Most text tees are a bad idea you only realise once you’re wearing them in public. Either the slogan is trying too hard, the print has cracked after two washes, or the whole thing reads like a souvenir from somewhere you never actually went. The ones worth owning are a different proposition entirely. The right graphic tee with the right words, in the right weight of cotton, can anchor a casual outfit better than a plain one ever could. We’ve been looking specifically for pieces where the typography is considered, the sentiment isn’t embarrassing, and the base garment is good enough to justify the price on its own. Because that’s the test. Strip the text away and you should still want the shirt. These are the ones that passed. Wear them with well fitted jeans and a clean trainer, or under an open overshirt when the weather can’t make its mind up. Simple combinations that work every time.