The 13 Best T-shirts for Women, Tested and Reviewed

With moisture-wicking properties and four-way stretch, this is the exact type of comfy shirt you want, whether running to catch a flight or stuck behind the wheel on an hours-long road trip.

The buttery soft, sustainably-made modal rib knit fabric has a fitted look that hits at hip height. T+L associate editor Anna Popp loves it for layering on travel days, but it also works well at home, in the yoga studio, or on a hike. With such universal appeal, it was an easy choice as our best overall shirt. 

“I have it in the white color, and I’m amazed that I could wear it all summer long without getting a single stain on it. I even washed it with dark colors (by accident), and nothing transferred to the pristine white fabric. It’s breathable, light, and stretchy, and the fit is perfect to be layered with a sweater, too. Also, it doesn’t wrinkle at all,” Popp raved.

The Details: 2XS to 2XL | Modal rayon, elastane

With a ribbed crew neck, gently dropped shoulders, and a relaxed fit in a soft cotton jersey blend, we regularly reach for this shirt. T+L senior editor Jasmine Grant was impressed by how comfortable and well-fitting the high-quality material felt during testing. It has a heavier thickness compared to other shirts we’ve tried at this price point, too. 

When tested in real life, H&M’s cotton shirt kept Grant warm on chilly flights, and layered well in moderate climates, making it a strong choice to wear year-round. The shirt comes in classic colors like white, black, and beige, and has held up to numerous washes over the years. 

The Details: 2XS to 4XL | Cotton

For a body-skimming, fitted look, our go-to choice is Uniqlo’s Mini T-shirt. With a 90s-inspired silhouette that includes a crewneck and a slightly cropped hem, the fabric feels well-constructed and there’s no worry about it appearing see-through. 

The shirt is available in nine colors and T+L writer Anne Taylor says she’s “obsessed” with this style, raving, “I have one of these in every color. It’s the perfect fitted tee; it’s not too tight but still very flattering. The length is also perfect if you tend to wear high-waisted pants (like me), and [it] hits right at the waistband.”

The Details: 2XS to 2XL | Cotton and spandex

I purchased my first Z Supply pocket tee a few years ago and loved it so much that I now own multiple shirts in the same style. 

They’ve held up after countless washes without fading or losing shape, even to the V neckline, which I find can sometimes stretch out easily with this type of style. I also like how the cut is just slightly loose without being overly baggy, but you can easily tailor that fit if you prefer by sizing up or down. The tulip hem tucks nicely into jeans and shorts or drapes over leggings, and the pocket is a nice touch that helps it stand out from other tees.

Ultimately, I will keep buying these for how long they last, the wide range of colors, pocket detail, and approachable price point.

The Details: XS to XL | Cotton and polyester

Made from a sustainable blend of natural Merino wool and organic cotton, this is a solid choice for an everyday shirt or layering piece that’s soft, breathable, and extremely comfortable. Neither snug nor loose, it has a true-to-size fit that’s figure-forming without feeling clingy, and we like how the forward set shoulder seams prevent friction.

T+L editor Taylor Fox has worn this style for years and confirms that through testing, it has never stretched out. True fans of its versatility, it’s a style that can be worn with everything.

The Details: XS to XL | Merino wool, and cotton

While most of the best T-shirts on this list are also made exclusively from cotton, this variation especially stood out to us for its vintage-inspired look woven from a super soft, ribbed cotton fabric.

Even with a lightweight feel, Taylor’s testing determined it was never see-through, and the streamlined profile felt fitted without running small or tight. She also noticed and praised the subtle ribbing effect, which gives the shirt a nice touch of texture that appears a little more luxe than some similar competitors.

The Details: XS to XL | Cotton

With a slim fit and playful rib effect crafted from a lightweight fine cotton fabric, this is one of our all-time favorite tees for layering. It comes in classic and neutral hues and we particularly like how the ribbing is fairly noticeable, which makes it stand out a bit more when it’s worn on its own, as opposed to a typical plain tee.

