Ribbed T-shirt, its benefits and styling tips

Ribbed T-shirts were first worn as sportswear in the 19th century, and they became popular in the 1960s as other iconic stars started wearing them. 

The famous names who made the ribbed t-shirts popular are Marlon Brando, James Dean, and more. These celebrities have the influence of making chic-style clothing famous. 

The ribbed knit shirt’s ribbed texture, fit, and stretchy style make one look good while wearing it. It also provides comfort, absorbs sweat, and is breathable.This made ribbed knit t-shirts even more popular among activewear enthusiasts. 

This blog article is a deep dive into ribbed t-shirts, including what they are, their types, styles, and more. 

The basics of what are rib t-shirts and their types

Ribbed shirts are made of rib knit material, which is made from polyester cotton, a blend of cotton with elastane and other materials. These ribbed knits have the ability to be stretchable because they have vertical linings in a row with gaps. 

These linings give a unique look with their texture. Ribbed knit shirts' best feature, which wearers love, is the flexibility they give for moving around and staying warm in the winter. 

Compared to sweaters, they are bulky and heavy while not stretchable. Ribbed t-shirts come in a t-shirt style to be more versatile enough so you can layer them and style them up, unlike sweaters. 

That’s why athletes wore them under their uniforms for warmth rather than sweaters in the beginning. 

Because ribbed knit shirts are tight and fit, they flatter the body of the wearer. You’ll feel the freedom when you move around, whether doing exercises, running, or just wearing them in cold weather for casual wear. 

If you choose a ribbed knit shirt made of wool, they’re warmer thanks to their insulation abilities.  

Benefits of the ribbed T-shirts 

Firstly, they have the great benefits of being super versatile and stylish, which makes them trendy today as well among men and women in winter. 

It’s mainly because, compared with sweaters, they are more flexible to wear and can be layered. Their texture is another stylish factor compared to plain shirts. 

Comfy breathability

Most of the fabrics made for winter often cause a lot of discomfort, especially itching and uncomfortable warmth. 

But ribbed shirts have small holes in the fabric as they’re knitted in straight lines. 

These holes let the air pass through, making it cooler rather than trapping you in heat and discomfort. That’s why it’s also suitable for warmer weather. 

Stretchability

Fit shirts might not let you move around with comfort. 

But ribbed knit shirts aren’t only fit but also let you move easily, especially for sports activities. 

Durability 

Because of the elastane materials used, they don't shrink very easily or will not shrink at all. However, they might shrink slightly if you expose them to the heat of the iron. 

Plus, due to the flexibility and thickness, there’s so much less chance of them getting torn. 

If you care for these ribbed t-shirts properly, they will last about 5 years with you, especially if you have a high-quality one. Overall, they are way more durable than normal t-shirts. 

Good for fitness routines

Ribbed t-shirts are tight but stretchable and comfortable. It can surprisingly give you a lot of benefits for your fitness routine and gym sessions. 

Firstly, your muscles will be supported during exercises like pushups and others, and it will lessen your muscle fatigue and pain by reducing the vibration of muscles. 

It also reduces the stress on muscles and the soreness as the ribbed knit shirt is tight and helps make blood flow efficient, which helps in fast recovery. Overall, they are one of the favorite choice for gym goers and fitness freaks. 

Less likely to get wrinkles 

Thanks to the textured appearance and quality of thickness, ribbed knit shirts won’t get many wrinkles like other normal fabrics, and you won’t have to wash them too many times. 

And not washing a fabric repeatedly means it’ll even be more durable and have a longer lifespan.  

But even if it gets wrinkles and stains, handwashing is the best care practice for their longevity. 

Less prone to tears

If you invest in a high quality ribbed knit shirt, it’ll be less likely to get tears in a normal wear and tear due to their thickness and the yarn quality. 

However, they could get pills over time if you’re heavy washing them and washing them in hot water cycles and not caring for them properly. 

