ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

You are here: Home / Blog / Bits and Pieces

Bits and Pieces

Blog, Just Life, The Inheritance POST A COMMENT by

Leon’s Intro

I posted this in response to a request on the Facebook fan group, and someone got upset because it wasn’t on the blog. I can’t do anything right, heh.

Artwork by Luisa Preissler for Arcane

By popular request: Hugh d’Ambray entrance as narrated by Leon:

Oh, look at me, I am the Preceptor of the Iron Dogs. I am big. I am large. I am a lot of man. I’m probably too much man for you. My jaw is a deadly weapon. Women see it and fall over. I speak French. Fluently. I have severe abandonment and daddy issues. I look good on a horse, and my horse might be a unicorn. Oh and I am a wizard. I do magic. Look at your man. Does your man do magic? When you need a dragon slayed, who are you going to call? That’s right. You’re going to call me.

Now you have it too. By the way, neither us nor the official fan group do community chats on Facebook, so please do not be fooled.

Audio Woes

The work on the audio edition of THE INHERITANCE is proceeding as scheduled and we have some samples for you to listen to, but I wanted to share this one. Poor Hillary. We are so sorry for putting you through this.

Mammogram Was Normal

The results came back okay. Thank you so much for worrying.

Apparel Problems

I live in T-shirts. I’m a hermit author and Texas is hot. Most T-shirts out there are either heavy cotton or a thick synthetic blend. Usually 60% Polyester, 35% Rayon, 5% Spandex. I found that if it has polyester in it, I can’t wear it. This blend doesn’t breathe. It looks nice, it’s elastic, but I just can’t.

Now if it’s just rayon and a little bit of spandex, the fabric breathes a lot better. I bought a couple of summer dresses with that combo and they are awesome, but finding them is a massive pain.

If you are like me and you like very thin, breathable T-shirts, where do you buy them?

NEVER MISS A BOOK RELEASE

Join 30,000 Subscribers

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO
PUBLISHING NEWS

New book releases, give-aways, and appearances.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO
BLOG UPDATES

Free fiction, snippets, and funny stories.

Read our Privacy Policy.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. I feel your pain because I’m allergic to polyester. I recommend the cotton/modal blend shirts from JJill.

    • I enthusiastically agree with J. Jill recommendation. Plus they have various hem lengths and styles (a line, loose fit, elliptical, pleat back) that are versatile. Very well made and no shrinkage.

    • I also say try J. Jill. They have lovely clothes, and carry a good selection of clothing made with natural fabrics. I’m not allergic to poly, but it’s WAY TOO HOT for SE Louisiana. I try to stick to 100% cotton dresses, leggings, and jeans (well, a little spandex there) during the summer and J. Jill carries all that in lightweight blends.

  4. Patagonia hemp or hemp/cotton blends. Downside: seldom come with a snarky message. Upside: also available on their Worn Wear site so you can check out used versions inexpensively. I often buy men’s sizes for maximum slouching around.

  5. j crew and j crew factory have 100% cotton t shirts that are thin. they call them “tissue crepe”. Search “tissue”

    I just have to make sure i’m not wearing a dark bra and I have had some for years that don’t yet have holes but a few others that do.

  6. in the summer I basically live in Duluth Trading’s Armachillo tshirts for work. Lightweight, breathable, moisture wicking. But if you’re having issues with poly it may not work for you.

  7. Since you knit, have you tried using linen yarn to knit yourself a shirt? They can knit up pretty fast if you do the basic shape, like a box. My linen shirts are pretty cool, especially if I knit using larger needles.

    • Agree. I made a linen top by Dan Doh (pattern and yarn) – it does knit up quick bc it’s on fat needles.

      But…let’s be honest. I have exactly one of them. I get a lot of wear out of it, but it’s still a hand-knit top. I don’t wear it to clean the house. It doesn’t replace everyday tees.

  9. Try Life is Good brand. The tshirts are very soft and wash like a dream. Just check for fabric content before ordering.

    • Agree with Life Is Good rec. They have crusher-lite tees in some solid colors if you don’t want a graphic.
      Crusher-lite shirts are thinner than crusher and are more comfy to me.

      • 100% agreed! Life Is Good lightweight T-shirts are blousy and soft and I live in them as much as possible in the summer. Love them.

      • I love their crusher light option. I live in Texas and find the regular crusher style too heavy. The graphics are great. They also have a style called Crusher-Lite Easy Vee. It is a looser more relaxed fit and very comfy. There aren’t many design choices in this style but hopefully more will come as it’s a newer choice. I order a size smaller than usual in this style.

    • Another vote for Life is Good Crusher-Lite 100% cotton tees! Perfect for life in hot, humid southwest Florida. You can get a pack of 5 solid color (no graphics) for $85 right now. And if you like decorations or sayings on your tees, there’s a plethora to choose from. Suzes run from XS to XXL in wonens.

    • You can find the crusher lite T’s and hoodies on ebay in all sizes, especially if you like the older designs that aren’t easily available anymore. you can find Life Is Good on Poshmark too, but not nearly as much.

  10. I have found Torrid shirts – with graphics – to be light and soft and easy to wear (they do not hug the excess under the shirt nor put a spot light on the hormonal gains as a perimenopausal person)…sorry not sure of the blend as I am at work right now in a poly cotton blend top with the fan on as I flash away. Alternatively for pj’s Hanes has great cotton bed shirts.

    • Totally agree! Love my tees from Torrid. The one caveat is that they live MUCH longer lives if you hang them to dry. Given how thin and soft they are, they don’t love the dryer.

  11. First, your patience with your testy horde is amazing. Thank you.

    I am so glad your result came back normal.

    I am with you on breathable t-shirts FTW and can’t do polyester. I also have trouble with rayon. I blame office wear for women in the 90s for that – so impossible to clean and have looking nice without a lot of fuss/drycleaning.

    I get my t-shirts from Kohl’s, Old Navy, and Land’s End. In addition to my blend and hot flash considerations, said shirts must have room for a bust beyond small. Old Navy struggles with this. Sometimes I buy guy t-shirts. I have gotten to hate crewnecks. Some of us delight in boatneck and square options. Oh, and 3/4 length sleeves. So yes, baseball jerseys. Ooooh, dare we ask to introduce “Team Facts Be Da**ed” baseball t-shirt? We could make it Darned, to make it safe for work.

    • Not tee’s, but I had shoulder surgery last fall and have been living in tank tops ever since. My solution was to buy a size (or two) larger than normal, which makes them easy to put on with limited arm mobility and loose once on. Mostly the Croft & Barrow line from Kohl’s and JCPenney’s St John’s Bay. Reasonably priced so I have a lot of them in a wide range of colors and prints.

      And as always, Leon is totally on point.

  14. I can only wear mostly cotton. So I buy from Duluth Trading Company, they aren’t exciting but really last.

    • I buy the tshirts from Duluth too, but for wearing in the winter because they are so thick. I cannot imagine wearing them in the summer in Texas without dying of heatstroke lol.

      they do last, and are cheap considering how well made they are.

  15. I used to love this brand of t-shirts from Target so of course they quit making them. Then I found Route 66 from Walmart and so of course they changed manufacturers you can’t find it. Used to have some luck with Dress Barn but it went bankrupt. Did Chico’s for a while. Thankfully, I know how hard it is to get properly fitted clothing for myself I tend to buy in bulk. Now that I am losing a few pounds I can go shopping in my closet.

    Thank you for the snippet. Coming to this blog is my happy place. I spend too much time on YouTube just to escape the regular news networks but it can be a miserable place to be.

  16. Uniqlo has Airism line that helps the body stay cool. LLBean has summer shirts that have loose weave that helps one stay cool.
    Happy your health results are normal.

    • I second Uniqlo. I live in the Southern US with crazy humidity and temps that rival my holiday weight gain. 😄
      Their airism shirts are lovely, so light and cool. I work in a women’s winter office environment, so I often layer them with a slightly heavier top.

  17. For the tees: JCrew, Madewell and Garnet Hill have very nice quality (100% cotton) and last forever but I’m not sure how inclusive they are in their sizing 🙁

    I’ve also had good luck with Gap but it can vary.

    Yay for a normal mammogram!!

  18. I’ve found rayon tops at Old Navy under their Luxe stuff. It varies from year to year as to how thin. They have them year round. I love them. I can sometimes find rayon tops at Walmart that are really thin. Walmart doesn’t always carry them yearly. Viscose is probably my favorite fabric. It’s a type of rayon. Happy hunting.

  19. If you are looking for very THIN light basic tees (mostly white some neutral colors) I was AMAZED by the various designer MENS undershirts.(Calvin Klein & probably others)
    IIRC They are 100% cotton but I could be mistaken.
    They are primarily designed to be worn under dress shirts and the like. However whenever you see X famous male in a “basic tee”. That’s probably exactly the tee.

