A t-shirt is one of the staples of any closet. But that doesn’t mean your t-shirt has to be boring. In this article, you will find the best t shirts for women which are more flattering for your figure, no matter what your body shape.

what is a t-shirt?

When thinking about the best t-shirts for women, let’s start with the obvious. What is a t-shirt? What sets it apart from any other top? Generally, a t-shirt is a casual top, often made of cotton, that makes a t-shape when you spread it flat (hence the name). However, there are lots of variations on the humble t-shirt that you could try.

What to consider when choosing the best t-shirt for women

Apart from the obvious color choices, what else should you look out for when choosing a t-shirt?

wear a good t-shirt bra

First things first, when putting together your t-shirt outfit, start with what you will be wearing underneath. A good t-shirt bra will ensure your bust stays where it should be (and doesn’t look like it is meeting your belly), while providing smooth lines under your t-shirt. Look for a bra with a smooth finish rather than lace, so that it doesn’t look bumpy under your top.

b.tempt'd by Wacoal Fit Underwire Bra | 40plusstyle.com

b.tempt’d by Wacoal Fit Underwire Bra

Best t-shirts for women - Melanie wears a v-neck with her tiered skirt | 40plusstyle.com

Melanie @melanie.rae.miller above chooses a t-shirt with a crossover effect at the front to wear with her tiered skirt.

Get her look with this similar v-neck shirt, maxi skirt, belt, booties and earrings.

Fabric

Look for quality fabric which isn’t see-through, and which will stand being washed countless times. You don’t want to have to take your t-shirt to the dry cleaners!

look for versatility

A good t-shirt can be dressed down with jeans and sneakers, or dresses up to wear with a skirt for evening, or a blazer for work.

Best arm-length

Many of us prefer not to show our upper arms when we get older. Choose an arm length which hits your arms as they get narrower, rather than hitting your upper arms at their widest point.

Best t-shirts for women - Dawn in a classic black tee | 40plusstyle.com

Dawn Lucy @fashionshouldbefun above (read her style interview here) opts for a classic black t-shirt with her jeans.

Check out this similar mock neck shirt, jeans, loafers, handbag, earrings and sunglasses.

Neckline

Not all t-shirts are the same. Even one white or gray t-shirt can be vastly different to another. And, one way you can ensure that your t-shirt flatters you is to pay attention to the neckline.

For instance, a v-neck is generally flattering for everyone, but you might want to consider a boat-neck option, which can look great on hourglass figures or if you are a pear shape.

Length

The length of your t-shirt will also make a difference. Right now crop tops are very fashionable. I recently had fun wearing a crop top that shows my midriff.

Cropped t-shirt | 40plusstyle.com

If you’d rather not do that, a wider crop top that ends at the waist is a very flattering option. This makes for an airy, fashionable look while still being able to show off your curves and keep your outfit in proportion.

The best t-shirts for women that are more flattering than your regular tee | 40plusstyle.com

Recreate my look above with this similar tee (other options here and here), skirt, sandals and sunglasses.

Is it a bit different from the norm?

A t-shirt is a great addition to your closet as it goes with so many other items in your closet. You can wear with jeans, shorts or a skirt, or you can layer under a dress.

But, that doesn’t mean that you have to choose a t-shirt which is too plain and simple. Look out for detailing such as asymmetry, draping and twists. Take a look at my article on do you need those plain, boring t-shirts?

Types of best t-shirts for women to choose

What are some of the different types of t-shirt you could choose to flatter your figure?

v-neck

A v-neck t-shirt is flattering for most figures. That’s because the “v” creates a vertical line that has an elongating effect.

Amazon Essentials Classic-Fit V-Neck T-Shirts | 40plusstyle.com

Amazon Essentials Classic-Fit V-Neck T-Shirts

Best t-shirts for women - Adaline in a v-neck | 40plusstyle.com

Adaline @sdmomstyles above wears her v-neck with her jeans and sliders.

Recreate her outfit with this similar t-shirt, jeans, sandals and necklace.

Crew or round neck

Another absolutely classic option, the round neck looks good if you have a long neck, and a small or medium bust.

Madewell Whisper Cotton Rib Crewneck Tee | 40plusstyle.com

Madewell Whisper Cotton Rib Crewneck Tee

Scoop neck

A scoop neck looks good on most figures, as it lengthens the neck and accentuates your collar bone. It can be particularly good for hourglass figures or if you have a big bust.