Ribbed T-shirts vs normal T-shirts 

Normal shirts don’t have the ripped texture like ribbed shirts because they aren’t made with the rib knitting technique but are plain fabrics of cotton, polyester, and others. 

Plus, they aren’t very stretchable or not stretchable at all, like polo shirts, which are designed for summer, especially with half sleeves. 

Normal shirts get stains and wrinkled easily and need frequent washing. They are thin as well and won’t have the tremendous ability to absorb sweat and dry it like ribbed t-shirts. 

How rib knit fabric is made

Unlike other fabrics, rib knits are made of a specific pattern, just like hand-knitted sweaters.

But nowadays, they are machine-knitted. Craftsmen or machines stitch the yarn in a pattern that creates a vertical lining.

They usually come in a 1x1 size, but the more rows and gaps they have, the more stretchable they are. 

Craftsmen first select yarns made from different materials like cotton, wool, or a mixture of them. 

If they use cotton yarn, then the ribbed knit shirt has all the capabilities of cotton while also having the capabilities of ribbed knit fabric. Similarly, if they use the wool yarn while knitting it, your ribbed knit shirt will be wool-made. 

Some ribbed shirts are stitched with more gaps, like 2x2. This 2x2 gap gives extra look of ribbed knit texture and increases the beaty of appearances. 

It also gives better insulation as it makes the ribbed knit shirt thicker. And thicker means more durable. 

Different varieties and their characteristics of ribbed t-shirts 

There isn’t just one type when it comes to ribbed t-shirts; there are many for you to dress up in different styles and colors. 

Crew neck ribbed knit shirt

The crew-neck ribbed shirt has the same rib-knit cotton material, is stretchable, and has the same overall characteristics, but it does not have a collar or tight neck. 

These crew-neck shirts were used as undergarments in the 1930s, and they had a round neckline to protect against abrasion. 

The shoulder pads the footballers wore had a chance of chafing, and a round neck was used to protect it. 

The collar is the difference between a regular ribbed T-shirt and a crew-neck T-shirt. 

Crew neck ribbed shirts are a choice if you want to wear something stylish and casual daily without going out of style. It’s a popular choice for winter and summer as well. 

If you don’t like to wear a sweater every time in the winter, or if it’s spring and you want to wear something lightweight, cozy, warm, casual, and chic without feeling bulk, hot, or uncomfortable, you should choose a crew neck ribbed knit shirt. 

It’s available in many colors for different tastes and different occasions that includes a wide range like black, blue, red, blue, navy blue, green, pink, beige, brown, pink and you name it. 

But the color choices don’t end here. You can also get these casual crew-neck ribbed knit shirts in striped patterns and multi colors as well. 

V-neck rib shirt

This one has a V-neck style on the collar, and it's particularly famous among women. They come in no-sleeve, half-sleeve, and full-sleeve options and work as cozy tanks for fitness wear. 

If you love a more casual and activewear style, v neck is best with no sleeves or half sleeves. It’s fit and will be able to absorb your sweat and keep your body cool with its small air holes ability of ribbed knit fabric. 

Plus, don’t forget their fit style, which makes a slim body look good and chic.

You can wear a slim shirt on top of it while keeping the buttons open or a jacket which will keep you even more warm and show your unique style. 

With the color variety you’ll get, you can fill up your wardrobe with them to swap and layer them up to look cool every day. 

Colors range from red, blue, maroon and mixed styles like blue color with the lining texture of that color for more flair. 

Henley-style rib tank top

This one merges the V-neck style of a ribbed tank shirt with 3 buttons on the chest. Henley shirts have been popular due to their casual styles. These shirts were worn in rowing sports back in the 20th century. 

You’ll have freedom of movement while wearing it because it’s the same as the main ribbed shirt, but these buttons are an addition to the style. 

With them, color variations are infinite; you can find them in your favorite colors, whether dark or light. 

Plus, they are still worn by men and women (especially women) and are trendy due to their flattering fit and chic look. 

However, you can still turn them into a formal outfit by adding blazers, wearing trousers, and using neutral colors like black and blue. 

