The Hunt: The Best Women’s Weekend T-Shirts

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woman wears loose white women's weekend t-shirt with white jeans; she is sitting on a couch and writing in a journal. On a coffee table in front of her there is a laptop, a cup of coffee, and a variety of scissors and writing utensils.

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.

So here's something we haven't talked about in far too long: which are the best women's weekend T-shirts? I've been jokingly calling this post “best T-shirts for the apocalypse” in my mind for a while now, but it's been far too long since we discussed great T-shirts, so let's do it!

We've rounded up the best dressy, work-appropriate T-shirts to wear beneath blazers and sweaters, opaque white T-shirts, and – but it's been years since we talked about the best women's weekend T-shirts.

What do you look for in a T-shirt — and where do you draw the line between “weekend T-shirts” and “T-shirts for layering beneath blazers or cardigans”? 

What I Look for in a Weekend T-Shirt

For my $.02, I hate ones that are too clingy — and I like ones that come in a variety of colors, are generally opaque, and wash and dry very easily. I think a pocket makes a T-shirt look inherently more casual.

I mostly prefer V-necks (great if you have a collection of pendant necklaces), but scoopnecks are also a favorite (better paired with rounder necklaces). I almost never wear crew necks because they just aren't flattering on me (short neck, big bust). Speaking of accessories like necklaces, how else do you accessorize your T-shirts — scarves? Cardigans? Double layers of T-shirts with different colors peeking out? Do tell… 

{related: how to elevate a simple T-shirt}

Our Latest Favorite Weekend Women's T-Shirts

As of 2024, some of the best weekend women's t-shirts include Caslon, Madewell, Amazon Essentials, Fishers Finery, New Day, Rag & Bone, Frame, Splendid, Michael Stars, Three Dots, James Perse, and Velvet.

Our Latest Favorite Work-Appropriate T-Shirts for Women

Looking for the best work-appropriate T-shirts? As of 2025, some of our favorite dressy T-shirts for work are from Amazon Essentials, Theory, Everlane, J.Crew, Banana Republic, Nic + Zoe, and Vince — also check our posts on opaque white tees and the best plus-size tees for work!

Our Latest Favorite Plus-Size Tees for Work

collage of 5 plus-size women wearing tees: 1) white crew with long sleeves, 2) wide V-neck with elbow sleeves, 3) navy boatneck with elbow sleeves, 4) wide V with short sleeves, 4) rounded V with short sleeves
Pictured above, some of the best plus-size tees for work as of 2024: one / two / three / four / five

The Best Women's Weekend T-Shirts

The Best Ballet Neck Tee

great ballet-neck t-shirt for women from Three Dots

Ballet neck tees can be a really graceful, feminine way to do the women's weekend T-shirt. I tend to think of a ballet neck tee as either having a wide boatneck neckline, like the Three Dots top above, or a wide scooped neckline, such as T-shirts from Everlane (which also has elbow-length sleeves, which is another thing I associate with ballet-inspired T-shirts).

Another great similar look is a square neck — you can find them from Amazon Essentials, Everlane bodysuits, MangoPop bodysuits, and SOMA bodysuits.

Fisher's Finery

opaque white tee from Fishers Finery

If you're looking for an eco-friendly T-shirt, do check out the brand Fishers Finery on Amazon. As the brand notes, you can “move around in absolute comfort with this tee made from 70% Bamboo Viscose / 25% Organic Cotton / 5% Spandex). This blend is one of the most comfortable fabrics used by Fishers Finery.”

Not only is it ecofriendly, but it's also one of Elizabeth's favorite low cost clothing basics, and she calls it her “ride or die” tee when she wants an opaque white tee!

You can find it in relaxed, classic, scoop, and crew neck cuts in sizes XS-XXL. (I find that it runs a bit large, for what it's worth.)

Caslon

short-sleeved U-neck shirt from Caslon

Another best-seller from Caslon: their rounded V-neck T-shirts, available in regular, petite, and plus sizes — I have these and like them a lot. I'd say they're more similar to the fabric of the Madewell Whisper T-shirts (below) than they are to the ballet neck shirts (above) — more casual, a bit thinner/lighter. The pockets make these more casual, in my opinion, but I really like the rounded neckline. 

