The 11 Very Best Long-Sleeved T-shirts for Women

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Sizes:XXS–3X |Fabric:100 percent cotton (in a jersey weave) |Fit:Relaxed |Weight:Mid-weight

In the months since the last update of this guide, I’ve tried on tons of long-sleeved tees, including ones from Uniqlo andGap. By far,J.Crew’s Boyfriend Jersey Relaxed Long-Sleeve T-shirt was the best.

First, for the fabric: It’s in J.Crew’s newer “boyfriend jersey,” made from 100 percent cotton yarns in a jersey weave. The fabric has a Goldilocksian weight to it. You won’t feel overheated when the radiator’s on or sweaty on a False Spring day. It feels even better than either J.Crew’s pima cotton orfeather jersey. Every time I wash it, it comes out softer. (It can also handle a regular dryer cycle — I haven’t noticed any shrinkage.)

I think of this as the “not like other long-sleeves” of long-sleeves for the slightly wider sleeves. This T-shirt crosses over into shirt territory. Available in sizes XXS to 3X, it has one of the biggest size ranges of any of the long-sleeved tees here (tied only with Gap’s Organic Cotton VintageSoft and Old Navy’s EveryWear). Starting at $49.50, it’s frequently on sale for less: For example, as of publication, it’s marked down to $34.50. All things considered, it more than earns theBest in Classblue ribbon. (And you can read more about ithere.)

Sizes:XS–4X |Fabric: 100 percent cotton (in a washed jersey) |Fit:Relaxed |Weight:Lightweight

If you’re looking for a long-sleeved tee that does an admirable job for a whole lot less, there’s Old Navy’s EveryWear Long-Sleeve. It feels a bit thinner in comparison to J.Crew’s Boyfriend Jersey Relaxed Long-Sleeve, but that’s not to say that it’s flimsy. “They’re on the lightweight side for sure, but not in a thin or dinky way,” says our senior writerEmma Wartzman. (And “the best part is they look the perfect amount of worn-in after a couple of washes.”) Wartzman has an “embarrassingly large” amount of them. Available in sizes XS to 4X, Wartzman has a few petite smalls (she’s five-four for reference) she wears as an underlayer and petite larges (if you want something especially oversize, size up as she did). In your usual size, the T-shirt should fit “like a shirt you borrowed from someone and never gave back.” It’s already cheap at $16.99, but the cheapest I’ve ever seen it go for is around $6.99. “I don’t expect them to last forever and ever,” Wartzman says. But she wears hers all the time (they even survived a trip toMidcoast Maine).

Sizes:XS–4X |Fabric: 100 percent cotton (in a jersey weave) |Fit:Between fitted and relaxed |Weight:Lightweight

Like J.Crew’s Boyfriend Jersey, Gap’s Organic Cotton VintageSoft comes in a jersey fabric that’s made with 100 percent cotton. If I didn’t know that fact, I’d guess that Gap’s had some modal. Gap’s jersey feels more stretchy than J.Crew’s. It’s great for layering. You can have it tucked inside the waistband of a pair ofjeansor keep it under acardigan. In your regular size, it might be snug, but going up a size will get you something more comfortable. I have it in both black and white. It’s also wonderfullysoft,and even more so after a few washes — not unlike Old Navy’s EveryWear. No wonder it’s called the “VintageSoft.”

[Editor’s note: Some sizes are currently sold out.]

Sizes:0–20 |Fabric: 94 percent modal and 6 percent elastane |Fit:Fitted |Weight:Between lightweight and mid-weight

Now, Lululemon Hold Tight Long-Sleeveactuallyuses modal — and the fabric sent artistMelly Wirtesdown atextile-research rabbit hole, during which she was wowed by how it’s “stretchy, breathable, drapes well, doesn’t pill, doesn’t shrink, and doesn’t crease.” It “makes you think,Huh, this is what textile innovation looks like.” And it’s meant to be second skin–like. “Lululemon uses the wordbutteryin the product description, and I can confirm this is not false advertising,” she adds. You should know that this long-sleeve is slightly tighter than the model photos show. But that’s exactly the way Wirtes wants her long-sleeves to fit. So as not to “introduce the hazard of flashing everyone when I raise my arms,” she says. “It’s a slinky little thing, kind of sexy.” It’s available in numerical sizes 0 to 20, or the equivalent of XXXS to 2X (thissize chartcan help you figure out what might be your best size), rather than lettering sizing.