    They are spendy af. For a single tee but they are really comfortable. They are ridiculously light. Surprisingly they don’t seem to rip or fall apart …granted the last time I purchased one was 10+ years ago.

    Maybe Gordon has some in his undershirt drawer…. Or if he doesn’t … buy a couple for him in a size that could fit you … maybe he never gets them =)

    Granted IIRC finding normal person sizes is a pain but if they make them to fit Chris Hemsworth … they should have something available.

  20. With this Texas heat, I buy 100% cotton t-shirts. Believe it or not at Michaels. They have the cheapest prices on them.

    If I have to get really nice cotton shirts, I get them on QVC. Isaac Mizrahi’s cotton shirts are really good.

  21. My husband prefers the 100% cotton Bella Canvas tshirts because they are soft and lightweight. There are several sites selling the blanks (for like $5 a piece) in a ton of color options so its easy to stock up and have comfy shirts for days. You can also find them on Amazon to test one out before committing to a bulk order.

    • I have to second these. They’re soft, light weight, wash well, and don’t hug the arms or mid section for me. Also, they’re longer than your normal T.

    • Yes, Bella Canvas, particularly their Heather Prism Colors: 99% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% poly, 32 single 4.2 oz

      That is our shirt of choice in southern Louisiana.

    • I was going to suggest these too. One of our teachers suggested them over Gildan shirts for our teacher shirt order one year and the entire school adores them. We have never looked back. I looked and the website says that they have some colors in 100% cotton and others have a tiny bit of polyester in them. I have a bunch of colors by now and my Bella+Canvas shirts are gradually overtaking the entire drawer. I just don’t wear the heavier ones anymore. I’m such a delicate flower. But the best of all is that they are very popular for printing so you can get just about any graphic you want off Etsy.

  22. Thank you for audio clip. I definitely know I couldn’t do Hilary’s job.
    Old Navy’s tee shirts are pretty thin and some are 100% cotton. I live in the ON tank tops in hot weather. When I go out I add a cotton shirt open over the tank top for AC protection.

  24. (There’s always a smart ass) Have you thought about linen or linen blend t shirts? Linen is the coolest fabric there is.

    • I love my Svaha dresses, I just wish I’d found them years earlier. They are very comfortable and I love the designs, seem to be holding up well.

  26. Uniqlo. Their cotton shirts are sooooo comfy. I live in the tropics, so my clothes need to feel nice in both 100% humidity and full-blast air conditioning.

  27. Wow! I normally don’t do audible, but that voice actress was REALLY good! She emoted the frustration perfectly. I already bought the ebook, I am planning on buying the paper book, and I may just have to get the narrated book, too. lol

    Glad the booby torture test came back negative. I need to schedule mine next month and I’m not looking forward to it.

    I am picky about tshirts too. I live in AR and natural fibers that breathe are a necessity. If the shirt is too thin a few washes ruin it. If it is too thick, I’m burning up and it can’t be too tight around my neck. I mainly just “borrow” the tshirts that I like from my fiancé. Usually after has worn them enough to be soft lol.

  29. They’re not the ultra lightweight, but this store has 100% cotton shirts if you’re looking for tie dye. They have tie dyed dresses, sweats, all kinds of stuff. They say they do mail order, but their website doesn’t have inventory up yet. I’m sure they would work something out for anyone interested in mail order, check out their FB page, I highly recommend their shirts https://www.facebook.com/loveworkshippiestore

  30. Unfortunately, I have nothing to add to the t-shirt discourse. I spend most of the hot Texas days in an overly air-conditioned office. :-/

    Love the Leon intro! I am always ready for The Tales of — insert House Andrews’ protag here — as told by Leon and/or Gaston. 🙂

  31. I am allergic to polyester/acrylic fabrics too and live in Florida. My current go-to fabrics are linen (from online thrift stores and harder to find these days), cotton hemp mixes or cotton modal mixes from places like Patagonia, ethical bamboo breathable fabrics from Boody, and (if you are willing to pay the price) ethical summer merino wool fabrics from stores like Ice Breaker and Smart Wool. I prefer Ice Breaker because of the fabric texture and limited use of polyester blends in their smart cooling technology lines. Finally, I am excited to try some basics from Quince.

    websites:
    http://www.boody.com
    http://www.patagonia.com
    http://www.quince.com
    http://www.icebreaker.com/en-us/home

    • Bamboo is fantastic. It feels soft and cool. I have some Boody tops and they’re fantastic. Also love their lounge pants.

      • I agree, as an Australian I think bamboo is the best for this and lasts the longest. Boody is really good and has the thin softness you are after. I only buy linen, bamboo, cotton and viscose tops now – anything else and I’m a puddle of sweat!

  32. Congrats on the mammogram results!

    Thanks you for the goodies, especially Leon’s take on Hugh – I snorted with laughter, good thing I put my cup of coffee down before reading it 🤣

  33. I like Life is Good. The Tshirts are a little thicker but they do breathe and wash well. The thinner tshirts elsewhere tend to have the necklines become droopy.Plus Life is good have great sayings with tons of different graphics. I just wait till they have a sale and buy a few.

  34. Fabric! Something I know about. 🙂 The keyword to find rayon t-shirts is “modal” – it’s a specific kind of rayon that’s breathable and generally cooling, and the yarn works well in knits. Personally I like 50% cotton / 50% modal for that fabric.

    I like Quince and Lou & Grey (Ann Taylor Loft). I haven’t tried on the Theory ones but I’ve sewn with their fabric and I suspect the shirts are worth the money.

    The ones at Target are a little too thin for my taste and wear out quickly.

    • If you hunt, Costco has modal shirts as well. Usually get a size or two bigger to keep from touching skin as much as possible. Also check their men’s selection, I end up getting more shirt jackets from men’s section for winter layers- easier to open when get too warm than pullover sweaters

  35. You might look at American Giant who have a Women’s Hemp/Cotton jersey crew tee shirt that could suit you. Not cheap and it’s wash cold / tumble dry low stuff but I find their clothing lasts forever.

  36. I make mine. I live in South Georgia and I know just what you mean. I’ve got a few online stores where I can find the fabric at a reasonable price per yard.I love rayon and bamboo Spandex for T’s and dresses. They stay so cool and feel nice when they move. I like them for Palazzo pants and that kind of thing too. I actually discovered House Andrews looking for new things to listen to while I made my summer clothes.

  37. Tee-public. They have great light weight t shirts and lots of cool nerd stuff on them. Their women’s shirts are great I get women’s classic fit xl I’m 5.2 and 170lb they fit very well. Wait until sale and they are usually about 16$

    • I just got a T shirt from Tee Public. They use Gildan shirts, which run small. The design was a bit busy, but the saying was spot on for me.

  39. I usually wear cotton t-shirts, but have a few from a Canadian company called Sweetlegs. Their shirts are very roomy and long. Material is 66% rayon, 28% polyester, 6% spandex though.

  40. Thin, mostly cotton (some with blend-have to read carefully), tees can be found in the men’s section at walmart. Also can purchase 100% cotton on amazon, men’s section. They shrink the first 2 washes, so buy a size bigger than normal. Congratulations on the successful mammo, that is always good news. I had a false positive once, the mammo they put me thru to “re-see” was much more difficult.

  43. I am plus sized, and I so online at Bloomchic for shirts that allow for breathing and such.

    Leon is hilarious as per usual. YAY on the normal results!!!!
    y’all stay groovy!!!

  44. Bamboo (viscose) from Amazon. They call these “sleep shirts,” but they are fine if you are just running around and inexpensive enough to have in multiple colors. I have a couple I only sleep in and one I wear to work under a jacket. [They don’t hold any kind of shape, so they might look a tad “sloppy” without a structured layer over.] For sleeping, I do think they’ve helped me to stay cooler at night. https://a.co/d/fDtxWH8

    Off topic, currently re-reading Blood Heir and would love any updates on the sequel 😉

  45. Doesn’t look like anyone has recommended Mocdoc shirts yet? 100% cotton, thin but somehow sturdy…spendy so it’s nice to to get them on sale. Good luck, finding the right tshirt is a serious business!

  46. Either my brother/SIL or my nephew/NIL bought me a t-shirt for my birthday last year and it’s so ridiculously soft and comfortable. The tag says Canvas then on the next line Bella-Canvas(R). I just looked at the tag (had to use my phone’s camera 😉 and it does say 48% polyester. The other 52% is Algodon, whatever that is.

    I just looked on Amazon, and not only can you buy some that are 100% cotton, but you can also get some for as low as $10.