Mock Neck Rib Top 

These are among the most popular ribbed tops. They have a collar with extra height that doesn’t fold. This style is rather popular, and women like it a lot. This high collar can also keep your neck warm. 

Mock Neck ribbed shirts commonly have no sleeves, and women wear the ones with no sleeves. 

However, they’re available in half- and full-sleeves and cropped styles. 

The most popular colors women choose are white, black, gray, and brown, but colors aren’t limited to mock neck ribbed shirts; you’ll find a wide variety of colors you like. 

Men often wear these with full sleeves, mostly for fitness purposes. Again, they’re fit enough to show your physique with the ability to absorb sweat. 

Halter women's ribbed tee

Most popular and trendy among women. This ribbed top is not a shirt but a tank top. 

The big difference is the neckline, which is in a U shape, connects to the back, and leaves the shoulders and neck widely exposed. 

It’s tight on the bust with an overall fit on the body. Slim women mostly choose this for wearing without layering or with a coat or shirt on top. This ribbed shirt works as an undershirt or just summer or fitness wear. 

You can wear your favorite light shirts on top of it in summer and even layer a jacket in winter. 

This layering style with halter women's ribbed shirts is mostly trendy, with almost every Western woman wearing it in movies and on the streets. 

They pair best with blue jeans, shorts, or trousers. Plus, lightweight and rib knit fabric means you’ll feel cozy and comfy. It’s a better substitute than a normal undershirt. 

Off-shoulder ladies' ribbed t-shirt

One of the trendiest off-shoulder tops is also available in a ribbed knit version. The benefit of this fabric compared to other fabrics is its stretchy flexibility. 

This ribbed top for women has a neckline with a no-shoulder style. They’re especially worn in summer, and the texture of the ribbed fabric adds a new look. 

You can wear jeans, skirts, and heels with them or wear shorts. Off-shoulder ribbed tops are casual and informal. Wearing oversized bottoms like trousers and jeans will add a new look to your individuality. 

Turtleneck ribbed shirt

The turtleneck has the same neckline style as the mock neck, but the difference comes with height. The turtleneck’s neckline height is shorter and reaches the base of your neck, while the mock neck has a higher height, which reaches almost to the top. 

Folks mostly layer them with jeans and a blazer for a formal look. Many wear the classic white and black color combination. 

Adding blazers will give a formal look, and topping it with a casual shirt will turn your style into an informal one. You can wear it with trousers to intensify the style and informality. 

Cropped ribbed top for women

As cropped shirts and jackets are very popular among women, ribbed shirts are also available in cropped versions. 

These look better with a denim shirt while keeping the buttons open, and they’re a common outfit style. 

The cropped ribbed knit shirt has a tight bust like off-shoulder ribbed shirt and cropped style, which is popular among activewear women. 

Tight jeans (black color) are a default trendy style with them, but you can experiment more with layering, like adding a jacket and trousers, including shoes and sneakers, to take your style to a chic level. 

It can also be formal if you wear a formal shirt and a fabric pant with a cap. But for a formal look, you have to choose dark colors mostly. 

The Styles of Ribbed T-Shirts

The flexibility that comes with ribbed T-shirts isn’t just comfort, warmth, and freedom of movement. 

It’s the freedom of layering and styling. Ribbed t-shirts were firstly worn under their uniforms for warmth. You can wear them on top of any lightweight coat for extra style. 

They can also be dressed up by wearing a blazer on top of it or scarves or other types of coats. 

One of the most popular formal styles with ribbed t-shirts for women is wearing them beneath the slip dress. 

Ribbed T-shirts are so versatile that there are so many ways to style them. For example, you can wear them with a popular cardigan or a denim jacket. 

Most women also tuck these ribbed t-shirts into high-waisted jeans or white pants.

There are so many other ways you can dress up, down, or style differently with ribbed t-shirts, both for men and women, without worrying about running out of style because they’re always trendy and look even better when you layer them up. 

