A Splendid Tee!

Friday 11 January 2013


Grey tee. Ticked. Finally.

Well it's been a long time coming but I finally got one. A grey marl tee. You'd think something so basic would be so easy but no it's not. It's got to be the right cut, the right shade, the right fit, the right material. The right everything. I think I've got it cracked with this tee from Splendid.



I've been looking for an age but somehow the perfect grey tee had eluded me. Yes there were grey tees out there in abundance but if I found the right colour, it was the wrong cut, if it was the right cut, it was the wrong colour, if it was the right colour, they didn't have my size, if they had my size ... well, you get the picture.

I was browsing the NAP sale and started looking through the tops ... and stopped at this tee from Splendid. It had the right scoop neckline (not too deep), it was the right colour (a classic grey marl) and it looked deliciously soft and stretchy! Basically, it was perfect! But what size? I know that Splendid make splendid (pun intended) jersey tops - I've just not had the privilege to come across any in the shopping flesh so had no idea what their sizing was like. I parked a size small (my usual size) in the basket and went off to make a cup of Earl Grey and came back ......  the following day. 

It was time to press 'pay' but alas I'd taken a tea break too long. It had sold out in the small! Regardless, I crossed my fingers, said a prayer, popped a medium in the basket AND hit the pay button. 

The tee arrived the next day courtesy of the nice DHL man. I unpacked the black tissue paper and shook out the tee. First impressions were it looked good and upon trying on, it was the perfect size. The Shopping Gods had helped me to buy it in the right size by making sure all the size smalls had sold out!


Yeah - I'm sucking my tummy in!

Just pretend it's July and not January, okay?

New Look Ballet Pumps (old)

Boyish but girly!

At full price £75 is not cheap for what a lot of people would call a basic grey tee and even at more than half price at £30, some people would still say it was too much but to me this was a bit of an investment buy because if you get the right one - it will be the perfect foundation for so many outfits. You also need to understand that a lot of my clothes tend to be on the plain side so sometimes, I pay a little extra for a good basic. This one is a smart enough cut to wear dressed up with a blazer and slouchy enough for a relaxed day at home. 

Splendid Tee (new)
New Look Jeans (old)
Miss Selfridge Belt (old)
Susie Ho Bracelet (own design)

I personally don't think you can beat a grey tee and jeans combo especially for the summer months. For a change, I've put on a cream distressed leather belt instead of a tan one to give everything a lighter feel against the grey. The belt was not this distressed when I got it but after ragging it around, screwing it up and just messing it up - I managed to give it an aged look. The bracelet is my own design and has a little sterling silver chilli charm on. The Grumps has set me a challenge of seeing if I can bring some income in this year with my jewellery. We can but try.

Now having found my perfect grey tee ... I have also located a second grey marl tee from H&M for £7.99 which I intend to also have a look at. This is quite different to the Splendid tee - a more relaxed fit which means extra flattering for bagel bellys and being significantly cheaper, I really would prefer to wear this on the days when I'm hanging out with my boys so I can save the Splendid tee for the more grown up days. I have a good hunch about the H&M tee as it looks to be the same style as an existing H&M white tee which I really like and wore in a post last year where I was lamenting why they couldn't do a grey one. Well they must have been listening because this year - they did!

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Last note.

  • What are your views on simple tees like this? Are they worth the money or do they need to embellished up to the hilt for you to think they are worth their salt? Am I a little mad for spending £30 on something which is so basic or would you prefer to buy 5 tees for this price? I confess - I'm a little bit of both :o) 
  • If you like the H&M tee - size down (they are cut very generous).
  • If you like the Splendid tee - size up (they are cut not so generous).
  • Last but not least - make sure you wear a well fitting tee shirt bra (no lacy ones!) under tees like the Splendid one - they skim the bust and show lumps and bumps. I'm talking about the unintended lumps and bumps!






59 comments

  1. I love it Susan but being the stingy bargain hunter that I am, I'd buy the H&M one every time. And then in 3 years time, I'll curse not buying the Splendid one because my H&M one will be dusters. Someday I'll learn! Have a great weekend, Avril x

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    1. Oh I love my bargains too but every now and then a little something floats my boat which was more than a tenner :o) And I love the H&M tees - brilliant price for everyday wear. I have three so I speak from experience.

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  2. I only ever wear boyfriend tees now, even under sweaters and cardigans. Splendid does make really lovely tees but I can't justify the price sometimes so I buy mine at Lands' End (US Marks & Sparks equivalent).