  47. James Perse has amazing thin cotton modal tops. The rack has the sometimes but I mostly buy them on ebay as I cannot make myself spend that much on a tshirt (even if it ends up being the one I wear all the time).

  48. Fellow resident of Texas here. Survived last summer in very thin t-shirts from Old Navy. But I buy rayon or rayon-blend dresses whenever and wherever I can find them, as they are superb south Texas survival gear.

  49. Wool& has great merino t-shirts – some are 78% merino wool, 22% nylon, others 100% wool… I find them really soft to the touch, very breathable and thermoregulating.

    • Yes to Wool! They are very lightweight, breathable, and odor -regulating. You can wash them with your regular laundry, or do a no-fuss soak in a bucket with some Euclan wool wash then dry them outside for a few hours – they’ll dry very quickly. T-shirts and dresses, even in hot, muggy weather, are awesome! Wool& and WoolX are my go-to brands. Wool& has fun 30 and 100 day wearing challenges for their dresses (I have done both!).

  50. Congrats on the negative smushogram. I am due next week, not my favorite activity but better safe than sorry!
    I worked for years in biomedical research labs and always wore 100% cotton t-shirts as they work well under a lab coat. I buy them online from Woman Within and they last for years. If it weren’t for red sauce stains here and there it’s hard to tell the 15 year old shirts from the 5 year old shirts. They are not expensive, and there is a good selection of sleeve lengths, neck styles and colors.
    I love hearing from Leon, more please!!

  51. I also live in tshirts, preferably all or almost all cotton. I went on a ‘find some good fun tshirts’ binge recently, and my favorites were from Threadless, where you pick your graphic and then the apparel type. My favorite short sleeve tees were the women’s fitted, but the sizes are really tiny, you have to make sure to look at the size charts. Good luck with your hunt!

  52. Tshirts: Macy’s. Walmart. MLB Shop. The Family Clothesline, for Penn State Football fans. Duluth Trading Company (excellent!).

    Amazon. But, be careful. Vendors LIE about the fabric content. I have annihilated some of the vendors for misrepresenting their products. I also do not order from vendors shipping from outside the United States at this time. Additional “shipping” costs can equal or exceed the cost of the shirts.

    eBay. Brands I know and trust. Some barely used shirts I have purchased have been quite the deal. Sellers from outside the United States now let you know about additional “shipping” costs but not the amount. I’d be careful here, too.

    I know you may be shaking your head and questioning “Macy’s”? I put stuff in my cart and wait for sales. They have terrific sales that usually revolve around holidays. This last Labor Day I saved a lot of money.

    I am looking for companies with pajamas and socks 100% cotton. I will find them! I will prevail!

  55. Wow, I felt sorry for the audio narrators when the Language of Power was spoken, this is way worse! LOL! They are up to the challenge, I have faith.

    Really looking forward to the audiobook of The Inheritance! Also looking forward to any end-of-year serial the authors might want to create… It’s getting to be that time of year, right? 🙂

  56. Good news on the mammogram!
    I love lightweight merino wool tshirts in the summer. I don’t know where you’d get them in the states, but high-end outdoors stores often carry them. Sometimes pricey, but moisture-wicking and naturally anti-odour.

  57. I am like you. Polyester makes me itchy and sweaty. Rayon, or linen, are the way to go. I, also, would prefer t-shirts, but these are pretty close and super comfortable. I also like the length. They are mostly rayon with a little bit of spandex.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09C156WTW?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_13&psc=1

    I also wear these linen/rayon button ups, but I can pull them over my head without messing with the buttons. They are super comfy but kinda ugly.

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQYP4GDF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_6&psc=1

    If you find something better, I would love to know about them.

  60. Cotton modal t-shirts from Land’s End are the lightest, most comfortable t’s I’ve found, and they have some stretch. They come in Petite and Plus also.

  62. I highly suggest outofprint.com They have the best t-shirts, and all book related. I live in those things. I recently gifted one to a friend of mine, who is big chested. The relaxed fit looked amazing on her, and the things breathe well.

    The best part? Every time you purchase a shirt, they donate a book to school libraries.

    https://outofprint.com/collections/womens-tees

    They are the best.

  63. My go to TShirt for scorching south Florida weather is Trespass. Cute patterns in larger sizes and they have cotton blends as well as “Duo Skin” atheletic polyester for when I’m hiking in said weather.

    Love Hillary’s clip. Looking forward to buying the audio version of The Inheritance

  64. Have you tried Costco’s 32 degree brand. I find their T’s very comfortable. I found the Artic Cool brand on Facebook and really liked their shirts as well. I got men’s size for the longer sleeves. They have held up very well

  65. Oooh! Linen tees! From wherever I can find them (jcrew sales or madewell).

    Another option: If you can sew at all and have access to a machine, t-shirts aren’t hard (they don’t even have to have set in sleeves, but I prefer them) and you can buy 100% linen knits at Mood Fabrics and elsewhere. Even ones big enough for my chest only take about a yard or yard and a half, because knits are usually 60” wide. As the linen tees have gotten harder to find, I’ve done more of this. You can use a pattern or trace a favorite tee.

  66. I just bought 2 Organic Pima Cotton Jersey Round Neck Tees from Eileen Fisher and I love them! Very lightweight. I did get them on sale, because otherwise they are very expensive. Eileen Fisher also sells her used clothing on-line at Eileen Fisher Renew.

  67. Rereading White Hot, and coincidentally got to Leon’s play by play part yesterday, what a good belly laugh. Glad your results came back ok, waiting on mine. Totally agree about the fabric, so glad you asked, so now I can find some new options for non synthetic T’s. Land’s End supima T’s are ok, but only on sale.

  68. Glad the mammo results were good news!

    I’m with you: I hate wearing shirts that are not 100% cotton (or very close to it.) I can vouch for some of the ideas others have posted:

    1) I buy a lot of cotton tee shirts from Kohls (both their Croft & Barrow and their Sonoma lines.) You might also want to check out their Tek Gear brand: it started as activewear (running etc) but recently they started doing casual wear too. It’s very soft and light, and much of it is also moisture-wicking so it keeps you really cool.And it holds up very well!

    2) My daughter recently got me started buying clothes at Old Navy. I bought a bunch of their oversized and very light weight cotton tees, and they are sooooooo soft! They were very inexpensive, but so far they’re holding up well (no shrinking or pilling.) I just love them!

    3) I also buy a lot of plain oversized tees from Michael’s. Their prices can’t be beat! I use these as my ‘cooking’ shirts…I am constantly spilling, spattering, etc while creating in the kitchen 😂 so I wear the cheap cotton tees sp I don’t ruin better shirts while cooking.

  69. If you don’t mind solid colors. I grab my Gliden brand shirts from Michaels, the craft store. I buy multiple colors of the 100% cotton when they go on sale. They also have heather versions and Bella and Canvas brand, but those are blended shirts. Use caution when washing the first few times, the shirts can bleed their dye.

  70. Belk for 100% cotton tees. Basic colors and different prints by season available in petite to plus sizes. I’m a plus and these are my favorites. Also Land’s End – pricey unless caught on sale. Love their swimwear and coverups, too.

  71. I too have multiple skin issues with fabrics.
    I generally have to stick with 100% cotton, silk, linen or a natural fabric blend with spandex.
    Polyester is no good unless its one of those sports wicking moisture types like in sports bras and athletic wear.
    I have a really good experience with Figs scrubs. They make a “supersoft underscrub,” that is so soft and so thin, I would recommend that to anyone. it comes in short and long sleeves, but only in black and white.

  72. Have you tried merino wool? Sounds crazy. doesn’t it? wool in the summer? but they make super lightweight ones that are very breathable and are remarkably comfortable in the summer. I live in Florida so I know what you mean about the heat and humidity. unfortunately, they’re expensive.

  74. Glad your results are normal, now you can take a breathe. I like LLBean Suprima cotton tee shirts. They actually stay their size after washing. These days, all my clothes are soft and comfy.

  75. Eddie Bauer womens 100% Cotton t-shirts. I get them on sale. they machine wash and dry. They last years and look nice.

    Thank you for all the wonderful words!

  76. Thank you so much for the cotton t shirt question! Because I can spend a week surfing the web and find nothing to my satisfaction.
    Thank you to all that answered! I also live in the south(Mississippi) and need a breathable t shirt. Been wearing a couple cotton shirts my son had in his teens ( he’s 42) and those tees are almost shreds held on by my sticky body.
    Desperate for new shirts

  77. Heya- I’m from Germany & I wozld like to recomend ” Daughters of India” , they are a bit Boho Style, really beautiful and 100% pure india cotton
    They sell from australia & to send to Germany it takes 5 day

  78. I can’t wear anything more that a MAX of 10% polyester. It makes me sweat. I greatly prefer 100% cotton for clothing and sheets, but I recently bought a teeshirt that claims to be 100% cotton and it also makes me sweat, so I’m deeply suspicious and depressed. I have not been able to find all cotton items going on 18 months now except online, and I don’t trust generic online to be truthful.