Layering more pieces with ribbed t-shirts also allows you to stay warmer as well as show your individuality. 

It compliments your physique

If you’re a fitness lover, then you’re going to like ribbed T-shirts a lot. Their fit style confirms body size, which helps highlight your body and flaunt the hard work you’ve done to build it. 

You can wear them as an undershirt

If it's a heavy winter and you still want to wear your summer shirt to style yourself like in summer. Ribbed shirts can give you a better advantage in that situation. 

Just like athletes wore them under their uniform to stay warm while wearing their standard uniform. You can wear them under your favorite shirts to keep you warm and cozy in spring and winter. 

Trendy and comfy compared to other fabric 

With eight styles of ribbed shirts trendy and popular among men and women, the texture of ribbed knits adds new stars to the appearance and look with comfort. 

These ribbed shirts are the best choice for fitness geeks, fit style shirt lovers, casual outfit lovers and the ones who like to layer and experiment with new outfits. 

Ribbed shirts can be treated as undershirts, so you can wear your favorite shirts, coats, and jackets on top without compromising on style.  

They look good because they are very adaptable, whether you wear them with trousers or pants. Not to forget the functionality that comes with them. 

How to care for your ribbed shirt

Washing with hot water is harmful to your ribbed shirt because it can damage the fabric long-term. 

If you care for it properly, its knit rows won’t get affected and the texture will be maintained along with the quality and comfort that comes with it. 

Before washing your ribbed t-shirt, you should turn it inside out as it will protect the outer layer from getting damaged. 

Then wash it in cold water on a gentle cycle, using a mild, non-harmful detergent. 

Also, if you can, don’t wash it together with other fabrics like jeans because the ribbed shirt may tear due to the spinning pressure of the washing machine and the sharp push of hard fabrics like jeans. Keep your washing machine cycle slow. A fast cycle will cause your ribbed shirt to be damaged. 

What’s even better is that you hand wash it, so you’ll be gentler and properly clean the stains. 

After washing, you shouldn’t use any hair dryer. Keep your ribbed in a dry place to let it air. 

For the ironing:

Ironing and excessive heat are harmful to your ribbed shirt. It can shrink the small fibers inside your ribbed shirt. 

Your shirt will get weak, which means it could even lose its elasticity and durability.

Also, it’ll affect the quality, like your ribbed shirt’s color will fade, or it might not be as breathable as it was. 

The steamer is a better option here as it doesn’t directly heat the fabric. This will not cause long-term damage and will prolong the life of your ribbed shirt. 

It will remove wrinkles, odors, and more while maintaining elasticity and longevity. 

Don’t wring your ribbed knit shirt

If you wring your clothes to extract water from them, you shouldn’t do this with your ribbed knit shirt. 

It can damage its fibers and shape and cause long-term damage. 

How to style ribbed t-shirts for different occasions

A ribbed t-shirt can be worn on almost any occasion because it also works as an undershirt and outer shirt. 

This gives you a lot of freedom to style yourself up with ribbed T-shirts, whether for formal, casual, chic, informal, or neutral occasions.

Casual & chic style for men

Jeans and sneakers are always the classic choice of men and women, not only with ribbed shirts but with more types of garments as well.

If you’re dressing up for any event or party in normal weather, you can wear a men's ribbed t-shirt with white chunky sneakers and jeans. 

For extra flair, denim shirts are very popular with creamy and white ribbed t-shirts. 

This gives a casual and stylish vibe and is also very comfortable. It is suitable for summer and spring. 

For women:

If you want to dress up casually, the same sneakers, denim jeans, and shirts look incredible on women. 

But you can also wear sandals and shorts for extra looks. Wearing a long coat on top of it adds elegance to the look, or you can wear it with white fabric pants or any oversized jacket and even jeans. 

All these styles are popular and trendy among models, celebrities, and women in the West. 

Remember, experimenting and layering always help you find more stylish combinations of dresses. 