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    1. I wouldn't dream of paying £75 for a tee but £30 seemed okay for a Splendid one - almost a bargain at 60% off. But on a day to day basis - I found the H&M tees do the trick for me as they have a nice boyfriend fit (I don't like anything too clingy) and they're 100% cotton. I've seen the odd Land's End catalogue but have never really looked properly but will bear them in mind. Do you buy from the womens section or the mens?

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  3. I love splendid...but yes, they're overpriced (Though I have been known to pay the asking price when I'm feeling not so right in the head).
    Give me a heads up before your trip to London if you'd like to meet up or whatever...

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    1. I didn't used to think twice about spending on a good basic but I do these days. Sometimes, I prefer to buy a piece like this or a really good accessory rather than a bigger piece for the same money.

      I don't think I can manage to meet this time as I have arranged to meet up with a few other people but I might do another trip in the summer when I have more time - I'm doing London there and back in a day this time - a bit rushed! But it would be lovely to meet.

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    2. Cool, yeah. Whenever you have time, just drop me a line. :)

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  4. I love grey tees! That Splendid tee looks SOOO good on you! I love the way it drapes and it's in a really nice medium marled grey shade. The whole outfit looks super comfy yet casually chic. Thumbs up!

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    1. Thank you Teresa. I love it ... and it's so tempting to stock up now that I know how it fits and the material is lovely. Move the finger away from the button!!!!

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  5. Love it ! I wear a lot of grey and black and would pay a bit more for a good T over a cheap one . This would outlast a cheap one that you'd probably have to replace 3 or 4 times before this one wears out anyway ! I looked at the H and M one ( i think it's the same one) but it's got weird multicoloured bits in it , not a nice grey like this ! You are right about there not being a good basic grey marl T shirt around on the High Street!!

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    1. Oh no - I thought it was a plain grey marl from the main picture but I took another look at the close up and I see what you mean - so that's a no go from me too. It has to be a proper grey marl. Anyway - you've set me off on a challenge to find a reasonable grey marl tee on the high street. Watch this space!

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    2. Let me know when you've found one - I'm on the hunt too!

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  6. I think the Splendid looks great on you, if it's a staple for you and your wardrobe, then I'd invest. I'm having the same debate with cashmere joggers (blog SOS to come!) but if you can afford it, good quality is worth paying for. Personally as I am always cold, I invest more in jumpers than tee's but I understand your need to question it. But you've been looking for ages and if you've found it, then ignore the price! We all put different values on things (I don't think any handbag is pricey, they are all an investment....)
    Can't wait to see more jewellery! x

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    1. I'm a real jumpers girl as well. I have grey cashmere jumpers coming out of my ears and yet still I still continue to look for them! I like the idea of cashmere joggers but would worry about baggy knees - I find myself crawling around on my knees a lot for some reason (picking up toys and discarded toys I think) but they would make for some lovely elegant slumming!

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  7. You look great! I have spent a small fortune on tees from Kain, Aubin & Wills and Vince, and I find that they fall much better on the body than cheaper tees. And given how often I wear my basics, I think it makes more sense to splurge on them than on fancier, statement pieces.

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    1. I agree totally about spending more on some of these basic pieces as they have more staying potential in my wardroe than the fancy fashion pieces. I'm a plain dresser so it makes sense to spend money on good basics. Not tried Kain or Vince but love Aubin and Wills - what am I going to buy when they shut shop???

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  8. I really love it on you, it drapes so beautifully. And that last picture with the belt detail - you can tell the fabrication is of high quality. Worth the money I think.

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    1. And believe it or not - not a single bit of cotton in the tee shirt! 96% rayon and 4% spandex - explains the soft knit like texture rather than a more tightly woven cotton which has less give. Wish they did more colours in this same cut and fabric.

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  9. I am guilty of having spent even more than that on a t-shirt, (t by a wang, hello, your fault) I admit it. But I think that when you live in something, when you get tons of wear out of it and you love it and it makes you feel good, that's what determines whether or not it's worth the ticket price, not how complicated of a piece it is. There's my justification for you. That splendid t looks perfect on you! Well done! And if I were you I would snap up as many of those H&M ones as you can get your hands on. I have occasionally found the perfect t there (for incredibly cheap, it goes without saying) and I always regret not grabbing a couple.

    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. No - not my fault - phew! I haven't tried the Wang T shirts but have heard good things about them apart from they are rather thin and could snag quite easily? I think the Splendid tee is worth the money - it's the kind of thing I really love and am happy to give wardrobe space to. The H&M grey tee is not what I thought it was thanks to Claire's eagle eye above but the cut is great so I might check out their khaki one which hopefully is plain (no flecks) - do love a bit of khaki as well!