    Even garage sales and thrift stores don’t have much any more. My favorite tees are close to 20 years old now and not fit for going out in public (I have cats, they have holes)

    Hoping other people will have suggestions I can follow.

  79. I buy thin cotton T shirts from TeeFury or TeeTurtle or TeeVillian. Each one is a print on demand service that supports small artists. Often there is a daily promotion.
    The best sale I have seen recently was Teefury’s $14 T shirts on Pie Day (March 14)
    Wash inside out with cold water, hang to dry, and they will last for years.

    I also have problems with polyester in my clothes. Can’t really stand it anymore.

  80. I buy all my cotton tees at Old Navy and Gap Factory. They are thin and comfy.
    If it says “ribbed” it will be too thick.

  81. I buy tee shirts of fabric that is made from bamboo or hemp. Very cooling and breathable, tencel and viscose. There are several websites that carry these temperature regulating clothing that are not expensive. I have fibromyalgia and am heat sensitive. My sheets and PJs are made from the same as I sleep hot. Email me and I will name the websites

  84. I’m like you in that I prefer lightweight natural tops. My absolute favourite is a knitted linen. You get the stretchy, loose, light fabric and the natural, breathable fabric I one. For me it was a game changer.

    I am UK based so I usually use M&S or Next (ordinary high street shops)

  85. I wear Banana Republic ribbed elbow tees all summer. 96% cotton, 4% spandex. Comfortable and breathable but don’t feel cheap (despite being at the Banana Republic Factory store for ~$15-$20). Downsides: black color seems to fade easily and collars get misshapen easily. This may be due to poor laundry habits though (chuck everything in together x.x).

  86. Best light all cotton shirts I’ve found at either L.L. Bean or Talbots but sometimes you’ll order one that you think will be perfect and it isn’t but they have really good return policies. L.L. Bean t-shirts are lighter and have some nice patterns in them. But I’ve also found that sometimes their Pima cotton shirts feel heavy.

    • The Pima shirts feel lighter to me than the other cotton options. I was going to suggest them, in fact. The knit is finer for sure, but also makes for a thinner fabric. Lands End and LLB have lots of color options.

      I really like hemp, rayon, and bamboo when available. I almost always buy on sale, typically end of season sales.

  88. Land’s End. Good quality, generous sizing, good sale prices. Easy care. They make up a good portion of my travel wardrobe. I am a round woman slightly past “a certain age” who is always too warm. (walked around the Artic circle with my coat unzipped – wearing my equally impressive Land’s End turtlenecks. But you don’t need them!😆

  90. In Florida. from Old Navy, Kohls, JCP

    back in the day The Gap but not these days unless they changed again

  92. Wearpact .com

    Organic cotton

    Soft breathable. Comfy in heat.

    T-shirts, Pajama’s, skirts

    Long skirts swish and look elegant.

    Cool in heat because of light weight and swishing.

    Hoodies too, but hoodie material is heavier.

    I live in their clothes.

  94. I like tees with images and one of my favorite companies is Jim Morris Environmental T-shirt Co. Limited on colors though. Like soft organic will be one color for a certain design with a different color for Women’s soft relaxed or classic heavyweight.

  95. “look at me,” “look at your man,” and “horse” all in one paragraph has me thinking of that old spice advertisement.

  96. So glad for good mammogram results!
    Leon’s intre for Hugh…hilarious!
    On T-shirts: Floridian here. Never polyester, yuck. Cotton, modal, rayon, linen blends always. I prefer v necks or scoop necks. Lands End cotton tees are comfy, wash well and last! A brand called Cutloose has lots of natural fiber options for more dressy options. Washes and wears well. I also have found some nice rayon/modal with a bit of spandex on QVC. Tops and some dresses. I always check fabric content
    Good luck

  97. The Leon intro was funny! And the audiobook is going to be amazing! Also good news! and frankly, I’ve not found a nice t shirt since I left VA and returned home to Tx 30 years ago, so sorry, no idea. You could buy really nice thin summer weight socks there too. BIG sigh.

  98. Can’t wait for the audio!
    I definitely need at least a partial cotton blend to not sweat in my clothes.
    I had a pair of pants with no cotton in Scotland, ugh so hot and sweaty even in cool weather.

  100. For cotton with a scoop-neck style that can be relax at home or pair with slacks for a casual Friday work outfit, this Target shirt. I also love their tank tops. I’m a curvy 5-foot-8, size 16-18 or 1x or 2x so you can get a sense it it will work for you.

    https://www.target.com/p/women-39-s-slim-fit-short-sleeve-ribbed-scoop-neck-t-shirt-a-new-day-8482-black-m/-/A-89866608

    I also really like the Amoretu Women’s Scoop Neck Short/ Tees Cotton T Shirts from Amazon. Sizing is pretty accurate. However. I don’t think these have as much cotton as they claim. I wore them on a trip to Vegas in June (so not as hot or humid as Texas) and was pretty comfortable. Inside where I stayed it was 80-85 degrees.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07D2BQGYP?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

    Ditto to old Gap but it’s hard to find things cotton T shirts in larger sizes, unless they have dime sort of slogan that is more for a teen than an author.

    Ditto to linen, but it’s Hella hard to find in a T-shirt in large sizes. (Linen was great when I was 35 and lived in the southwest and was a size 8 or 10. I loved my woven linen dresses and tank tops. It’s hard to find linen that isn’t a blend.)

    I love, love, love my 12-year-old Royal Robbins draped t-shirt made of modal. Great for summer travel, especially if you want to look nice or go hiking.

    Basically anything Royal Robbins lasts forever. My sister still wears a tank top she bought in 1993.

    They’re using more hemp and recycled polyester/cotton blends now.

    They top out at sizes XL and 16. I love their skorts, perfect for summer.

    https://www.royalrobbins.com/us/en-us/women/tops/t-shirts-tanks/vacationer-v-nk-ss/

  103. I love “the perfect tee” from POPFLEX – 95% rayon 5% spandex. It’s an activewear company but I ended up buying this tee in almost every color and now it’s a wardrobe staple!
    I also like Subset – all organic cotton. To be fair I haven’t tried their t shirt so I don’t know thinness level, but their underwear and lounge shorts are a nice thin soft cotton so I would hope the tee would be too.

  104. Glad to hear the mammogram was normal 🙂
    Most often I get clothes from a thrift store or Costco. Rarely I’ll find something at tjmaxx or Ross.

  105. I spewed tea all over my monitor reading Leon’s Intro!!! Thank you SO much for that, I needed the Laugh!

    I LOVED The Inheritence and can’t WAIT for the next chapter… thank you!

    Thrilling that your mammogram came out clean!!!!!! Congratulations from the bottom of my surivor heart.

    TShirts. I can definately understand. I moved from Colorado to Arkansas and I am dying here…. drowning in my own sweat. Try this:

    https://organicblank.com/products/epic-uni-t-shirt-140g-epic-s03564?srsltid=AfmBOooK0KKCrP5oU92Fw0RkZ2IE9oK-vJxduCX1_uI1vLZYqRx4FFhBaCA

    If you look up Light GSM cotton fabrics, it will tell you how to choose the lightest weight fabrics. Here is an idea that I use: Walmart has lightweight cotton linen shirts that are on clearance right now. Much lighter than tshirts, they are gauzy and really cool to wear and don’t make you sweat at all. Besides, they are pretty! Type in gauze Shirts for women and you will find lots of styles. I am probably older than you, so you may not remember, but in my teenage years all I really wore was these shirts and cutoff jean shorts. That was living in both Aransas and Texas, so it was HOT!

  106. I’ve gotten a bunch of cute nerdy tshirts from tee turtle and they’ve been pretty light, stretchy and reasonably affordable and I’ve washed and worn them for years and they’re holding up. Worn them in Houston even.

  107. Happy to hear the all clear for your test.

    I get horrid heat rash from polyester. Lots of raised red welts!

    I shop the sales from Miik (https://www.miik.ca/) its a Canadian company and what I have has been durable. I am rough on clothes. Though with the tarriffs it’s probably not worth it for people in the states. I have also found suitable items on amazon but it takes a lot of scrutinizing to sort through everything that comes up in search.

    I like things that last and don’t fall apart. So I don’t buy too many things too often. I still have and use things from my teen years 😆😜 if something does become unwearable I tear it up for cleaning rags.