Pants to wear with a ribbed knit shirt

If you don’t like to layer anything but wear only a ribbed shirt with the pants, you have many options other than jeans. 

Try wearing them with chinos; they will give you a more relaxed casual look that is very popular among men.

You can choose this layering for casual outings outside, like on weekends or even casual picnics. 

Another best choice is cigarette pants. These are a type of fabric pants that are wide from the hips to very tight on the ankles. 

This gives an extra edgy and casual look, and it is best to pair them with ribbed pants. 

For women:

Women can also wear them with trousers, shorts, oversized and also ripped pants which is another trend nowadays. 

There’s another option of wearing ribbed knit shirts with ‘pedal pusher pants,” these pants started to be popular among women in the 1940s and 1950s. 

Their short and slim style gave a young, chic, and activewear look to young people, especially cyclists. 

Just like you wear shorts, their length is shorter, which reaches below the knee, but their silhouette style is just like the cigarette pants, wide from the waist and narrow from the bottom. 

This is a special type of outfit idea you can try. But options don’t end here. There are many more pants you can pick up to layer with ribbed shirts because they’re super versatile.

Extra styling tips for a chic look (women)

This style is most popular among women. With the ribbed t-shirt, you can tuck your shirt into your jeans or skirt. 

A chic look for men: 

Wear a pair of trousers with your ribbed shirt or fabric pants while tucking one side of your shirt into your pants. 

Remember to choose colors like gray, brown, white, and black, as they look casual. 

Formal style

If you just add a blazer on top of your ribbed shirt, it’ll give the formal vibes as blazers are good for formal looking occasions. 

The fabric pants of white, green, and charcoal gray will help you look formal!

Or you can also wear a trouser, especially slim-fit trousers in navy or beige color, along with your ribbed shirt, blazer, and footwear like loafers or dress boots. 

Extra tip: A tie will bring a more professional look. 

Ribbed knit shirts for activewear enthusiasts

Activewear enthusiasts wear ribbed knit shirts a lot as they are fit, absorb sweat, and are stylish. 

Men can wear joggers, gym shorts, and sweatpants with the ribbed shirt paired with either a hoodie or short-sleeve shirt or without pairing. 

While women have a classic option of a black color ribbed knit shirt and classic leggings. 

Winter styling tips with ribbed shirts

A classic leather jacket on top of your ribbed t-shirt and the pants can do a great job of keeping your warm while being stylish. 

For women

You can also wear a parka with it along with the thermal leggings or a biker jacket on top of your ribbed t-shirt. 

Materials used in the ribbed fabric

Some ribbed T-shirts are made completely of cotton, which has a good amount of stretchability, while others are blended with other materials like yarn, elastane, and spandex. 

Ribbed knits mixed with cotton and elastane are even better because they combine the benefits of both materials. 

While cotton helps make the ribbed shirt more breathable, elastane makes it more stretchable and gives a more comfy and snug fit. This also helps to maintain its shape even after wear and tear because it's flexible. 

Cotton ribbed knit shirts

Cotton is a popular natural choice for garments and ribbed clothing. Due to its natural fibers, cotton's level of softness makes it the preferred choice for fabrics. 

Its breathability is excellent with most summer clothing, and it won’t let you sweat a lot because it can stay cool and absorb heavy sweat. 

It also feels very good to the skin when and is soft and breathable without causing any discomfort to you when you wear it. 

Because cotton has small gaps in the fabric, it lets the air flow without trapping it, which means there won’t be any discomfort because the hot air will escape and the cool air will enter. 

This makes a cotton ribbed t-shirt dress very breathable and won't cause any discomfort while you’re wearing it. 

The ability to absorb moisture is great in cotton and it’ll let the sweat evaporate from the body especially when it’s ribbed knit fabric. 

Compared to some synthetic fabrics, which will make you feel itchy and uncomfortable in warm weather, cotton helps your body stay cool. 

When it comes to stretchability, though, cotton isn’t naturally stretchable and can expand if forced without the ability to return to its original shape. 

