The eternal struggle is real: how do we keep our T-shirts from turning into crinkly, bacon-like monstrosities? It seems like no matter how well we take care of them, the fabric's elastic fibers inevitably break down, leaving us with a sad, sagging neckline.
According to textile expert Ningtao Mao, the culprit behind this affliction is the breakdown of the knitted structures in the neckline, which leads to "unrecoverable stretch deformations" that make the fabric longer than it should be. This happens when we repeatedly stretch and pull on our shirts - a common habit that can cause irreparable damage.
So what's the solution? Mao advises against aggressive washing processes, like high-spin cycles or overloading the drum, which can cause excessive mechanical stress on the fibers. Instead, opt for gentle machine washes in cold water, and avoid wringing out your T-shirts (a simple trick to prevent shrinkage).
But it gets better - Mao also recommends using a fabric softener that contains elastane, which will give collars a bit of snap and help retain their shape.
And what about material? Turns out that high-GSM count cotton is best for the shirt body, while a little synthetic fiber can help with shape retention. Uniqlo's heavyweight box tees are a great example, as are Varley's Leighton Tee and Cos' oversized range (which Bundu, a stylist and consultant, swears by).
So what do you do if your vintage T-shirt has succumbed to the bacon neck? There are plenty of DIY tutorials available online that promise to fix the problem. One popular method involves steaming the neckline on low heat or folding the oscillated neckline into pleats and soaking it in ice water.
As a last resort, there's always the carefully positioned scarf (or roll-neck tank top). And if all else fails, well... there's only so much we can do to stop our beanie from riding up.
According to textile expert Ningtao Mao, the culprit behind this affliction is the breakdown of the knitted structures in the neckline, which leads to "unrecoverable stretch deformations" that make the fabric longer than it should be. This happens when we repeatedly stretch and pull on our shirts - a common habit that can cause irreparable damage.
So what's the solution? Mao advises against aggressive washing processes, like high-spin cycles or overloading the drum, which can cause excessive mechanical stress on the fibers. Instead, opt for gentle machine washes in cold water, and avoid wringing out your T-shirts (a simple trick to prevent shrinkage).
But it gets better - Mao also recommends using a fabric softener that contains elastane, which will give collars a bit of snap and help retain their shape.
And what about material? Turns out that high-GSM count cotton is best for the shirt body, while a little synthetic fiber can help with shape retention. Uniqlo's heavyweight box tees are a great example, as are Varley's Leighton Tee and Cos' oversized range (which Bundu, a stylist and consultant, swears by).
So what do you do if your vintage T-shirt has succumbed to the bacon neck? There are plenty of DIY tutorials available online that promise to fix the problem. One popular method involves steaming the neckline on low heat or folding the oscillated neckline into pleats and soaking it in ice water.
As a last resort, there's always the carefully positioned scarf (or roll-neck tank top). And if all else fails, well... there's only so much we can do to stop our beanie from riding up.
I swear its like they manufacture them to shrink or something... anyway i just use a mix of fabric softener and vinegar in the wash and it makes a big diff 
gotta say tho, using steamed collars is a genius hack ! 
. It's like, come on, guys! A simple fabric softener with elastane is not that hard to find and it makes all the difference. And yeah, gentle washing cycles are a must. I mean, who wants to be stuck with a crinkly T-shirt? Not me 
. But seriously, have you tried using a steamer on your vintage tees? It's like magic for saggy necklines 
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But seriously, using fabric softener with elastane can make a huge difference - it's like a breath of fresh air for your poor, crumpled tee 
. And those high-GSM count cotton tees are basically the answer to all our prayers... or at least they're a great place to start 
. But let's be real, sometimes you just gotta rock that saggy neck with pride and own it like it's 1999 
!
seriously though its like we cant even get a decent fit no more lol how do ppl even deal w/ this?! anyway i think just switchin to a diff material would be the way 2 go high GSM count cotton is def better but u still gotta be gentle when washin dont overdo it or ur gonna end up with a sad neckline 
and btw using fabric softener w elastane sounds like a game changer
. And omg, have you seen those DIY tutorials online? I've tried one or two myself, but they can be a bit hit-or-miss 
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but seriously though, i think what i love most about uniqlo's heavyweight box tees is that they're so affordable and still super comfy. and omg those DIY tutorials sound kinda genius 
like steaming the neckline on low heat is literally going to be the thing that saves my saggy tees 
the fabric softener with elastane is a total game changer btw my fave tees are from uniqlo and varley they just last forever 
so if ur tee has gone rogue try steaming it or folding it into pleats like u said lol might not work but its worth a shot 
. And another thing, fabric softener that contains elastane is just a bunch of hooey 
It's crazy how much thought and effort goes into creating something as simple as a basic tee. And the solutions to fix it all seem kinda like workarounds for not being able to get a good night's sleep 
- steam this, wring that out... honestly, can't we just get some quality wear-and-tear here? 
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. For me? I'll stick to my old faithfuls... even if they are a bit crinkly 
Who knew it could save the day like that?! 
. btw, steaming the neckline on low heat sounds like it might work... will def try that out next time mine decides to go full bacon 
. btw what's with the fabric softener with elastane tho? sounds like a game changer 