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By Bemi Shaw and Heidi Quill
Oversized T-shirts are no longer the reserve of sibling hand-me-downs and West Coast rappers. From Arket to Pangaia, here we bring you our favourites of the new season
The humble T-shirt has a history dating back to medieval times, but you won't have found today's oversized silhouettes billowing from the frames of off-duty knights. Like many trends of the moment, oversized tees take cues from the '90s for inspiration, especially its music. Hip-hop culture flew the flag for oversized tees with larger than life proportions that were vast and elongated. Think legends such as Ice Cube and Wu-Tang Clan, who could often be seen rocking the look with baggy jeans. Really, the trend stemmed from a means-to-an-end, birthed from the lower-income inner-cities of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, where bigger clothes came as hand-me-downs from older siblings.
As is always the case, fashion shifted, and through the noughties, skinny jeans and muscles tees prevailed thanks to the likes of Hedi Slimane at Dior Homme and later Saint Laurant. But, come SS18, brands from Paris to New York came to favour the bigger and better 'fit, and exaggerated proportions were back. Leading the way was Demna Gvasalia at Balenciaga, whose collections were peppered with gigantic tees tucked into straight-leg jeans. London's very own Martine Rose also took inspiration from rave culture and her exquisite use of tailoring, creating a juxtaposition that shot the drop shoulder tee to the top of our wish lists. And of course, Alessandro Michele's Gucci has never shied away from the extreme – who could forget his knee-skimming t-shirts?
Of course, the trend for baggier fits is not reserved for luxury fashion. In recent seasons, brands from Acne Studios and Jil Sander to high street stalwarts Arket and Uniqlo have favoured these roomier cuts in their collections, taking the cost of the look somewhat closer to its second-hand roots. In pursuit of the perfect effortlessly cool off-duty T-shirt? We've scoured this season's rails to bring you the best of the bunch.
A boxy utilitarian dream, Carhartt's oversized tee unites the edgy with the everyday. Just layer over a chain-link necklace to add some depth and dimension. £20.99. At amazon.co.uk
A ray of sunshine against the dreary autumnal sky, Levi's bright yellow tee is ready to brighten up your wardrobe this season. Primed for pairing with blue-hued denim and your go-to kicks, this boxy wonder can't put a foot wrong. £14.25. At amazon.co.uk
Drop Shoulder T Shirt Made from lightweight cotton, this t-shirt is cut to skim across the body for a relaxed fit that won't weigh you down. The washed grey colouring contrasts sharply with black, so style as the brand does and pair with loose-fitting trousers and chunky boots for a modern grunge look. £19. At cos.com