However, because ribbed knitted fabrics are stretchable due to their structure and knitting technique, pure cotton ribbed T-shirts can also be stretchable to some extent. However, they aren’t as stretchable as cotton blended with elastane. 

Cotton with elastane

Elastane is the most stretchable synthetic fabric that can be stretchable and expandable to 5 times its own shape and then return to it. 

This makes it the most stretchable fiber material, which also makes it breathable. 

But to give a fabric benefits of the cotton and stretchable characteristics. 

They merge about 5% to 10% elastane into the cotton, so the fabric gets the super stretchable ability of the elastane while giving the same comfort of the cotton by being extra breathable. 

Blended cotton ribbed knit t-shirt, therefore, is one of the best fabrics. With the quality of the ribbed knit, which is already more stretchable, your body will adapt to the fit style of the shirt while staying comfortable. 

Ribbed wool shirts

Ribbed wool fabric, on the other hand, has all the abilities of wool. Unlike cotton wool itself, it has its own great ability of elasticity without the blend of elastane. 

But then wool is soft like cotton as well, giving softness and a good feel to your skin. 

It is also stretchable, durable, and cotton because it’s the natural material and is the upper skin of sheep; therefore, it gives better breathability. 

But wool is also warm in cold weather because of its insulation abilities, and it's even warmer when it’s a ribbed knit fabric. 

Wool also absorbs sweat better than cotton. It can absorb about 30% of your body's sweat of its weight. 

Cashmere ribbed tee

If you like the feel of softness, then cashmere is famous as the softest fabric out there. It also can survive years if you keep taking care of them. 

Cashmere is also a wool, but it is very rare and, therefore, expensive. It is taken from the skin of a goat and is commonly found in South Asian regions. 

And on top of being rare and expensive, cashmere is hard to manufacture as well. That adds up to its pricing as well. So you’ll find the ribbed cashmere shirts pricier than the other ribbed shirts of cotton and wool. 

Cashmere ribbed shirts will feel silky and smooth on your skin and will even be more breathable than wool and cotton. 

Because it’s the king of softness and, therefore, in demand among soft fabric lovers. It doesn’t feel itchy when you wear it and will give you the comfort of luxury. 

But just like wool, cashmere is warm and best in insulation to keep you warm; while it’s not ideal for summers, it’s best for winters, even as a substitute for sweaters in the mild cold.

You can wear shirts on top of it to show your summer outfit style while staying warm. 

Unlike wool, cashmere is lightweight and won’t feel bulky on your skin. Sometimes, cashmere is mixed together with materials like cotton as well. 

Ribbed modal shirts

Modal also has the ability to be soft, breathable, and durable, like cotton and wool. When it’s merged with the ribbed knit fabric, it gets the flexibility just like cotton. 

Rayon rib knit

This one is silky and smooth when you touch it as a fabric, but mixed with the ribbed knit crafting, it’s smoother compared to other ribbed knit fabric. It’s also stretchable and breathable with a beautiful drape. 

Polyester ribbed fabric

Polyester is one of the most durable fabrics to wear and tear and will survive wear and tear more than cotton and wool. It also has the ability to elasticity without the combination of elastane. 

Polyester is even able to wick away moisture and keep you dry without sweating. 

And as it’s a synthetic fiber, you won’t see it getting wrinkled easily, even if you don’t care for it properly. 

But it also requires little maintenance as well. 

The problem with polyester is the lack of breathability as it isn’t as breathable as cotton, wool and cashmere due to being a synthetic fiber and made with chemicals. 

It could even cause an odor and cause some skin irritation. It’s also not as soft as cotton and might feel itchy or make you uncomfortable. 

Wrap Up

Ribbed knit shirts are a great choice, especially for mild colds like spring or autumn. 

As they were used as undershirts, women and men wore them as undershirts with coats like blazers, long coats, or full-sleeve shirts. 

They work like sweaters without being bulky. You can layer them according to your tastes and style. If you use them as undershirts, you can wear summer shirts in cold weather!