The sleeve is shorter and more subdued than other baggier options giving it a cleaner look, and Fox’s testing revealed that the medium-length hem works well with all types of outfits, whether or not it’s tucked.

The Details: XS to 2XL | Cotton

American Giant spent over a year developing their custom slub fabric and their devotion to perfection shows. T+L’s deputy photo editor Skye Senterfeit applauded the tee’s weight and feel, which they determined to be lightweight without being see-through, with a lovely slub texture that holds its shape and provides a bit of added personality. We also like the option to customize it further by choosing either a crew or V-neckline.

“It’s fitted but not tight, hangs beautifully, and has a seam up the center of the back that I’ve always found unexpectedly chic,” Senterfeit said.

The Details: XS to XL | Supima cotton slub

Sophisticatedly rich and luxe, feathery cashmere is a true fashion indulgence that’s typically reserved for warm, cozy long-sleeve sweaters and costs several hundred dollars, in many cases. 

So we were thrilled to discover it in short-sleeve form and priced at a fraction of what it typically costs thanks to Quince’s transparent pricing model that removes unnecessary markup. And there’s no trickery here; Cucco’s testing found Quince’s cashmere to be just as deliciously soft as any other we’ve tried, with a lightweight feel that never left our testers overheated.

Ethically sourced and produced, it’s far more elevated than a plain tee, while still casual enough to be paired with jeans for errands or low-key outings. 

The Details: XS to 3XL | Mongolian cashmere

When it comes to workout clothing, you don’t want to reach for any old T-shirt. Rather, the best ones are moisture-wicking, well-fitted, and comfortable for everything from slow-flow yoga to high-impact sports. 

When Cucco is ready to sweat, she wears this tee from Old Navy’s active line. It’s lightweight and breezy even while raising heart rates for all sorts of workouts. She also found it to be highly moisture-wicking with no sweat stains showing through the fabric, which is made from a comfy and stretchy polyester and spandex blend.

The Details: XS to 4XL | Polyester and spandex

Even if this shirt came in only one color, managing editor Erin Agostinelli would still love it with its stretchy body-hugging tight fit that’s almost like wearing a bodysuit but without the commitment. But the fact that it comes in a whopping 28 colors is a real boon, ranging from classic and neutral shades to eye-popping red, a soft sunny apricot, or a gorgeous tourmaline teal.

No matter which color you select, each one is specially faded to have a dimensional, vintage look and our testing found it to be incredibly soft and comfortable and looks just as good tucked into trousers as it does worn with low-rise pants.

The Details: 2XS to 2XL | Cotton and elastane

I can’t get enough of Quince and this modal scoop neck tee is a major reason why. It has a true-to-size fit with just a hint of stretch; I wear it with shorts on a hot day, over jeans for an everyday look, or tucked into a skirt or tailored pants for a nice dinner. 

It’s held up to months of washes and is still buttery soft without any shrinking or fading, and I love that it’s wrinkle-resistant so I don’t have to worry about how it will look after spending several hours in my suitcase. I also like the gentle scoop neckline as an alternative to the overflowing crew and V-necks in my shirt drawer.

Plus, at $15 a pop, it’s affordable to stock up, which is a good thing considering it comes in seven colors. 

The Details: XS to XL | Cotton and modal

I’ve regularly worn this shirt since 2020 and I haven’t been pregnant since 2023. While I initially bought it to wear when I was expecting my first child, and subsequently with my second, it’s become a mainstay in my wardrobe for both everyday wear and travel simply because it’s a great shirt. 

The ruching on the side and cotton-spandex blend helped it grow with my expanding belly without feeling tight, the deep black color never faded, and it kept me cool on hot days.

And unlike most of my maternity clothes that went straight into the donation bin, I keep reaching for this shirt. The same ruching that helped it last all 40 weeks of pregnancy now maintains a slim fit regardless of whether a pregnant belly is present, and because I selected my pre-pregnancy size, I’ve never experienced any gaping or baggy material in the stomach area. Whenever I need a fitted black T-shirt, this is the one I’ll continue to pick.

The Details: XS to 2XL | Cotton, polyester, and spandex