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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
We just did a roundup of the best women's T-shirts for layering at the office, and while we always include a plus-size section, I thought I'd do a separate post to discuss some of our favorite options, as well as to round up some unique categories just for plus sizes, including the best basic tees in extended sizes (up to 6X!), the best eco-friendly plus size tees, and more.
As I noted in the other post, a good basic tee for work should be opaque, not too low cut, and have sleeves. (Know your office — sleeveless looks aren't acceptable everywhere!) I've always been a fan of tees that are thick enough so bra details are still a mystery.
I would say that a “weekend tee” would have more casual details, such as pockets and shirttails.
{related: 100+ places to shop for plus-size work clothes}
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Before we get started, these are some of the Hall of Famer plus-size tees for work that we've mentioned in the past…
- Hall of Famers: Universal Standard, Eileen Fisher, Talbots, Vince, Lauren Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Caslon, L.L. Bean, and Lands' End
- Under $30: Caslon, Amazon Essentials, Kohl's, Eddie Bauer, ModCloth, L.L. Bean, and Lands' End
- Organic/Eco-friendly: Eileen Fisher, Ulla Popken, Hours, prAna, Girlfriend Collective,
- Silk(y): Eloquii, Halogen, Vince Camuto, Ravella
- Splurge: Eileen Fisher, Vince,
- Bodysuits (these are coming back in a big way!): 11 Honoré, Universal Standard,
- Extended Sizes Available: Amazon Essentials (to 6X), Universal Standard (to 4XL), J.Jill (to 4X), Kohl's (to 5X), Girlfriend Collective (to 6X)
{related: stylish tops for under suits}
If you're looking for more affordable options, Amazon Essentials is getting rave reviews — AND they're available up to size 6X, which can be tough to find. The pictured one is $15.
Other affordable options include L.L. Bean, Lands' End, Eddie Bauer, and Kohl's.
If you're looking for extended sizes, in addition to Amazon Essentials, don't forget about Universal Standard (to 4XL), J.Jill (to 4X), Kohl's (to 5X), and Girlfriend Collective (up to 6X) — all offer nice, basic tees for work outfits.
Universal Standard is a fabulous basic for layering underneath a blazer, cardigan, or sweater blazer — the fabric is soft but substantial and it drapes well. Some of their tees are even part of US's Fit Liberty program, which will allow you to exchange sizes up to a year after you've worn the shirt.
This Lauren Ralph Lauren top has been around for years and is another great basic — the wide boatneck is flattering by itself or layered beneath blazers or cardigans. Macy's has them in plus sizes for $30.
Talbots is always a great basic for professional clothes in plus sizes — they also have the hard to find “plus petite” category, although fortunately that matters less with T-shirts.
Lands' End also has a plus petite category.
Eileen Fisher can be pricey as far as plus-size tees for work go, but they're a fabulous company for sustainability, and most of their clothes are made in the U.S. with sustainable fibers. The most options are of course on the brand's website, but if you prefer the return policy at Nordstrom there's also a huge selection there.
EF also has an interesting “renew” policy in that they'll take back old EF clothes, even if they're worn or damaged. You get a $5 gift certificate and they repurpose the fabric into other creations.
Eco-friendly plus-size clothes can be hard to find, but Eileen Fisher, Ulla Popken, Hours, prAna, and Girlfriend Collective all offer eco-friendly, basic tees for work.
Vince is a new brand to me as far as plus-size tees go — I didn't realize they'd started making basics! If you're looking to upgrade your work tees, these start at $80, so they're a bit of an investment.
Looking for something cute to layer on top of a basic tee? These are our favorite sweater jackets in plus sizes…
Hunting for the best sweater jackets for plus sizes? Some of our favorites of 2024 include J.Crew Factory (up to 3X), J.Crew, Ralph Lauren, Nic & Zoe, and Lands' End. (I don't know this brand, but this boiled wool one looks nice too.)
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