Back in Black: Our Guide to the Best Black T-Shirts for Men

Even if this list weren't alphabetical, we'd still make sure to kick off with Buck Mason. After all, it was a T-shirt that put the brand on the map. After three years of R&D in the quest for perfection, Buck Mason launched their tees a few years ago to thunderous acclaim. Their cotton blends hit in all the right places, and somehow wear better after every single wash. The Field Spec Cotton Tee is their heaviest shirt yet, cut from hard-wearing cotton while still being just as comfortable to wear. That they've managed to engineer a shirt of this quality while keeping costs down is truly the cherry on top.

Who said a black T-shirt had to be totally blank? The recognizable Carhartt logo, emblazoned right on the pocket, gives this shirt a sense of identity. As you'd expect from this rugged brand's aesthetic, it's a heavyweight cotton shirt with a more relaxed fit. It can stand up to hard work (or even just some hard-work cosplay) and easily wash with hassle-free instructions.

Shifting down to the midweight level here, CDLP gets our vote for a higher-end purchase. This tee looks great tucked in since it is sturdy enough to keep from billowing around, but the natural fibers they use in addition to cotton lend considerable softness and breathability. That means you get all the structure you want without feeling locked in. Talk about the best of both worlds.

Cotton is cotton, you say? Well my friend brushed cotton would like to have a word. A cotton whose appearance has been roughened to give it a softer, fluffier appearance, it's the key to this shirt's buttery smooth feel. COS always pays attention to the details, like the double topstitching on the clean-looking ribbed neck, which means this regular-fit shirt is anything but ordinary.

The V-neck is a whole other species, presenting a unique problem: how do you find a neckline that's distinctive without being plunging? Everlane has the answer, with a slightly curved V-shape that feels classy but not uptight. It's part of their rock-solid Uniform collection, built for everyday wear and covered under a year-long warranty. Combine that with their current promotion – a $60 deal when you buy three of these tees – and you're looking at some serious bang for your buck.

Like their predecessor American Apparel, LAA knows their way around a uniformed basic. While some guys love a slim-fitting tee, there's no denying the oversized look is very in, and this boxy, wide fit veers on the right side of exaggerated. The high mockneck helps with proportion, reminiscent of a smock for a slightly workwear aesthetic. The off-black color is another distinctive touch, giving texture to the details so you'll never be drowned out.

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We wouldn't dream of leaving you long sleeve fans hanging. Mack Weldon is our favorite for its super-flattering fit, which runs on the slimmer side without being too restrictive. The longer sleeves open this shirt's styling possibilities, from layering it with a blazer to matching it with pajama pants. It's also available in a henley variation for just six dollars more – giving you one more option for a versatile base layer.

Last but not least is Uniqlo, the brand that belongs on every list of best fashion basics. While their standard T-shirts are fantastic in their own right, their AIRism line makes this shirt unique from all the others above. The namesake fabric is highly breathable and quick-drying, wicking away moisture from the skin even under high performance. But crucially, the shirts don't have an obviously athletic appearance, meaning you can wear this out for coffee as easily as you can on a run. It's quite a hat trick Uniqlo has pulled off here, and for under $15? We'll take it.