Sizes:XXS–XXL |Fabric: 58 percent cotton, 39 percent modal, and 3 percent elastane |Fit:Fitted |Weight:Between lightweight and mid-weight

For about half the price of Lululemon’s Hold Tight Long-Sleeve, there’s Gap Modern Boatneck. It’s made with a cotton-modal-elastane blend, described as “stretch-to-fit” on the body. Beyond the stretch, it’s “between light- and mid-weight,” says creative strategistCarrie Carrollo. “The fabric has enough weight that it feels substantial.” There was a point in time when she was wearing it weekly, and after every wash it seemed “to only be getting softer.”Elizabeth Cardinal Tamkin, who’s the content director atKuleand writes the newsletterThe Corner Booth, prefers the Modern Boatneck toModern Crewneck. “Both are perfect for layering,” she says. But the Boatneck’s neckline “is a bit more stylized” than that of the Crewneck’s.

Sizes:XXS–XXL |Fabric: 33 percent polyster, 31 percent acrylic, 21 percent rayon, and 15 percent spandex |Fit:Between fitted and relaxed |Weight:Between lightweight and mid-weight

Uniqlo’s ultrawarmHeattechfabric — a blend of polyester, acrylic, rayon, and spandex — makes a first-ratebase layer. From trying Heattechturtlenecksmyself, I can say Heattech is tremendously effective in keeping your body heat in and cold air out. If you’re someone who runs cold, you should definitely have a piece of Heattech. “It keeps you warm while still being very thin,” saysCafé Forgotco-founder Lucy Weisner. Because it’s so layerable, she’ll wear it for outdoor “winter sports of all sorts,” like running and skiing. But even when she’s indoors, it works just as well. “Sometimes if I have an itchy sweater that I want to wear and need some skin protection, I’ll layer Heattech underneath,” she says. More than other Heattech items, this T-shirt follows the body. It’s “closely fitted without being tight at all,” Carrollo says. “It’s almost like a second skin, like I’m not wearing anything, in a good way.” Carrollo has five of these that she washes after each wear and says they’ve held up well. Weisner agrees that “like most Uniqlo things,” Heattech can last “a suspiciously long amount of time.”

Sizes:XS–XXL |Fabric: 90 percent cotton and 10 percent spandex |Fit:Fitted |Weight:Mid-weight

Our senior writerLauren Ro’s solution to “what a woman of my age should wear to dinner” is ablack long-sleeve(or “the going-out-top equivalent for a geriatric millennial”). And one of her most-worn tops isn’t from Flore Flore, Los Angeles Apparel, or Leset — all of which she tried recently — but Buck Mason. (It’s not entirely surprising as the brand makesour favoritewhiteT-shirt.) It’s “well constructed from high-quality cotton in a rib knit,” she writes. Buck Mason itself describes it as having “a 2x2 rib structure — two rows of rib stitch, two rows of jersey stitch,” and that makes for a top that’s quite fitted. And while there’s no skin shown in this long-sleeved tee, it’s “casually bodycon with a high crew neck whose modesty left a lot to the imagination.”

Sizes:XS–XL |Fabric: 95 percent organic cotton and 5 percent elastane |Fit:Fitted |Weight:Mid-weight

Colorful Standard reminds Wirtes of what was coming out in the early days of American Apparel, meaning “a standard line of silhouettes, reproduced in a wide range of colors.” Fittingly, the brand’s Organic Rib T-shirt is one of the more “cool” long-sleeves she has. It’s made with a blend of 95 percent organic cotton and 5 percent elastane (for additional “wiggle room,” according to the product copy). It might be formfitting, but it’s not uncomfortable. “For me, this top is approaching too thick to layer, but it’s not a ‘no,’” she says. Quality-wise, she thinks it’s “’90sL.L.Bean-coded.”