Everlane The Pima Micro-Rib Scoop-Neck Tee | 40plusstyle.com

Everlane The Pima Micro-Rib Scoop-Neck Tee

square neck

As it’s a lower neckline, the square neck works well if you want to elongate your neck, in the same way as a scoop neck. It also works well for large busts.

WIHOLL Square Neck Puff Sleeve T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

WIHOLL Square Neck Puff Sleeve T-Shirt

boat neck

A boat neck can be a good choice if you want to create the illusion of larger shoulders to balance out your hips, which makes it a good option for pear shapes.

Karen Kane Boatneck Tie Front Top | 40plusstyle.com

Karen Kane Boatneck Tie Front Top
Regular / Plus Size

henley

While the Henley neckline is traditionally a style geared towards menswear, it can create the same flattering effect as a v-neck, making it one of the best t-shirts for women too. Plus, as long as the buttons open, you can alter how deep the v is to suit you.

KILIG Henley T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

KILIG Henley T-Shirt

Best t-shirts for women - Kylie wears a pink t-shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Kylie @kylish_aus above wears her Henley with her denim shorts.

Get her look with this similar tee, shorts, sneakers, hat and sunglasses.

oversized

The oversize tee is particularly on trend right now. As there is excess material, it can add unwanted bulk, so you will want to keep the rest of your look streamlined. Think about wearing your oversized top with leggings or skinny jeans.

Treasure & Bond Contrast Stitch Oversize Organic Cotton Blend T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Treasure & Bond Contrast Stitch Oversize Organic Cotton Blend T-Shirt

POLO shirt

Like the Henley t-shirt, you can alter how many buttons you fasten to flatter your figure. The difference between a Henley and a polo, is the addition of the collar.

Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Mesh Pony Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Polo Ralph Lauren Classic Fit Mesh Pony Shirt

Some of the best t-shirts for women to choose this season

Now, let’s take a look at some of the t-shirts in stores now that you could choose.

Eileen Fisher SHIRT

Eileen Fisher is always a good go-to for style which won’t date. The red t-shirt (below) comes in a modern, slightly boxy shape. You could wear as it is, or layer over a longer shirt.

Eileen Fisher Raglan Sleeve T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Eileen Fisher Raglan Sleeve T-Shirt

Zella knotted t-shirt

I love the tuck detailing on the t-shirt below from athleisure brand Zella. It comes in a good choice of colors, and you could wear for your workouts or for casual days.

Zella Peaceful Knot T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Zella Peaceful Knot T-Shirt

You may also want to take a look at my favorite leggings from Zella in this article on how to wear leggings over 40.

Stella Carakasi

If you haven’t discovered Stella Carakasi, you may like to take a look. Many of my favorite pieces of clothing are from this brand. While you can see that the items in this article on Stella Carakasi are past season, they are timeless and still look just as good today.

The Stella Carakasi t-shirt (below) has a host of features that make it more interesting than your normal tee. There’s the cowl neck, the asymmetry, and the print.

Stella Carakasi Island Hopper Top | 40plusstyle.com

Stella Carakasi Island Hopper Top

karen kane

The Karen Kane t-shirt (below) also features some asymmetry on the hemline, as well as ruching around the belly.

Karen Kane Side Drape T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Karen Kane Side Drape T-Shirt

nic + zoe

A striped t-shirt is a classic that you can wear year after year. The asymmetry at the hem, and the way the stripes run diagonally at the bottom corner add interest.

NIC + ZOE Stripe Asymmetric Hem Cotton Blend Top | 40plusstyle.com

NIC + ZOE Stripe Asymmetric Hem Cotton Blend Top

jason wu

If you want to add a designer touch to your jeans and white t-shirt, you could try the Jason Wu t-shirt (below) which features asymmetric ruffling across the bust.

JASON WU Asymmetric Ruffle Cotton T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

JASON WU Asymmetric Ruffle Cotton T-Shirt

treasure & bond

Tie details are a good idea to add interest to your t-shirt. The Treasure & Bond t-shirt below would be good with high-waisted pants or jeans.