  108. If you like rayon, I would suggest searching for Tencel/lyocell tshirts. Even with the enshittification of search engine results, it’s far more likely to be used in the name/marketing compared to rayon in order for a search to output relevant results from a variety of brands. And if it’s a blend, then it’s far more likely to be a cotton blend because its big selling point is being an eco friendly alternative to traditional rayon processing, so something marketed around eco friendliness is far less likely be a poly-blend.

  111. Ilona, I buy thin, soft cotton tee shirts from St. James. Made in Brittany, France. Superb quality. I have shirts that I have worn weekly, sometimes daily, all summer and fall, that just get softer the more you wear them. Made in France, but stocked and shipped in the USA, so very little wait time. Read descriptions carefully. Some of their creations are heavier cotton, and those are too heavy for my menopausal body.
    My favorites are: Levant Modern, soft cotton, unisex fit; Minquiers Modern, soft cotton, men fit (yes, I wear these). So many colors and combinations, and sizes from 8 to 4XL. I still wear these ones I bought 10 years ago, and add one or two new ones a year. They are pricey – I consider them a good, long-term investment. Wash in cold, delicate cycle, tumble without heat, then lay flat to finish drying.
    I love them!
    Interested to see what you think!

  112. You can checkout Fabindia they have a store in Plano Texas and I believe you can shop through their Instagram link . They have very soft cotton tops which I enjoy wearing . I have very sensitive skin and even stitches done in non cotton material hurt so was glad to have found them.

  113. Thank you for posting the intro thing. I don’t use social media so I would have missed it otherwise! That’s very funny. I love Leon’s sense of humor.

  115. Thanks for Leon! And so happy for you for the results!

    I really love 100% linen t-shirts (it should not be stiff because it’s woven in a different way than let’s say a shirt). I know it’s not cotton but i find them more comfortable when the weather is hot.

  116. Love Organic Basics stuff! As someone similarly unable to wear polyester tees, I highly recommend.

    Their true boxy tees are **chef’s kiss**. 100% organic cotton, lightweight but not see-through, nice soft fabric, and generous short sleeves. Work for lounging in leggings and decent enough to wear to the office – great all rounders.

  117. Hi do you know about the tech clothing they have for really hot weather? As soon as you start sweating, the shirt starts cooling you off. I don’t know how they manage it but they work. All sleeve lengths and many pretty colours. Worth every cent.

  118. I love Leon’s narration. Asvfor t-shirts, this is going to sound odd, but Walmart sells a great tencel shirt for about $12. I love tencel – it’s thin, soft and silky, and best of all it breathes. I have eczema so I stick religiously to cotton, but tencel doesn’t bother my skin in the slightest – in fact, it feels great. Plus, it comes in nice colors and even in plus size, which is great for me. Walmart is switching to their fall/winter clothing, but if you look online you should be able to still find short sleeve shirts.

  120. Try Life Is Good shirts. They are super soft and have great sayings on them. I live in San Antonio and totally understand about the heat. They also donate 10% of profits to kids in need. My whole family is now hooked on these shirts. They run super sales so you can try them out inexpensively!

  122. I just bought this tactical T-shirt. On FB a lot of the ads show female models. Took a couple weeks but I loved it so much I bought two more. Thin, wicking fabric, high quality – and cool pockets. Very thin, breathable.

  123. So happy and pleased your mammogram results came back normal. No I did not worry, I prayed and I confess in a bit of a self-serving way(hee hee hee). I want more IA books to add to my PLUMP collection. Waiting on Innkeeper”s Maud and Arland wedding story for one; also, any and all new productions.

  124. For a lot of my Tshurts, I usually shop American Eagle’s sale shirts. They’re very soft, get softer as you wash them, and don’t pull. I tend to stick to their Soft & Sexy shirts in a v neck, because I despise anything up around my neck.

  125. I’m an ice dye tie dye artist and I dye a ton of tee shirts. Softest and thinnest – usually Port and Company Fan Favorite tee or used to be Hanes soft cotton tee and they do V neck. I do a lot of round and vee neck tee’s and i routinely sell to ladies who want loose and vee neck. I’m size inclusive so i stock xxs to 6x on some things or as large as I can find. Softest but not perhaps so thin is the Dancing Robin Tee’s sold by Grateful Dyes in Colorado. I hope maybe you go to local art show and feel your way around the hand made artists work for tee’s. I usually sell in person at shows and in the Bay Area of CA. Buy local and small is what I hope vs. mass produced. Since I’m an ice dyer each piece I do is unique. I’ve been reading your books since the beginning. I just re-read all the Kate books for like the 5th time.

  126. Glad your mammo came back okay, I’m dreading mine. There a little bit pricey but I have a bunch of Teddy the dog shirts. They’re funny and really comfy up here in Missouri.

  128. J. Crew has a line of very thin 100% cotton t-shirts called Vintage Jersey which worked great when I lived in south Florida. They come in short and long sleeve with crew- or v-necks and are super comfortable. I buy them on sale (which they do pretty often).

  129. Gudrun Sjoden carries tshirts that are often a cotton/spandex blend. Aside from her knits, most of her clothing is very lightweight and…fun!

  130. I live in south Florida, and Land’s End tees are lightweight cotton and reasonably priced. Love them.

  131. For very thin, breathable T-shirts, I go to Uniqlo. Its Airism line is definitely breathable.👍🏽👍🏽 Or you can look for fitness/workout T-shirts made of ice silk. I’ve seen several on Amazon.

  133. Out of print.com. The women’s scoop neck tees are thin and breathable. Plus all the literary designs make my book loving heart happy.

  134. Have you tried wool t-shirts? One of my current favorites is a lightweight one I picked up a while ago and it works really well in the summer heat. As a bonus, they don’t pick up smells nearly as badly as apparel with high synthetic fiber content. Minus33 is a very good place to start (they’re a solid small business based in NH that has been around for a while, but don’t have nearly the recognition); they’re also much better priced than WoolX and Wool&.

  136. What about bamboo or tencel/lyocell? They’re both pretty soft and lightweight and I find them breathable. I don’t live in TX though…so no idea if they keep you cool like cotton.

  137. Toad & Co (www.toadandco.com) makes nice, breathable (and sustainable) clothing. Expensive but worth it (quality over quantity!). You can also find some of their stuff on Title Nine

  139. I’ve started wearing bamboo t shirts. They are fabulous! I live in Australia on the humid coast so I can’t wear synthetics either.

  140. I’m not looking for your kind of t-shirts but I’m always angry because I can only find flimsy cotton ones. Funny.
    You could look at H&M. And Amazon Basics has a lot of them. Or Uniqlo. I don’t know how to spell that but it’s the Japanese brand.
    And Rayon, Tencel and Modal are very nice fabrics too. Semi-natural made of processed wood. Breathable and soft.

  143. I second the vote for American Eagle Soft & Sexy shirts – 95% Modal, 5% Elastane. I love them and generally buy them used online. I also do not like wearing polyester shirts – makes me stinky.

  144. RE: Tee Shirts
    I recently bought three shirts from Penneys online. V neck, 3/4 sleeve, 100% cotton, didn’t shrink or fade with washing. $10 each. Didn’t feel heavy. I wear them to work too with jeans.

  146. I’m someone who lives in t-shirts, too. I’m retired and I live on the Oregon Coast.

    Years ago, I discovered two websites, one is called Cafe Press and the other is called Zazzle. You can get t-shirts made on those sites with sayings and sometimes artwork that suits who you are. Me, I’m the “peace” girl. And I love reading. So, I have various t-shirts with positive artwork and sayings related to those two things. And others. It’s fun, and I get compliments on my t-shirts all the time. I have had t-shirts made as gifts, and my friends love them.

    You can also order them in various styles and blends of fabric. I like cotton, but there are different blends of fabric and different styles and colors of t-shirts to suit anyone.

    Have fun and give it a try.

  147. This will sound crazy, but my *favorite* shirts for dealing with heat and humidity are wool. There are several companies now that make very thin wool/spandex clothing and they are SO much more comfortable than cotton I’m utterly ruined. They make a massive difference in the 80%+ humidity with 90+ temp summers where I’m at. My favorite company to buy from is Woolly.

  148. 32 degrees! I discovered them at Costco but buy straight from their website. Their “cooling” shirts are a polyester blend but I find them to be breathable. and you cannot beat the prices. I think half my wardrobe will be 32° soon. I’ve not regretted a single purchase.

