You might think that the T-shirt is an incredibly simple article of clothing. That there isn’t much to it. You would, however, be mistaken.

T-shirts are surprisingly diverse, with countless different designs, formats, and styles. Today, we’re going to explore those in-depth. 

Neckline

Crew Neck

This is what most people immediately think of when you mention T-shirts. Crew-necks have a snug, circular design that fits around where the shoulder meets the neck. 

Scoop Neck

Slightly looser than a crew neck, the scoop neck dips down below the collarbone, usually by several inches. 

V-Neck

A V-neck T-shirt is similar to a scoop neck, albeit nowhere near as deep, with the neckline forming the shape of a V. This type of T-shirt is frequently used in sports jerseys. 

Polo Collar

This T-shirt design is business casual through and through, adding a button-up collar to the T-shirt’s neckline. You’ve probably seen plenty of golfers wearing this design, or maybe colleagues at a company picnic. 

Y-Neck

Also known as a Henley, the Y-neck is basically what you get when you remove the collar from a polo T-shirt and keep the buttons (or if you simply add buttons to a crew neck). 

Turtleneck

A bit of an oddity, a turtleneck T-shirt has a snug collar that extends up to a few centimeters below the jawline. 

Boat Neck

Typically found on women’s T-shirts, the neckline of a boat-neck shirt wraps around the tip of the collarbone and mid-shoulder. 

Plunged

A variation on the V-neck usually found on women’s shirts; a plunged neckline usually reaches the top of the upper abdomen. 

Halter

Essentially a modified scoop neck, a halter shirt wraps around the back of the neck and curves out from there. 

Shape

Standard Sleeves

In a basic, garden-variety T-shirt, sleeves are attached via a vertical seam and usually only extend to the bicep. 

Raglan Sleeves

Unlike standard sleeves, a raglan sleeve uses diagonal stitching so that the sleeve and collar appear as one uninterrupted piece of fabric. 

Saddle Sleeves

Technically a subtype of raglan, saddle sleeves have stitching that curves beneath the arm and then runs parallel to the shoulder. These are also known as epaulet sleeves. 

Single Shoulder

A single-shoulder design leaves one shoulder uncovered, while the other fits like a typical T-shirt. 

Sleeve Lengths

Stitching aside, there are multiple different lengths to choose from in terms of T-shirt sleeves. Most of these lengths can use pretty much any type of stitching. 

• Short sleeves are the most common and familiar type of T-shirt sleeve and typically extend to midway down the bicep. 
• Half sleeves cover the upper arm down to the bicep/elbow. 
• Cap sleeves are extra-short, fitting the shoulder and leaving the entire arm bare. 
• Three-quarter sleeves, also known as Magyar, Dolman, or batwing sleeves, feature a wide cut at the shoulder that gradually tapers off. As you might expect, this almost gives the sleeve the appearance of a wing.
• Long sleeves typically extend down to the wrist. Believe it or not, this is actually the T-shirt’s original form, as the garment began its life as part of an undergarment known as a union suit. 
• Sleeveless shirts are also known as tank tops or muscle shirts. 

Hooded

A hooded T-shirt, as the name suggests, features a hood on the back. They can sport any style of collar save for polo.  

Fit

Slim

Slim-fit shirts adhere to the shape of the wearer’s upper body. 

Tall

A tall shirt typically hangs down past the knees. 

Baggy

Baggy shirts are exactly as they sound and generally prioritize style over comfort. As a result, they tend to be wider and looser in both the sleeves and midsection. 

Muscle

Similar to slim fit shirts, muscle fit shirts hug the body but have enough stretch to accentuate curves and offer more freedom of movement. 

What’s Your Favorite Type of T-Shirt? 

As you can see, there’s a lot more to T-shirts than one might expect. Do you have a favorite fit, shape, or style? Let us know!