Madewell

V-necked, short-sleeved t-shirt

Madewell's Whisper tees are incredibly popular — super soft and cozy; a bit on the thinner side compared to the Caslon ballet one at the top of the post. I love that they're available in sizes XXS-3X, and think they wash really well. They've been showing up for a few months now in our lists of most-bought items, including as V-necks, crew necks, and tank tops. Find them at Madewell, Nordstrom, Shopbop, and occasionally Nordstrom Rack.

Amazon Essentials

one of the best women's weekend t-shirts: a black crew-neck t-shirt from Amazon

I have a number of the T-shirts on Amazon's “best-selling T-shirts” list, including this Amazon Essentials crew neck.

Like all of the Amazon Essentials tees I've gotten this one is a stretchier, smoother fabric than the cotton Caslon or Madewell ones (pictured above) — better for layering — but they're still as black as the day I got them, with no fading. They come in a bunch of colors, in packs of 1, 2, and 4, and in general are available up to size 6X.

They're also a great thing to watch for on Amazon Prime sale days, as they're always marked down just a bit more than usual!

(This Amazon Essentials tunic tee is less trendy than it used to be, but if you're looking for something to wear with leggings it's great.)

{related: what to buy at Amazon for work outfits}

A New Day

one of the best women's weekend t-shirts: a white crew-neck t-shirt from Amazon

Merona tees were always reader favorites (back in the days when Merona existed as a Target brand), and I've seen a lot of readers sing the praises of New Day tees — including Elizabeth.

As she noted in her review, “They’re a good length, super soft, and not paper thin.” lots of other options.) I've also seen people singing the praises of Universal Thread T-shirts — I have a few and think they're very similar to the Madewell ones above, but (maybe this is me) I think the Madewell ones keep their shape/size better after repeated laundry cycles.

Rag & Bone

wide and low U-neck t-shirt with short sleeves from Rag & Bone

If you're on the hunt for a slightly “fancier” but basic tee, I'm seeing a lot of good buzz around Rag & Bone (pictured) and Frame, and Velvet's tee is a best-seller at Bloomingdale's. James Perse is a classic for tees and still getting rave reviews at ShopBop, and Three Dots (always an extra thick cotton!) are another classic that is highly rated at Zappos. 

Which are your favorite weekend T-shirts? How many have you bought of the exact same T-shirt, and which ones do you keep going back for?  

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

Updated social media images via Pexels / Karolina Grabowska.

11 Comments

  1. I bought the Amazon Essentials tunic tee and it’s in the giveaway pile after one wearing. I thought it was too thin and insubstantial to wear alone. I am currently enamored with the Lysse classic tee – long enough to wear over leggings – and the J. Crew Perfect tee for something more fitted.

    1. Also – the Cloudlight scoop tee from Athleta, but it’s backordered in some colors and sizes.

    2. Thanks. I was debating the Amazon Essentials tee, but I’ve had bad luck with too-thin shirts ordered online.

  2. Help! I love the Truly Madly Deeply scoop neck from UO – mostly just the deep U neck. But they are out in my size – any similar shirts people can think of? Thanks

    1. Late reply, but land’s end jersey u neck tees. I am living in these right now.

  3. Any suggestions for a pleat or ruched neck tee? These are less clingy so more forgiving of bellies, but hard to find one not made of poly or rayon and doesn’t look matronly.

    1. Look for the drapey ones with a knot, maybe? Zella at Nordstrom has a cute one. Also, much to my surprise, Express has knot-front tees made with linen.

  4. I was a cult-like devotee of the LA Made extra-long tees, but they seem to be discontinued. I could cry, it’s so hard to find a great tissue tee for extra-long torsos!

  5. I like the Gap modern v neck tees. Substantial weight to the fabric. 100% cotton. Washes pretty well.

  6. I like Life is Good T shirts – they have some fun prints and are in cotton and not clingy and very comfortable.

  7. I’m loving my new Lou & Grey T-shirts! A little on the thinner side but very soft.

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