  149. hi I tried the Valentine tea from Harney I loved it ,as to teaspoon shirts I love Til Valhalla,they are honoring soldiers but they are some of the most comfortable shirts for me ,also Lands End makes a nice one and I got my favorite from Amazon
    Crap, Turns Out This Is My Circus and Those Are My Monkeys T-Shirt
    Russell Athletic Men’s Dri-Power Cotton Blend Short Sleeve Tees, Moisture Wicking, Odor Protection, UPF 30+, Sizes S-4x. not pretty but my friend works in the hay field in this one

  150. I buy my son clothes on a website called Little Sleepies. They have some adult clothes too but the shirts that have all should match your need, rayon (they call it bamboo) and some spandex. I use to buy from Kyte baby too but he grew out of them. Kyte baby has a lot of adult options as well. It may feel weird to buy your clothes on a baby clothes site but they are very breathable and super comfortable.

    https://littlesleepies.com/collections/womens-tees

    https://kytebaby.com/pages/kyte-living

  152. Haha! I love Leon! I just finished listening to White Hot on GA, another great adaptation. Any news on the next chapter release?

  153. I am totally on board with what you’re talking about regarding these t-shirts and the polyester blends. I can’t wear polyester at all. it doesn’t breathe as you said and it makes me sweat. I am 62 and still have an issues with menopause at times but even if I’m not I cannot wear a t-shirt or any clothing that has polyester in it. I’m going to keep looking at this thread because I am homebound due to disability and I have to buy everything either through Walmart or Amazon. sometimes I can find stuff on Google but I’ve had so many issues with the quality of products and then getting reimbursement or some kind of exchange is impossible. so if you know where to get these online I’d like to know too. thank you.

  154. Woolex. I know it sounds weird but we live in the low country of SC and totally get heat and humidity. We also are big on comfort at home and on the go. These shirts look good, are comfy, and keep the sweaty look and smells down. Not cheap, but completely worth it.

  155. BloomChic.com
    Glorious t-shirts that are thin and airy and flow like silk. I love them! And they have all the cats–and now I have all the cats!!

  156. I buy Kingsted Mens T shirts on Amazon. They are very soft and lightweight.
    I buy x large for sleeping and large for daytime. It says they are Polycotton.
    I also find rayon and polyester too hot. Cost is about $15. I hope this helps😊

  158. I live in Fort Worth and feel your pain. I like JJill t-shirts as they are lightweight and come in many colors.
    Here’s a hack for crewneck shirts: use fabric scissors and cut around the neck just above the stitching. This opens up the neckline nicely and won’t ravel.

  159. I have some linen shirts from the Gap and Patagonia that are quite nice and cool.

    I also have two wool T-shirts that are great for travel because they don’t get smelly and travel well. I’m unsure if that’s an option for you?

  161. I love tshirts!
    If they have messages on them, I probably got it from Shirt.Woot.com – these are 100% cotton. I JUST checked to be sure. I love most all my woot shirts!

    If they are plain I probably got them from the mens section of Kohls. The one I’m wearing right now is called Bella+Canvas. Nice colors. Cotton/polyester or all cotton.

    • I second Universal Standard. They have amazing range of sizes (up to 40). They also make light weight dresses.

  163. My favorite thin T-shirts were bought at Target. Some crew neck, some V neck, all comfy. I hang them dry so they don’t shrink shorter, and it’s annoying to need to do that, but it’s not the end of the world. Most of my tops are knit, and knit shrinks a ton in the dryer. Their t-shirts come in a range of colors, and don’t bag out like cheap ones from Walmart, which looked just as nice the day I bought them, but no longer do so.I also, back when I lived in California with hot summers, bought some sleeveless t-shirts at Old Navy, which ARE long enough to be able to go through the dryer and not turn in to crop tops!

    • Totally agree with targets, at least last time I bought them.

      I’ve had several for nearly 15 years. Cotton with tiny bit of stretch I have no idea what magic keeps them together to this day.

  164. I found the Amazon (canada) brand of tshirt was very light cotton.

    Love hearing Hillary work her language skills!! thanks for the snippet!!

    Glad to hear your mammo was clear. Definitely scary stuff. My mom had breast cancer too.

    Take care! stay gold and stay cool. 🙂

  168. Not sure of the blend, but I love the 32 degrees men’s v neck cool t-shirt. They are super soft and comfy, and also wicking and quick drying. I wear a lot of athletic shirts, and these are by far my favorite. I found them on amazon, or I believe 32 degrees has their own website.

  170. Under Armour UA Tech T’s are the bomb, and you can get them for $12/$13 bucks at the UA outlet I’d bet at the San Marcos outlet mall. At least that’s what they run at the Grand Prairie outlet up here.

  173. I buy most of my t-shirts from Etsy actually. I can find out fiber content and I don’t buy those thatcarent a cotton / rayon blend.

  174. David Archy makes the most comfortable undershirts, which I use to let me then wear whatever kind of t-shirt I want. Both the cotton and the bamboo undershirts are great at moisture wicking and keeping skin oil and sweat from irritating my skin in hot, humid weather. Also lets me pick tshirts with very thin material without worrying about my bra being uncomfortably visible.

  175. hi. for Thin clothing. i have lived in southern california, and Mexico

    The. clothing place for most of your needs is from WOMEN WITHIN.

    They even have hand held catalog that they will send you. So no on line hassels and they are not expensive.
    i order from them monthly.

    If you wear house dresses or want that look. the vermont catalog. spring or summer. i believe has thin dresses pretty colors & vibrant
    i have not ordered from them on line just over the phone.

  176. Glad to hear about the mammogram. I’m not sure where to get them, but I can tell you what to look for. Rayon is a manmade cellulose fiber and is your bargain basement on cost. it functions like cotton, meaning the fibers are short, so it doesn’t breath as well as it can.
    Bast fibers are best. These fibers grow in the stalks of plants. Flax/linen, hemp, and ramie are the big ones, kenaf and nettle are up and coming.
    Bast fibers are best because they naturally wick moisture. they also tend to be antimicrobial, as a bonus. There are a lot of 50% hemp products out there, though they chop the hemp down to cotton length, which makes it less efficient and less durable, but still better than plain cotton. I’ve seen some 100% hemp starting to show up in the sustainability markets. Ramie is easy to find in shirts and blouses. I’m very fond of it in button up shirts and pull-over blouses. they are very comfortable. So ends my compulsive fiber lecture. Back to my hemp spinning and my own eventual hemp knit shirt 🙂

  178. I forgot to mention bamboo! probably because most bamboo fiber is labelled as rayon, made with a chemical process to breakdown and reform the cellulose. I believe there are some greener methods at work now, that retain the antibacterial properties of the fiber. Go for that kind.

    My daily work wear T-shirts I get at Wal-Mart, Fruit of the Loom or Haynes multipacks with the pocket. I require the pocket. They last for years and only cost a few dollars apiece and go up to 3x. the colors are plain but they are the best for shlepping around the house or gardening.

  179. I get the classic torrid T-shirt thin but not too thin(mostly) flattering and i dont have to tuck them in order to look sharp. I am in Hawaii so get the heat thing.

  180. I sew them for myself and friends, usually out of linen, which is the best of fabrics!
    Will trade for autographed books! ?

  181. Try Banana Republic Factory’s Timeless tshirts – I love the v-neck ones. Mostly cotton and modal, with a teensy bit of spandex.

  182. I don’t like to buy clothes I can’t try on, as I am built oddly and elderly to boot. I also don’t get around well, with or without a cane.
    I am sure I am spending way too much at Chico’s, but I find some of their styles are very comfy, even in Houston’s heat and humidity. Of course, I also have a selection of winter t-shirts that get *much* less wear…
    I am picking up many lovely suggestions for alternatives on this post (Thanks!) and cannot help you at all.

    I love the Leon intro and appreciate getting to see it. Social media never caught on with me. (My late husband did all that, so I felt no need to start when he died.)

    Congrats on the mammogram results. Mine was good, too. (I have trouble convincing my HMO I need one at my age, even though my oncologist orders it. It took a call from the NP’s office this time.)

    I am looking forward to books from HA. I love sending money your way. It’s a great deal for me, as I read and re-read your books.

  184. I am allergic to polyester (or the dye use with it?), so I pretty much stick with cotton. My favorites are usually worn thin, but the top of the list is, unfortunately, a t-shirt dress I found on the clearance rack at Walmart-an unbelievable shade of hot pink, which is why I use it for a lounger/housedress. But the others usually come from the thrift store. It is very difficult to find 100% cotton.

    I also knit and have a few tops in cotton, bamboo, linen, acrylic, yak, and mohair. But those are too nice to wear gaffing about the house.

