I'm a Former Blouse Designer, and I’m Shopping These 10 Short-Sleeve Tops for Spring

Jailynn Taylor

Thu, March 28, 2024 at 2:00 AM UTC

3 min read

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Shop my picks from Spanx, Madewell, and J.Crew, starting at $6.

<p>J.Crew/ Madewell/ InStyle</p> — J.Crew/ Madewell/ InStyle

My love for the everyday top is unwavering. After spending three years designing them, you develop a deep appreciation for the intricate details that make a shirt irresistible. I’m talking about the neckline and hem finishings, the baby-soft fabrics being 100 percent cotton or cashmere, and all the unique silhouettes and necklines. And now that spring is here, I find myself prioritizing a certain versatile shirt style in particular: the short-sleeve shirt. I did a deep dive into some of my favorite brands like Madewell, J.Crew, Hanes, and Spanx and rounded up 10 of their best short-sleeve styles — and they’re all under $100.

10 Editor-Love Short-Sleeve Tops Under-$100:

Madewell Side-Cinch Muscle Tee, $48; madewell.com
Madewell Supima Rib Tee, $42; madewell.com
J.Crew Cashmere Shrunken T-Shirt, $98; jcrew.com
J.Crew Shrunken Tencel Lyocell-Blend T-Shirt, $60 (Originally $90); jcrew.com
Treasure and Bond Short-Sleeve Rib Polo Sweater, $60; nordstrom.com
Spanx Suit Yourself Ribbed Short-Sleeve Bodysuit, $50 (Originally $84); spanx.com
Hanes Essentials Cotton Crewneck T-Shirt, $6 (Originally $11); amazon.com
Mangopop Square-Neck T-Shirt, $15 (Originally $20); amazon.com
Hatopants Cropped Short-Sleeve Top, $15; amazon.com
Everlane The Organic Cotton Box-Cut Tee, $30; everlane.com

Hanes Essentials Cotton Crewneck T-Shirt

My mom swears by the Hanes Crewneck T-Shirts because they’re easy to style, comfortable, and are always deeply discounted. We’re both planning on stocking up while it’s on sale for $6, and now isn’t the time to hesitate since colors are selling out quickly. The T-shirt is made from 100 percent cotton and is super breathable, lightweight, and features reinforced ribbing at the neckline and sleeves so they don’t distort in shape over time. There’s ample stretch at the neckline, so it’s easy to pop on and off and it has a classic fit that falls at the hip. The short sleeve is available in 12 colors, including white, black, gray, pink, and green and sizes range from XS to XXL.

Madewell Supima Rib T-Shirt

My go-to everyday tee would look something like Madewell’s Supima Rib T-Shirt because it's made from a super soft premium cotton and has a fit that hugs your curves like a glove. The fitted tee also features a classic crew neckline, a hemline that falls at the natural hip, and a short capped sleeve. It comes in 13 colors including white, black, blue, purple, yellow, and gray — and sizes range from XXS through XXL.

J.Crew Cashmere Shrunken T-Shirt

While it is officially spring by date, the weather has been fluctuating from high 30s to mid-50s here in Maryland, so some days, I need a fabric that’s a bit warmer when the air’s a bit more brisk. This is why I plan on adding J.Crew’s Cashmere Shrunken T-Shirt to my capsule of spring-ready T-shirts. It comes in seven colors including pink, white, black, yellow, and blue and sizes range from 3XS to 3XL. It’s made from 100 percent cashmere, has a shrunken fit, ribbed finishing at the neckline, armhole finishings, and hem, and falls slightly above the hip.

Shop more short-sleeve tops for spring, below.