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    2. I have a few A Wang Ts and not a single one of them has ever snagged. In fact, now that I think of it, I've had some of them for years and they're still in perfect condition. So that makes me feel like it was money well spent (in addition to how good they make me feel, which is kind of priceless, right?). H&M tees are so hit or miss, I have a few that I adore, but the ones they churn out season after season are no good for me. Which, of course, is why you have to pop in every few weeks, just to see if they've come out with a perfect one or not :)

      ps- sometimes I forget to come back to your older posts and read through the comments and your replies; maybe this is just me, and maybe this is way out of line for me to even request/suggest, but blogger has a feature where we can subscribe to comments so we get email notifications, I think that would be pretty neat. Especially since you are always so good about replying to individual comments. There, I said it, feel free to totally disregard this if it seems silly/unnecessary/out of place.

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    3. Not out of place - I think I know what feature you mean - I shall look in to it but beware I am a luddite around these things!

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  10. Very nice Sue, I think it will be worth the money as it will definately be a wardrobe staple for years to come, and it looks worth the money, you can tell from the photos its an expensive piece. Hopefully come across a few investment buys this year myself.

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    1. I hope so - I love clothes which become like old friends. I'm hoping to do a few more investment buys this year but I know there will be some hiccups along the way - there always is - can't resist a bargain sometimes!

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  11. oh my goodness that is what I call a perfect tshirt .. but the price is far from it!
    You look GREAT in it - love the semi tucked in look - will steal that one!

    Fiona

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    1. I will look out for you doing a post with your top half tucked then. I read an article last year about all the different ways to tuck your tops in your jeans. There's more ways than you can imagine.

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  12. I'm a sucker for grey tees. I think they can be dressed up or down, they don't stain as white tees do, and they are so casual chic. This tee in particular looks perfect on you. I love the loose but not oversized fit, the round but not scoop necked or crew cut on the neck. I've never splurged on a grey tee but I could see myself doing it if I found one I thought was worth it. Tees are on your skin and worn often, so why not?

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    1. I love grey tees for the same reason - they don't stain like white ones and they don't lose that "whiteness" after a few washes which white tees tend to do. I like the fit on this one in that it's just on the right side of slouchy without overwhelming me. But I do think it's worth splashing out on something if it fits well. You should try the Splendid one!

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  13. Love this, grey is my favourite colour. The slouchy fit looks gorgeous x

    http://Heidi-likes.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thank you Heidi. Just popped over to your blog I believe we are fellow Mango Kate Coat twins - worn with a furry collar too! Great minds eh?

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  14. LOVE this - I am learning the hard way that tees are worth spending a bit more on. I get so attached to mine and then they wear out. I LOVE grey marl too...I have a silly number of grey marl jumpers...you'd think grey marl t-shirts would be better here...but you can't take the North West out of the girl...

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    1. I get worried about things wearing out so I stock up sometimes or I cease to wear something for fear of wearing it out. Maybe I should get a spare? And I have so many grey jumpers it doesn't bear thinking about - I have to think hard about not wearing one on a day to day basis.

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  15. I totally spend more on my basics because they last and give a better thrown together look! However, I usually wait until they are in the sale or TK Maxx;)I need to do some serious investment shopping in my t-shirt (long and short sleeve)dept. I do agree that the right colour, fabric and cut can be hard to find. Now, if I find something I love, I buy 2 or in another colour too. (FYI re: brown cheese, I am going to do a norwegian food blog explaining all the quirky basics that are now everyday life - if you can't wait google 'brun ost'!)

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    1. That's pretty much what I did this time - buy a nice tee in the sale. It feels much better not to have paid full price. Brown cheese is probably very tasty - it just doesn't sound it!

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  16. Love this tee on you and how you wear it. I was looking for a grey tee FOREVER all of last year. It was to replace an ancient one from Gap that has *whispering* holes in it. In the end I got a couple from H&M Men but I still need a slouchy nice one. Also need a grey jumper - why are they so hard to find? I don't mind paying a bit more for basics simply because I believe in longevity. This one I could dress up and down in SO many ways. Well done!!!!

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    1. You need a grey jumper? You don't have one? My wardrobe is positively heaving with grey jumpers or grey tops or grey something or other. I never seem to have a problem finding grey jumpers - they mug me as I walk past!

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  17. Hi there! I love your Splendid tee and it looks like the medium sizing is just perfect for you! I agree it's a worthwhile buy if you are going to wear it often! Great blog and have a good weekend!!

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    1. Hi and thank you for stopping past! The medium is just right so I'm really pleased it all came good in the end! Like I said - the shopping gods were on my side that day!