  185. I love Pact (organic cotton) for all my basics (no graphic tees, just solid colors). They have an extensive t-shirt collection in different weights, including “featherweight.” They’re breathable, soft, and I like Pact’s business practices. 🙂

  186. I am a clothing snob. I demand form and function. I demand 100% cotton t-shirts in interesting colors and shapes. My favorite brand is Rundholz out of Germany. They do lines with natural fibers, and ones with more stretch so you have to check the fabric content. Rundholz can be stupid expensive, but when they are on sale they are reasonable. Lots of boutiques on line stock them. I sometimes get them shipped from the UK and even with shipping, when on sale, the price point is worth it for me. These are not perhaps everyday, clean the house with bleach while wearing them shirts. Nope, but you will be comfortable and look nice. I find that no matter what I plan to do for the day, inevitably something happens and I simply must rush out of the house in whatever I’m wearing and the whole world can see me so you must be ready at all times. I no longer leave my bedroom with out acceptable clothing on. Seriously. I walk the dog in Rundholz. I also would have tea with the queen in Rundholz. Good t-shirts are a must. That or perhaps I should invest in some Innkeeper Robes…. If Gertrude Hunt is hiring, I’m your girl. Until then it’s Rundholz.
    If you want to have some visual fun, go to Rundholz look-book Germany pages. They are very fun.

  188. New Jockey men’s cotton with elastane either 5 or 10 percent, your choice. Very thin and breathable. I’m wearing them. Recommend a large size since I think they are for clinging to a man’s body smoothly under a fitted shirt.

  190. Walmart has a nice 100% cotton women’s v-neck short sleeve t-shirt at a very good price, Time and Tru Women’s Cotton V-Neck Short Sleeve Tee. However, I usually go with basic men’s undershirts by Hanes or similar, I order small in men’s sizes. They are also 100% cotton, which makes them very breathable. I sleep in the men’s tank and wear the regular t-shirts during the day.

  191. There’s an online brand called “Look Human” the that offers a range of printed t-shirts and tank tops. Many are 100% cotton (Made with 100% Ring Spun Cotton. Athletic Gray is made up of 90% cotton and 10% polyester. Other heathered colors are made of 52% cotton and 48% polyester- from the site). I live in their cotton shirts and tanks in Summer, and the variety of themes make me smile.

    Content Warning: they make shirts for adults…some of the uploaded designs are not appropriate for children.

  192. I buy most of my t-shirts at LLBean. Their pins cotton t-shirts are silky soft and breathable. Their cotton sweatshirts are awesome! I buy the sweatshirts 1 size up so I can layer when it’s colder.

  194. I forgot that my husband finds cotton t-shirts for me at thrift stores when he shops for work tshirts. He finds great ones!

  195. Glad yours was normal. I had a redo. Alls good.

    Clothes – old navy for every day. Otherwise I go to a little store in town who sells Cdn made clothes. Nice things, decent prices. I have a light comfortable top on now by Rapz. You’re thinking “I don’t live there….”. But you would have the same. Boutiques that sell US made clothes. Nice things, last longer, and a better variety of fabrics and textures.
    I hate shopping but I find stores like that have a lot more patience and customer service to find what works, than department style stores

  196. Thank you for sharing Hugh d’Ambray’s entrance as narrated by Leon. I love this kind of snark and Leon is SO good at it! 💙💙

  197. My husband has the same problem in the summer. He recently found Gildan brand shirts and loves them. They are 100% cotton but it’s thin.
    We try not to give Uncle Bezos any money unless strictly necessary, but we found it our best option was to purchase Gildan tees from him.

  198. Catalog that includes T Shirts http://www.favorites.com 100% Preshrunk Cotton T’s available, some of them are pricey, some reasonable. There is one with a quote on it that I think is hilarious “If you see me talking to myself, just move along, I’m Self Employed. we’re having a staff meeting.”

    anyway hope that helps. ZenHugs all round.

  199. Lands End sells lightweight t-shirts. While they are nice and thin, I do find the neckline tends to stretch out a bit after a couple of months. Dharma Trading Company sells a few rayon tees as well as cotton ones. For cotton, I’ve had good luck with the LAT ones they sell. You’d need to dye the Dharma offerings if you want something other than white.

  200. I found a few 100% cotton t-shirts at Old Navy in Houston yesterday for $10. I think my daughter told me they had them on their website. Recently found some at Walmart. I do a lot of thrift shopping for cotton because polyester is a ridiculous fabric for the south.

  201. 1st off – LOVE yalls books.
    I cannot live without 32Degrees. I understand needing breathable clothes, born and raised in Texas. see website – shirts, shorts, pants, dresses lightweight breathable. if you like sweats try their sleep pants. I wear my out, they are soo comfortable. Got my son and daughter addicted to them also. costco only sells the winter base layers. Go to the website. They have a lot of men and women stuff.
    https://www.32degrees.com/

  203. so glad the mammogram was clear!
    thin breathable tees available via most French stores but don’t expect to be able to wear the in public!!!

    • I live in Arctic Cool. They help with hot flashes. they are not polyester although they are synthetic and as long as there is some air movement they keep you cooler (fan or just walking)

  204. Tee shirts: All my tee shirts come from LifeIsGood.com. Love them. For summer here in Texas, I choose the lightweight tee. 100%, light, stays looking nice for a very long time—i have many of them for years. They come with designs and some colors come in solid with no graphics.

    I wish I could find more summer dresses like the one I use for a nightie. It is 100% cotton gauze, the most lightweight, flyaway fabric I’ve ever found. It feels like I am wearing nothing. I bought it at Walgreen’s a decade ago.

  205. Amazon basics men’s 100% cotton t-shirts when they go on sale. I can not polyester either and I like loose cotton. And inexpensive, easy to wash. These won’t impress anyone in the looks department, but man, are they comfortable, they breathe and smell nice after washing.

  206. Pact has some thin cotton shirts. I also like the hemp t-shirts from ONNO. They are light weight and wear well in our hot, humid weather up here in Wisconsin.

  207. I love short-sleeved rayon shirts for their drape and their non-stickiness in the heat… they drape well enough to leave cool air movement around the body. A lot of them are those colorful Hawaiian print types, for some unknown reason, those are the easiest to find in rayon in my 1X or 2X size. I find them on Amazon or Woman Within, or the local better class thrift store.

  208. Have you tried wool? I know, that sounds awful, especially in Texas heat, but seriously – wool& makes a 160 gsm tee that is awesome. Temp regulating, fast drying, and very light. I promise I do not work for them, but I looooove their tees.

    • Another vote for wool! I have 6 wool& dresses in various weights for all seasons as well as a few shirts from woolx and ridge merino and they are truly amazing for all climates!

  210. I usually buy my tshirts at Tee Public, one of my favorite artists sells some of her designs on tshirts there. I get the v or scoop neck girl style, they changed how the XXL versions fit, so they fit much better than they did in the past. I wait for the sales though, since the tees I like are a bit more expensive.

  211. Breathable T-shirts? Wool. All natural. No, they’re not itchy and scratchy these days. All my apparel other than jeans are wool. T-shirts, polo shirts, boxers, socks, hoodie, …, all merino wool. Breathable.

    The majority of my clothing comes from Icebreaker. Not cheap but you get what you pay for.

    https://www.icebreaker.com/en-us/home

    The cloth weight varies from light to heavier to match the season.

  212. If you want and inexpensive cotton/spandex blend t-shirt the Gildan G9500 series is excellent.

    I actually work in the wholesale t-shirt industry and have access to all of them in our warehouse. I live in Phoenix, so I also have experience with heat.
    I buy them and put Cat Things on them, so that is my recommendation.

    So glad the mammo was clear!

  213. I live in Indiana and it gets pretty hot in the summer. There are two types of shirts that I buy for summer wear: 1) 32 Degrees makes inexpensive synthetic clothing. Costco carries some of their stuff, so you can likely find some to check out there. They have a 32COOL line for summer and and a 32HEAT line for winter. I own some of both and recommend both lines. My husband gets all his clothing from 32 Degrees (https://www.32degrees.com/). 2) I almost never wore cotton tees in the summer because they were too heavy, until I discovered my favorite lightweight tee shirt was made by Bella+Canvas. These shirts are sold at craft stores or online for printing on. You can look for the blank tees at your local craft store but I get them from Ninja Transfer at a VERY reasonable price and wear them all summer (https://ninjatransfers.com/products/bellacanvas-3001c).

  215. LLBean has great cotton Tshirts in a variety of weights and styles. The organic cotton T is quite light weight. I live in their clothes and have shirts I am still loving after 20 years. And no, I do not have stock in the company.

  217. I love Hillary. I listen to Wilmington Years a lot and her voice is so soothing. I’m very excited for The Inheritance audio!

  218. About t-shirts: go to Amazon, type cotton t-shirts for women OR Juilliard.com or coldwatercreek.com. On both sites you must type cotton in the search box.

