Rick Owens Basic Short Sleeve Level T-Shirt

Level shoulder seams are the detail worth knowing. On a conventional tee the shoulder seam follows the natural slope from the neck outward. Here it runs level, straight across, which changes the line of the upper body and is one of the two or three constructions this house puts on nearly everything it makes. The other is on the back: a single seam running down the centre spine, where an ordinary tee has none at all, because an ordinary tee’s back is cut as one piece.

Ribbed crewneck, relaxed through the body, hip length. Two house signatures on a plain black tee, which is what the word Basic is doing in the name.

Why we selected it

We took it because both of the constructions that identify this house are on a garment with nothing else on it at all, which is a great deal of information to put on a plain black tee. It is also what we wear.

Materials and construction

One hundred percent cotton, made in Italy, in black. Hip length with a relaxed fit, a ribbed crewneck, level shoulder seams, and a centre back spine seam.

Fit notes

Relaxed rather than slim, and hip length, so it works alone and layers under an open shirt without pulling. The level shoulder seam sits slightly outboard of where a conventional seam would, which is the intended line. Take your usual size.

Styling and care

With black trousers. Under either leather outershirt. Under the sleeveless turtleneck. For care, wash cool inside out, keep it out of a hot dryer, which is what fades black, and see our care guidance for the rest.

Related pieces

The Basic SS T and the T-Shirt Level T are the plain tees beside it, and the SS26 Double Short Sleeve T-Shirt is the same idea in the house’s unstable cotton. There is more on the house on the Rick Owens designer page. Everything we currently hold from Rick Owens is listed together.