Sizes:XS–XL |Fabric: 100 percent organic cotton |Fit:Fitted |Weight:Mid-weight

I’ll acknowledge that, objectively, $120 is a lot to pay for a single long-sleeve. But in the words of our writerKitty Guo, “if you’re willing to spend extra on solid wardrobe basics, you really can’t do better than Flore Flore.” There’s an undeniable quality to the brand’s Steffi Tee. As our senior writerLiza Corsillosays, it’s “the kind of T-shirt I imagine rich people have in multiples but I save for the days I want to look rich.” It helps that it’s made using a medium-weight organic-cotton rib with a double-stitched cut-off seam on the back. (Technically, it has three-quarter sleeves, but I consider this a long-sleeve.) And the boatneck “shows off a totally appropriate amount of clavicle,” Corsillo adds.

For another three-quarter-sleeve tee, there’s theCleo Camp Cleo Tee. “It’s made out of a comfortable fine-rib cotton that sits close to the skin for a flattering, body-skimming silhouette with quarter-length sleeves perfect for showing off your bracelets,” Guo says. Plus it’s reversible. One side has a “higher, more modest boatneck” while the other has a “lower-cut scoop neck.” Originally available in black and white, Cleo Camp has been introducing the Cleo Tee in colors likebutter yellowandturquoise, which “always reliably turns a head or two,” Guo says.

Sizes:XS–2XL |Fabric:100 percent cotton |Fit:Fitted |Weight:Mid-weight

Another one of Ro’s most-worn long-sleeves is Los Angeles Apparel’s Baby Rib Long Sleeve Crewneck. Like Buck Mason’s rib fabric, Los Angeles Apparel’s “feels really nice and substantial and has held up to repeated washing and wear.” Our writerKatherine Gillespiebought three of them for the same price as the one Flore Flore tee she initially wanted. “Probably the cut isn’tquiteas nice (at $100-plus a pop, I guess I’ll never know?), but the quality is there,” she says. After wearing the long-sleeve, Gillespie says you shouldn’t let the baby style scare you — it’s not as cropped as shown on the model. “I would say potentially size up if you’re worried about shrinkage or the cropped fit,” Gillespie adds. For her part, Ro, who has a short torso, found that Los Angeles Apparel’s Baby Rib Long Sleeve Crewneck was a good length for her.

Sizes:XS–XL |Fabric: 100 percent organic cotton |Fit:Fitted |Weight:Heavyweight

COS’s Clean Cut formerly held the “best overall” title in this guide, and while it’s since been dethroned, I still think it’s worthy of inclusion.I own two from some seasons ago. The selling point of the T-shirt is its thickness. It’s made from 100 percent heavyweight cotton with a fitted silhouette and ribbed collar. For that reason, it’s less of a layer and better left on its own. The weight also makes it feel more solid than most mass-market tees and not like something that’ll come out ripped after one round in a washing machine. (I’d even compare the quality to the most expensive long-sleeve I own from the Minnesotan companyMaria Stanley.) This long-sleeved tee joins other COS T-shirts that have been recommended in our archives — including theshort-sleeved version, which is a favorite of our contributorMya Gelber. Though COS introduces new T-shirts regularly (theHigh Line,24/7…), the Clean Cut is reliably stocked. I only wish it came in a bigger range of sizes.

Alternatively, there’sJungmaven’s Tatoosh Long Sleeve Tee. It’s made from hemp and merinowoolinstead of cotton — the natural fibers are supposed to be renewable and biodegradable. Because of the blend, it’s temperature-regulating. “I’ve worn it on super-cold days as a layer and on its own on some of these warmer days,” says Strategist deputy editorSimone Kitchens. So while it’s similarly heavyweight, it’s supposed to wick away moisture — and that’ll cost you double.

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