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  18. Love that tee shirt, it looks great on you. It's such a relaxed outfit yet the tee shirt looks like it cost money. I don't think you're mad at all, I'm slowly beginning to realise that it's better to pay for quality and have things last for longer. I've never heard of Splendid (is that awful!) but am now going to check out NAP. I'm wondering if a tee shirt like that would work for me in white ... serious bagel belly to conceal :(

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    1. I'm keeping an eye out for you for a good white top to go under your new jackets. It's not crazy about not hearing of Splendid - heck there are so many brands out there and a new one pops up each week. I've not stuck mine in the wash yet as I've not worn it apart from trying on as it's been too cold and I've had 15 layers on the last couple of days. The proof is in the washing!

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  19. Isn't it funny how when you spend a little more on a t - like Splendid - the drape is so much cooler. You look fabulous in it and love it with the beigy belt too. Also you've got that great Jennifer Aniston t tuck into the jeans (I haven't mastered that one yet)

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    1. I know what you're saying - the cut is just that little bit better than some of my more regular tees and the length is perfect for the tee tuck. I'm pretty sure you've mastered this look already and some!

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  20. It looks fantastic, the perfect colour and fit for you, and i really like the neckline and sleeve length. I never think expensive tees are worth it, but this is because I rarely wear them. If you are a regular wearer and love it, then definitely!

    True that the cheaper ones are diabolical, it's how they become so shapeless around the hem that troubles me, so I would hope the more expensive ones wear better. One day I may indulge.

    x

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    1. Well it was the neckline which drew me - I didn't want anything too high as then you start looking blokey and not too low that you show everyone your bra. The sleeves are cut just right for someone who doesn't like showing their arms off very much and the fit - I was just lucky. I have a couple of the linen (navy and off-white) tees from Zara from a couple of years back which I love but I think they have shrunk a little in length which is a shame as they drape brilliantly. I'm always looking for replacement ones in Zara but the fit seems to be off each time. I would love Splendid to do a navy version of this tee. I would consider buying one at full price if the grey one proves fab. I have a strange mentality when it comes to buying certain things like scarves and plain clothing - I'm happy to spend a little more as they last beyond the immediate season ... but still not past a certain limit.

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  21. Great tee. I think quality over quantity is best: trouble is, I get used to quality and then want more - i.e quality AND quantity!

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    1. Yes - I was seriously thinking of buying a backup spare! That's when it starts getting pricey! Good thing I like cheap and cheerful too :o)

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  22. I LOVE it, Sue. Drats, it's completely sold out at NAP. I tend to size up too. I've been desperately looking for a grey marl tee too. Boy, are we on the same wavelength or what! Okay, off to find a grey marl tee now.

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    1. Nooo - I hope not! I just had to go and check and it looks like they've still got sizes med to xlarge left. Just thinking, that I now need one in navy, white and black and then I've got all bases covered!

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  23. I think have a range of basic t-shirts is essential, I have black, navy and white and wanted grey, had looked at those on sale at NAP but glad I read this first as if they come up snug, there is no hope as I would need an XL anyway! Gutted as like you the neck has to be right and I have a scoop neck which isn't but yours looks good xx

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    1. That's a real shame as the material is really lovely on this tee. I prefer the gentle scoop necks - lengthens the neck a little - I take help where I can get it - I'm not proud.

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  24. I also meant to say in my earlier comment - what's this about you making jewellery?? Show us more!!

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    1. I will do when I get my act together! I'm a slow worker - ironing keeps getting in the way.

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  25. Well it does make sense to invest in something you'll wear a lot....that's the theory, I don't always follow it though. I'm not keen on the fluorescent flecks in the H and M t but have always done well with their basics

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    1. I don't like the flecks either - I didn't spot those as they didn't show on the main picture but they do on the close ups. That's a miss from me then as it's not a classic grey marl. I'm going to keep looking for a cheap one as well though.

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  26. Great tee Sue. You are so right about the struggle for the perfect grey. I invest in a few tees that go with everything for nice outfits (and being in general public) but the rest and especially my home tees are cheap. All about balance I think

    xx Mandi
    www.findmeamuse.com

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    1. You put your finger on it there Mandi - a few good tees for best and some cheap and cheerful home tees are the way to go!

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  27. Good basics are so important because cheap ones just don't survive. I love my basics and am more than happy to splurge on something that will still be around in a few years.

    Totally digging this one - a very nice shade of grey that I haven't yet got!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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  28. Agree with you that sometimes it's worthwhile to spend a bit more on basics with the right cutting and feel.
    Obviously cheap and good fitting is still da best...but we know that sometimes life is not a bed of roses ;p

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    1. I'm going to crack that cheap and cheerful good fitting tee! Watch this space.

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Susie So So