Treasure & Bond Cinch Tie Front T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Treasure & Bond Cinch Tie Front T-Shirt

Chaus

Another tie option for you, the Chaus t-shirt (below) is in an on-trend green shade, and also features a flattering v-neck.

Chaus V-Neck Tie Front Top | 40plusstyle.com

Chaus V-Neck Tie Front Top

Good American

If you choose ruching or cinching on a t-shirt, you can choose one where the details best flatter your figure. The Good American t-shirt (below) features ruching down the sides and tie details at the hips.

Good American Ruched Side Cotton T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Good American Ruched Side Cotton T-Shirt

COS

COS’s red t-shirt (below) has a boxy shape that will add modernity to your outfit.

COS Boxy-Fit Mock Neck T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

COS Boxy-Fit Mock Neck T-Shirt

Uniqlo

Uniqlo is always a good go to for basics. The t-shirt (below) features dolman sleeves which give it a point of difference.

Uniqlo Dolman Short-Sleeve T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Uniqlo Dolman Short-Sleeve T-Shirt

Front-twist t-shirt

If you’re a fan of a wrap top, then you may also want to try a front twist style like this tee below.

Jescakoo Font Twist Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Jescakoo Font Twist Shirt

Best t-shirts for women - Robyn wears a t-shirt and palazzo pants | 40plusstyle.com

Robyn @robbiesue1970 above wears her twist t-shirt with high-legged palazzo pants.

Get her look with this similar t-shirt, printed wide leg pants (another option here) and necklace.

Swing tunic shirt

Opting for a draped style can add an extra element to your outfit, as well as being a great way to hide a belly, if that is an area of your body you prefer not to show.

Best t-shirts for women - AMCLOS swing tunic shirt | 40plusstyle.com

AMCLOS Swing Tunic Shirt

Best t-shirts for women - LARACE Swing Tunic Top | 40plusstyle.com

LARACE Swing Tunic Top

Also, take a look at the best tops to hide a belly for more inspiration.

Ruched dolman top

Another fabulously figure-flattering top is this ruched top below from Made by Johnny. The ruching ill hide a little bit of a tummy, while the sleeves cover upper arms, and the v-neck creates a flattering line.

Best t-shirts for women - Made by Johnny dolman top | 40plusstyle.com

Made by Johnny Dolman Top

Classic wrap top

Just as the wrap dress is a timeless classic, so too is the wrap top. You can add instant elegance to your jeans.

Best t-shirts for women - GURBERRY Wrap Top | 40plusstyle.com

GURBERRY Wrap Top

LilySilk silk blouse

Another way to add a beautiful point of difference to your t-shirt is to choose a tee in a luxurious fabric like silk or satin.

Best t-shirts for women - LilySilk silk blouse | 40plusstyle.com

LilySilk Silk Blouse

tie front top

Tie-front t-shirts like the Romwe shirt (below) tend to be shorter than average tees, so they work well with higher-waisted bottoms.

Best t-shirts for women - Romwe Tie Front Knot T-Shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Romwe Tie Front Knot T-Shirt

Also, take a look at how to wear asymmetrical tops and dresses for more inspiration if you are looking for the best t shirts for women over 40.

best stores for t-shirts

If you’re looking for a new, flattering t-shirt, these are some of the best stores to try.

  1. Uniqlo
  2. Eileen Fisher
  3. Amazon
  4. Nordstrom
  5. Zella 
  6. Everlane
Best t-shirts for women - Dayle in an oversized t-shirt | 40plusstyle.com

Dayle @artfulcitystyle above (read her style interview here) chooses a flattering oversized t-shirt in a bright orange shade.

Recreate her outfit with this similar top (another option here), pants (another option here), sandals and necklace.

What do you think the best t-shirts for women are? I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments below.

shop some of best t shirts for women here:

Continue reading:

  1. The Best Tops To Hide Your Tummy
  2. How To Wear Asymmetrical Clothing – Asymmetric Dresses And Tops To Fall In Love With
  3. Do You Really Need Those Plain, Boring T-Shirts?

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The best t-shirts for women that are more flattering than your regular tee | 40plusstyle.com
Sylvia

Sylvia is 40+style’s editor-in-chief and has been helping women find their unique style since 2011. An alumni of the School of Color and Design, she is devoted to empowering women of any age to look and feel their best. Read more about Sylvia and 40+style on this page.

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