  221. Also, any shirts sold as cooling (especially evaporative cooling) or base layer shirts are great. I’m a huge fan of REI sales & their used gear shop. There are summer weight base layer t’s & light, medium, and heavyweight long sleeve options for cooler/cold climates and outdoor activities.

  222. I love Columbia brand PFG Freezer III dresses, and live in them year round in Florida. Some even have side pockets, which are great.
    I often wear Nike biking shorts underneath, if I’m doing a lot of active stuff, and I don’t want to flash anyone if hem goes up( don’t want anyone to go blind to save their heart, hehe)! The material seems to breathe well, dries quickly, and even protects against the sun, too.

  224. I buy thin T-shirts in Spain when I visit my family. I know, not terribly helpful… But it is interesting how different even a simple thing like Tshirts can be across countries.

  225. Now, I’m trying to imagine Hugh’s reaction to Leon’s description. Someone, probably his wife, is telling him why he can’t kill Leon.

  227. First off; I live in Idaho and while it’s not as hot as Texas (I assume; we did have a month above 100 for the high last year) it is definitely hot for a good part of the spring, summer and fall. I started buying clothes from Gudren Sjoden, a Swedish brand that makes ecological/ethical clothing in beautiful colors. They are expensive, but once you’ve bought your first piece of their clothing you won’t want to take them off. They have plenty in rayon/spandex knit from XS to 2XL. The rayon snags on my kitties nails, so I get mostly the 100% cotton.

    Congrats on the successful boobie squeezing!

  228. You can customize sizes and colors at Gaia Conceptions, an American made boutique with great natural fabrics. I usually get the natural dyes, too. https://gaiaconceptions.com/

    Another option is Lilysilk. I love the natural golden silk kimono. They also have tshirts.

    I’m overjoyed that you got a clean bill of breast health 🙏

  229. I just discovered Seadon brand t-shirts.
    DO NOT BUY Womens (They run small and fitted. )
    Buy the MEN’s !!!

    I’m 5ft 6in & busty.
    I wear summer tshirts size 2XL

  230. Thank you for this post. I’m not on Facebook much, so I appreciate you sharing Hugh d’Ambray entrance as narrated by Leon here. It made me laugh. I look forward to the audiobook. Thanks!

  231. haha hugh again! I see that hugh is now part of ghostbusters lolol.

    I do miss the snippets that were posted earlier of IM#2, but I think the good thing is that I read them so much I could practically read them from memory 😂

    Excited for inheritance, and very glad mammogram came out good 🙂

  232. linen. nothing beats linen in the summer, not even merino wool.
    (i cannot wear any synthetitc stuff in the summer. actually, not even in the winter. i am either very hot or very cold in them.)
    100 per cent linen beats everything. everything.
    ok, it’s not cheap- but very much worth it.

  234. Leon’s intro is hilarious. And i so hope Bucky is indeed a unicorn and that he has fathered more little unicorn steeds. Yay for good mamos! My mamo in 2017 saved my life. Get your mammograms! I like cotton tees also and find only cotton comfortable during Florida summers. I like stuff from Life is Good brand. Their website is easy to use, customer service is very helpful whenever i had a question and they give to charity! Also they have some tees available in a lighter weight cotton than the original crusher tees. I have both and all are comfy and wear/wash well. Life is Good! 🙂

  235. Talbots and Chico’s both have 100% pima cotton tees. It’s lightweight and breathes – essential in Texas summers! The Chico’s outlets also sell cotton slub tees that are great when humidity hits 95%

  236. Sorry Hugh, daddy issues are a big turn off. Thankfully your bride has both mommy and daddy issues. Matching issues. Aw, you are made for each other. 🙂

    Glad to hear your mammogram came back clean. I always have to go back in for a ultrasound follow up. Why not just have the ultrasound and skip the mammogram part? You got me.

    Old Navy for the T-shirts. Yes, I know. So 90s.

  238. I look for bamboo blends in my shirts now. They often feel more like a sport shirt, but are very breathable.
    They can be found in most online marketplaces.

  240. I’m UK and get mine from LandsEnd. I know there is LandsEnd US online, but don’t know if the tees are the same. 100% cotton and nice and light. Unfortunately, the website doesn’t signpost very well which are light and which are heavy, I have had to return some that I hadn’t realised were heavy.

  241. I’m in Texas too and have recently discovered (expensive) merino wool t-shirts and they are perfect. They don’t get the stink like polyester/nylon, etc. and they keep me perfectly cool. I wear them for yoga all year and I’ve also layered them under wool sweaters in the winter. I have the Icebreaker brand.

    My spouse swears bythe REI brand Swiftland t-shirts and he is a sweaty man.

  247. I read the Leon snippet and I’m like… “omg… can we get this read by the Graphic Audio Leon PLEASE?!?!?!”

  248. Quince makes a good thin Tshirt which fits curvy bodies like mine well. I am hard on them though and need to replace the thins ones every 2/3 years

  249. Lands End has some nice men’s T-shirts that are all cotton but lighter weight. I think look for cheaper to get lighter weight. The Lands End ones don’t shrink excessively. Also I like the look of this Hugh over the fellow on the book cover.

  250. Uniqlo – Japanese brand, they make their own fabric and T-shirts are amazing. Just the right mix of natural and a bit of syntactic.

  255. Amazing enough I am buying a lot of 3/4 sleeve shirts from Amazon. They are very inexpensive and comfy. No hot flashes! Very important. Experiment there. Also try Walmart, Old Navy, QVC (Susan Graver).

  256. I echo the bamboo t-shirt recommendations. I live in these during the summer. Duluthtrading.com has them on sale now.

  257. Christopher Banks has either 100% cotton t shirts or 60/40 blends which I prefer as they don’t shrink. Good luck in finding one you like!!

  258. Gap Vintage soft, organic cotton, super thin. I also like woolX Gabi tunic. It’s super thin and thermoregulates.

  259. Thank you so much for kind sharing. The Leon intro is amazing, and the mammogram results are great to know

  260. You should try some bamboo clothing- cozy earth. I’m a Texas girl myself bamboo sheets were my gateway drug- I’m a hot sleeper and they regulate temp. Then I had to have everything bamboo- joggers, shirts and towels… when my family teases me I’m mostly too comfortable to care.

  261. So I am flying through The Inheritance and loving it so far!! I have a question though, everything in the book regarding Chicago is a
    pretty accurate and I remember Ilona asking good questions about Chicago to make sure they got it right. So my question is, is the town called Elmwood instead of Elmwood Park by accident or on purpose? I live about 10 minutes from both Portage Park and Elmwood Park so I have a feeling that’s where we are supposed to be with this gate but it’s driving me nuts with everything else being accurate. Please put me out of my misery, was this on purpose to leave the Park out of the town name?

  262. Target T-shirt Brand Universal Thread (cheap ($6 – before tariffs) and lots of colors adn 100% Cotton) and also Ulla Popken has 100% cotton but a little more expensive.

  263. Just seeing this. Amazon has 100% cotton thin T-shirts. In their basics collection. I have very sensitive skin I can only wear cotton. they are awsome.

  265. thin tee shirts at Gap and Columbia. not expensive either. slightly heavier, but nice feeling more expensive tee shirts at Talbots. comfy in warm weather. LL Bean also has SOME lighter tee shirts. Get the 100% Pima cotton. Lighter and washes up great.

  267. Hanro has light weight cotton tank, camisoles and t-shirts. They are a bit pricey but I am still using some that are over 15-20 years old.

  268. Hanro makes light weight cotton t-shirts, camisoles and tank ttops. They are pricey but well made and light weight. have some that are over 15 years old and still look great. I live in Florida (heat and high humidity). Try HerRoom.com or Hanro.com

  269. I love the Nine West soft spun shirts from Kohl’s 95% rayon and 5% spandex. They are my go to undershirts.

  270. I know I’m late to this but I suggest wool. The Patagonia or smart wool are both amazing. Thin breathable and don’t get stinky.

  271. I have some Life Is Good T-shirts that I adore because they’re super soft while still being 100% cotton. I’d say they’re midweight, though, not super light.

  273. I decided to splash out on ONNO bamboo t-shirts and they are worth it!!! I too, live in t-shirts and decided to add quality to my wardrobe. Great fit, silky feel, and ethical company ticks all my boxes.

  274. Try Lands End for basic Tees, the fabric quality is 2nd to none. And they always have sales. If you want to spend some money Johnny Was has great Tees twith wonderful prints

  275. Re: apparel problems: I really like the Pima cotton shirts from Lands End. You can get t-shirts, tunics, all kinds of necklines and sleeve lengths. They are light to medium weight, very soft, and have a beautiful hand. They do not shrink.

Skip to content