Michael Stars

Michael Stars built its name on the everyday t-shirt, and the brand's whole reputation rests on getting that basic right. Fans return for the soft hand-feel and a fit that flatters, treating these as the elevated tees you reach for again and again. If you want a wardrobe staple with a designer touch and Los Angeles-made roots, it earns its place.

The original Michael Stars tee began life as a unisex, one-size-fits-all design, and the modern one size styles still aim to fit most bodies with a stretchy, medium-to-large feel. The exact drape varies a little by style, so a fitted cut will sit closer than a relaxed one. When in doubt, check the size note on the specific tee you are eyeing rather than assuming every style fits identically.

Michael Stars is a well-regarded Los Angeles label that grew from a single iconic tee into a full lifestyle brand of women's and men's fashion. It is credited as one of the first to rethink the body of the t-shirt with fitted shapes, cap sleeves and varied silhouettes. That focus on the perfected basic is exactly why shoppers keep coming back.

Michael Stars continues to manufacture its entire t-shirt and activewear line in Los Angeles, the city where the brand was born. That local production is part of its identity as an LA-based label. So when you buy one of its core tees, you are buying American-made.

Michael Stars was founded in 1986 by the married couple Michael Cohen and Suzanne Lerner. Cohen, originally from South Africa, had run an import-export fashion agency before moving to Los Angeles, while Lerner ran a wholesale fashion showroom she founded in 1983. Cohen approached Lerner about building a brand, and the two launched it together, marrying two years later.

The name traces back to co-founder Michael Cohen's early work placing the designs of contemporary artist John Stars onto t-shirts. When Cohen and Lerner launched the label in 1986, that collaboration became its name. It is a small piece of LA art-and-apparel history baked into the brand.

In the beginning the brand focused on unisex, one-size-fits-all t-shirts whose original designs were boxy and decorated in bright colors with interwoven, French-inspired graphics. From there the label became known for reshaping the tee with fitted cuts and cap sleeves. That evolution from playful basic to refined staple is the brand's signature arc.

Yes. The brand gained significant exposure when its shirts were featured on Beverly Hills, 90210, at a time when they were also being sold by upscale retailers such as Barneys, Fred Segal and Harrods. That mix of pop-culture visibility and prestige stockists helped put Michael Stars on the map. It is part of how a simple tee became a sought-after label.

It does. Over two decades the brand evolved from a t-shirt company into a lifestyle label, adding dresses, leather and cashmere sweaters, and it launched its first full women's fashion collection in 2013. A men's line of basics followed in 2014. So the tee remains the heart of the brand, but the range now reaches well beyond it.

Michael Stars has drawn a wide celebrity following over the years, including Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker, Olivia Wilde, Halle Berry and Jessica Biel. The brand is also regularly featured in magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Elle. That visibility reflects how an everyday tee can carry real fashion credibility.

Yes. Co-founders Michael Cohen and Suzanne Lerner formed the Michael Stars Foundation in 2005, and it has supported numerous philanthropic causes over the years. The brand has also produced shirts to benefit organizations including UNICEF and the American Heart Association. Giving back has long been woven into the label's story.

Since the core tees are knit from soft cotton, gentle washing helps them keep their shape and color, and owners often report the 100% cotton styles wash well over time. Cool or warm water with a low-heat or air dry is the safest route for a fitted knit. Following the garment's own care label is always the best way to make a favorite tee last.