Old Navy vs Hollister: which t-shirt to buy, and when
Both land in the budget tier: the Old Navy Soft-Washed Crew-Neck Tee at $12, the Hollister Cotton Icon Tee (men's) at $13, $1 apart. Here is how they stack up, head to head.
| Old Navy | Hollister | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12 | $13 |
| Material | Cotton or cotton-blend jersey, ~4.5oz, garment-washed soft. | 100% cotton in a light everyday weight; the heavier, washed versions in the line use a thicker cotton but the base Icon tee is a thin summer-weight shirt. |
| Fit | Regular fit, true to size; the soft fabric relaxes slightly with wear. | Sold in slim and regular cuts, sized for the brand's young, narrow block. Coverage of real-world fit is limited, so trying the brand's size guide before ordering multiples is sensible. |
| Quality | Budget. Soft from new but the colour fades and the collar loosens within a year or two of regular wear. | Basic single-stitch construction at a basic price. Short social reviews praise the soft hand for the money, but there is little long-term owner reporting on shrinkage or collar wear, so expect commodity-tee durability rather than anything more. |
| Best for | Everyday rotation, around-the-house wear, and stocking up cheaply on basics. | Shoppers who want the cheapest respectable logo tee in the mall and plan to buy several on the three-for promotion. |
| Care | Cold wash and low heat; the lightweight fabric fades faster with hot drying. | Machine wash cold with like colors and tumble dry low; as a lightweight pure cotton, it will shrink if run through a hot dryer. |
At $12 versus $13, the price gap between these two is effectively nothing — one dollar separates a garment-washed, ~4.5oz cotton-blend tee with a documented fading and collar-loosening track record from a lightweight pure-cotton shirt whose long-term durability is largely unknown but whose fit is cut for a narrower, younger body. The real differentiator is not price but fit geometry and branding intent.
- The case for Old Navy
- The Old Navy tee has actual long-term owner reporting behind it — reviewers confirm it delivers comfort from day one, and at $12 with a regular, broadly fitting cut, it works as a genuine rotation staple for a wider range of body types.
- The case for Hollister
- The Hollister Icon tee is sold in a slim cut suited to narrower frames and is frequently available in multi-pack promotions that push the per-shirt cost below the Old Navy list price, making it the cheaper option in volume for shoppers it fits well.
VerdictThe pick
Buy the Old Navy if the goal is a relaxed, true-to-size tee for everyday or around-the-house wear across a normal adult body — the softness is confirmed, the fit accommodates more people, and the durability ceiling, while low, is at least documented. Buy the Hollister if the wearer is young, slim-framed, and purchasing on a three-for promotion, where the per-unit cost drops meaningfully; outside of that deal structure and that fit profile, the one-dollar premium buys nothing except a small logo. Neither shirt represents a durability investment — both should be treated as commodity tees with a lifespan measured in seasons, not years.
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