? A customer emailed us wondering how to decide between a couple of our undershirt options.

Here's his email:

So, I'm in Undershirt Shopping Hell.

Read tons of reviews, like Undershirtguy, Esquire, etc. RibbedTee comes up quite a bit. I've looked at I don't know how many products at this point.

My requirements are simple, I think: - lightweight (i.e. primarily an undershirt) - not billowy; I'm not "fit" (yet?), don't want my modest lower gut to look like a compressed baby bump, but prefer not to add any bulk if possible.

I do generate a fair amount of body heat, so "wicking" and "cooling" are meaningful terms to me.

"Stretchy", like the Alfani's, sounds positive, but "slim fit" sounds scary...for the life of me I can't figure out what your Retro Fit means. Hearkens back to a time when we were all thinner? :) - soft - v neck vs crew: apparently, as I read in my 1,000th article last night, crew is verboten for under dress shirts now. (I have no style, clearly.)

So I feel like I need to try one of each, in whatever style ultimately I go with. I would have thought the v-neck, with the "neck tuft" exposure for us hirsute folks would be worse than a crew, but, hey, I listen and follow.

I looked at your product matrix, but as soon as I sway towards one, the ratings for a certain area tip me towards another... So, help! :)

Also your page mentions to reach out to discuss any deals, so...hi! I don't blog as much as I used to, but I'm happy to do some tweets or short form reviews (I write on Medium).

I just want to put this shirt quest to bed! Thanks, Rich!

Here was our advice for Rich...

Hello Rich,

Thank you for contacting RibbedTee Customer Service and for your interest in our undershirts!

We're so glad you heard about us online, and of course we'd be happy to help you find that perfect undershirt!

In fact, we'll try to make it really easy :)

Our Retro Fit line is designed with a super-lightweight, breathable fabric that has "mechanical stretch". This simply means the fabric is knit in a way to allow it to stretch quite a bit, without the need for an artificial yarn such as spandex/elastane. So, while they may be "slim cut", they will stretch to accommodate a large variety of body styles and shapes. They'll also keep you feeling cool and comfortable!

As to which one to choose? White of course is a universal color, but if you're looking to have the undershirt be less visible under lighter colored shirts, we'd suggest one of our grey Retro Fits.

In two follow-up emails, we will provide you with:
1. Our Undershirt Wearing Guide: Top 10 Rules to Wearing Undershirts (a general guideline) -- this will be helpful as you consider "neck tuft" vs what undershirt to wear
2. Special Offers

Be on the look-out for two follow-up emails that will be coming in the next couple of moments.

Of course if you need any other further assistance, or have any additional questions, we're here to help :)

Additional Resources

If you'd like to get a copy of our Undershirt Wearing Guide: Top 10 Rules to wearing undershirts, or if you'd like to find out what our current specials are, please visit our Contact page and drop us a line!