Some people might wonder why one should wear a long-sleeve tee in hot and sunny SG? Well, two points: One, a long-sleeve can help protect your arms from the sun’s UV rays, and two, it can keep you more cozy when the temperature dips during rainy days and in air-conditioned environments. Plus, they can help you look more smartened-up than your usual short-sleeve tees and do not necessarily cost more for the extra material you get. Plus-plus, here are 6 more “points” (a.k.a. long-sleeve tees) listed below to help you change your mind and change up your style.
Airwaves long sleeve T-shirt, $92, Carhartt Work In Progress
If you want to look like you are into all things techy but want to look “street smart” about it, here’s your tee to put on to tell the world. We aren’t quite clear what this is about but what we sees here: words such as “technical supplement”, “communication”, “technology”, “society” and “sweet harmony”, along with images of telecommunications pylons printed on the back, as well as “dialectics of liberation” and “broadcasting” (with a falling letter “G”) on its left sleeve. That’s the tech bit on this organic cotton top. For the “street” bit, this ribbed crewneck in shiraz is by Carhartt Work In Progress, a brand that’s on the up, here in SG.
Available at HBX
AIRism Cotton UV Protection crew neck T-shirt, $19.90, Uniqlo
It’s the plainest of the lot, but here’s the list of “whys” you should still get this. It has got the Japanese brand’s famed AIRism with DRY and Cool Touch tech; has UPF40 rating protection (perfect for sunny SG); comes in 11 colours including a “06 Gray”, a strawberry milk “11 Pink” and a caramel-ish “27 Orange”; is available in sizes ranging from “XS” to “3XL”; and features slits on both sides of the hem (it’s all about the details). Plain cool, that’s what this really is.
Available at Uniqlo, multiple locations, www.uniqlo.com/sg
Long-sleeved football shirt, $64.95, Lover’s F.C. X H&M
Attention football lovers, this one’s for you. Instead of donning your fave football club-slash-team’s jersey for every occasion (we love your passion, but still), why not elevate yourself with something just a little more fashionable? Such as this collab piece by H&M and Neal Heard’s classic football kit-inspired brand, Lover’s F.C. (the acronym stands for “football club”). It doesn’t betray anyone’s loyalties; it only shows off your stylish sensibilities with its dark blue stripes, relaxed fit and embroidered appliqués. And, it’s made in the same polyester mesh (but recycled) that football fans know so well.
Available at H&M stores (enquire for availability), multiple locations, www2.hm.com/en_asia2
Cartoon plaid false two long sleeves tee, $62 (U.P. $71) Twenty Eight Shoes
This is probably the most adorable yet also most formal, and interesting take on a long-sleeve tee, here. This loose-fit, cotton-polyester hybrid features two blue and grey plaid shirt sleeves, sewn onto a black tee with a cutesy illustration of three bears exercising as part of their “Morning Call”, along with a statement espousing one and all to “LIFE! Early to bed early to rise!”. Not sure what the grown-ups might think, but your younger ones in the fam might dig you wearing this “shirt-tee” T-shirt.
Available at Zalora; www.facebook.com/ZaloraSingapore; www.instagram.com/zalora
BONUS: SAFRA members receive 25% off + 3% cashback with no minimum spend (for new ZALORA customers) and 20% off + 2% cashback with $80 minimum spend (for existing ZALORA customers). Click here for more information.
La Rousse in a White Blouse lilac T-shirt, $49.90, Pull&Bear
We all should make some space for some art in our lives… and some art-inspired tees in our wardrobes. A pretty-in-lilac top like this wouldn’t hurt; showcasing an 1889 oil painting by legendary Post-Impressionist French painter, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec – specifically, La Rousse in a White Blouse – this cotton top printed with images of the melancholic masterpiece on its front and back, speaks for itself.
Only available online at www.pullandbear.com/sg
Nike Sportswear long-sleeve T-shirt, $39.90 ($59), Nike
Here’s another artsy tee featuring the work of another artist, one that’s still alive and kicking. The purple graphics on this white tee (also available in black with white graphics) are from Nike Artist-In-Residence, Sophy Hollington whose relief prints are created using labour- and time-intensive lino-cutting, a printmaking process where the reverse of an image is cut into linoleum and then stamped. Respect to Hollington for her eye-catching folkloric and alchemical images, and respect to Nike for putting them on a half mock neck, half classic collar, heavyweight cotton top for us ordinary folk to be able to purchase, appreciate and support.
Available at Nike stores and brand stockists, multiple locations, nike.com/sg
BONUS: SAFRA members receive 15% off regular-priced footwear and apparels. Click here for more information.
