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.
Short-sleeved sweater tees are trending a bit right now — and they’re great work basics, so I thought we’d round some up.
I’ve always been a fan of sweater tees, particularly beneath blazers and suit jackets, for a number of reasons. They don’t gape like blouses! They’re thicker and often more opaque than simple t-shirts! And — and this has been a big one for me since I personally hate tucking: they generally still look polished even if they’re untucked.
{related: The Ultimate Guide to Business Casual for Women}
Our Latest Favorite Short-Sleeved Sweaters
Some of our favorite short-sleeve sweaters for 2024 include Quince ($45!), Ann Taylor, J.Crew,* and this Amazon bestseller. (* plus sizes too!) If you’re hunting for something fancier, check out Kule or The Reset. As of 2024, Nordstrom and Anthropologie both have a huge selection of sweater tees. (All of the ones below come in white and black, as well as other colors!)
Stylish Short-Sleeved Sweater Tees of 2024
The Best Budget Sweater Tee: Amazon/Foshow
This Amazon sweater has been around for a few years now, and has been a reader favorite for many of them.
I like the wide variety of colors and patterns offered (as well as the necklines, I feel like a sweater tee with a V-neck is hard to find!). The top is under $30 at Amazon.
The Most Affordable Cashmere Tee: Quince
Quince is one of the most affordable options for cashmere tees. Their Mongolian Cashmere Tee has been a bestseller at their site, and currently has 3200+ great reviews.
It’s available in 12 different colors, in sizes XS-XL. (I’m not sure how often the colors and styles change — I feel like the two striped options they have right now are new, and other colors they had in the past, like light blue, are missing at the moment.)
The Best Summer Sweater for Petites: Ann Taylor
Ann Taylor has a bunch of summer sweaters and short-sleeved sweater tees at the moment, most available in regular and petite sizes. They offer a few basics all the time, with the rest being seasonal colors and patterns.
This wide-ribbed sweater tee looks great (and has a 5-star rating) — I like the wide ribbed fabric and the slightly puffy elbow-length sleeves. I’ve pictured it in magenta shadow, but it comes in four other colors as well. It’s available in classic and petite sizes XXS-XXL for $60 today.
(This bright floral one in the same color as the pictured one is gorgeous, and I also like elegant this cashmere puff sleeve.)
The Best Silk Sweater Tee: Brooks Brothers
I just found this one today and I’m really excited — this elegant “shawl collar” sweater has been a reader favorite and best-seller at Brooks Brothers for at least a decade, but this is the first time I’ve seen it in a short-sleeved iteration.
It’s available in three colors, and is even on sale today: it was $148, then marked to $75, then take an extra 20% off at checkout.
The Best Sweater Tee in Plus Sizes: J.Crew
J.Crew doesn’t use plus size models, but they’ve done a great job expanding their offerings to almost always offer plus sizes, up to 3X. This “slightly shrunken sweater tee” comes in a bunch of fun, springy colors — and it’s only $98 at full price. Nice!
They also offer a “relaxed cashmere sweater tee” for just a bit more, $118, with even more colors, including black and white.
The Best Short-Sleeved Sweater with Patterns: Maeve
Anthropologie has had a great stock of sweater tees in recent months, with almost always something interesting from Maeve.
We’ve seen a few iterations of their Harmon sweater, in particular, with this plaid number being one of their newest options — I love that it comes in regular, petite, and plus sizes, and all for $98.
(I also really like this diagonally ribbed sweater tee in white, as well as this gorgeous floral short-sleeve sweater (down to lucky sizes in some colors).
The Best Wool Sweater Tee: The Reset
The Reset is a newer brand to me, but I really like the elevated basics they have. They have a number of sweater tees at the moment; I think this “essential pullover” is my favorite.
It’s made from “100% Fine Merino Cashfeel Wool,” and the brand suggests you hand wash it cold and use a sweater brush or sweater shaver regularly to remove pilling.
It’s available in sizes XS-XL, for $188.
Another good option in this price range (but in cashmere): Kule.
The Best Short-Sleeved Sweaters for a Splurge: Nordstrom
Nordstrom’s short-sleeve sweater game has also been on point lately, but with the inventory changing frequently. Some of my favorite options for today include:
this cream cashmere polo from The Row for $1750
this olive sweater tee from Akris with a contrast neckline (and back) for $495
this happy purple polo sweater from Theory for $295
this black and sand short-sleeved sweater from Vince for $295
Short-Sleeved Sweaters with Matching Cardigans
Sometimes, twinsets come with a matching short-sleeved sweater instead of a sweater tank (“shell”) — personally I’ve never liked to wear them as twinsets because the sleeves always look a bit funny under cardigans, but when I’ve found them I’ve often bought them together and worn them as separates or, when in need of layering for warmth, with the sweater tee beneath the blazer, and the cardigan slung around my shoulders. (I.e., classic preppy.)
Twinsets aren’t hugely popular right now, of course — but you can still find them at classic spots like Brooks Brothers, and (no short-sleeved options in stock at the moment, but check back if you like this look): Talbots and J.Crew Factory. (This is the pictured paisley one… and, yowzers, there’s a matching dress and pants.)
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