I’ve been swapping out my usual t-shirts for pretty little summer tops (with sleeves!) lately, and it turns out they’re exactly what my summer outfits needed: a small upgrade. While I’ll always and forever love a good tee, these tops – in breezy, all natural fibers – are just as easy to throw on, yet result in a much more interesting look.
While I’ve researched approximately one billion (rough math) summer tops in the last two months (no seriously, see this year’s guide to the best linen tops – it’s only a fraction of everything I’ve tried on), there were six tops that stood out as solid t-shirt replacements. Each of these tops are 100% cotton (one is actually a 50/50 cotton-linen blend), and most of them have sleeves. But the best part? All six tops can be worn untucked.
I’m a BIG fan of untucked tops in summer. Let’s go.
Pretty Summer Tops With Sleeves I’m Wearing Instead of T-Shirts
In addition to only featuring tops that are made from all-natural materials, these five tops are all under $250 (two are under $100), and they’ve been worn multiple times, so I can personally vouch for their versatility. Here are the 5 tops currently making getting dressed easier (as well as a few ways I’m styling them).
1. Doen Frederica Puffed Sleeve Cotton Top
top (s) | jeans (27) | sneakers | bag | ear cuff
Where To Buy: Net-A-Porter | Saks | DOEN
This is the lightest, airiest, puffed-sleeve summer blouse! The details are so pretty, and the sleeves are charming, without being overly twee. I have pretty broad shoulders, and puffed sleeves can sometimes overwhelm, but the shape of this top is perfect. I’ve also found that florals – when done well, with restraint – end up being some of the most useful pieces in my closet (even mixing with stripes).
top (s) | overalls | sneakers | shorts (m) | sandals | bag | Stanley | necklace
And while this top does look amazing worn untucked, with a pair of high-rise trousers, it also tucks in beautifully, too.
top (s) | trousers (s) | flats | bag | necklace
I would wear this entire outfit to the office.
2. Doen Short Sleeve Henri Top In Lightweight Cotton
top (s) | jeans (27) | flats | bag | ear cuff
Where To Buy: Net-A-Porter | Saks | Nordstrom | DOEN
I have this exact top in another material, and was worried that the 100% cotton version would be too sheer, and too light overall (fast fashion brands sometimes do this – make a light, airy cotton that gets destroyed by a single wash).
Doen, however, is no fast-fashion brand. This top is stunning in person and much more durable than it looks. It’s still light and airy, but is made from a high-quality cotton (not quite cotton gauze) and the design, once again, is freaking perfect. Nothing about this top is overdone – it’s just charming and very girl-next-door.
top (s) | jeans (27) | similar jeans | flats | bag
This is another top that looks just as good tucked in as it does untucked. I’ve worn this top really casually (literally just throw it on with whatever), or dressed up. Either way works.
top (s) | trousers (s) | sandals | bag | necklace
While this top is sheer, the ruffles are strategically place such that I don’t feel overly exposed. While you can wear a regular bra with this top (like above), I also like wearing it over a strappy little black bra, too, for a slightly sexier look. It’s really versatile.
3. Emerson Fry For Evereve Lightweight Cotton, Button-Front Top
top (s) | jeans (27) | flats | bag | ear cuff | necklace
Where To Buy: Evereve
This is one of the best lightweight, short-sleeve tops for hot weather and it has been such a fun surprise. While there are a ton of these button-front, peasant tops on the market, there’s something about the sleeve design of this one that is really special. It’s one of those tops that looks wayyyyy cooler in person.
This print, too, is really versatile. I love it with jeans, black pants, ivory, stripes, etc, and looks cute both tucked and untucked. I also appreciate that it’s one of the coolest tops I’ve worn, even with sleeves. You can obviously wear a real bra with this top, too.
top (s) | shorts | flats | bag | flip-flops | shorts (m)
4. J.Crew Cotton Poplin Cap Sleeve, Lace-Trim Top
top (s) | jeans (s, petite) | sandals | bag
Where To Buy: J.Crew
This is my latest find, J.Crew’s 100% cotton poplin blouse, with vintage details that remind me of Doen. It comes in three other colors besides the “pale sunshine” I’m wearing (white, blue and black), and all a great. (The black, however, doesn’t show the pretty details nearly as well.) This top is impossibly airy and lightweight, and has been perfect during the heat dome that has settled over the East Coast this week.
top (s) | striped shorts (m) | ivory bag | slides | denim shorts (29, size up!!) | beach bag | sneakers
The only thing I should point out, however, is that this top doesn’t really tuck very well, even with a really high-rise. That said…do we care?
Nah. 🙂
Sleeveless (But Worth It) Tops
These next two tops don’t have sleeves, but they are still great untucked, made from 100% cotton and linen, and seriously good t-shirt replacements.
5. Madewell Cropped Denim Tank
top (s) | jeans (27) – also at Saks, Nordstrom | bag | shoes
Where To Buy: Madewell | Nordstrom | Zappos
This is the denim top with the freaking perfect shape. Not too cropped, but not too long, it’s the Goldilocks of tops. I love a good denim top with more denim (a fun tweak on a matching set), but I also love denim tops with black. It’s such a foolproof pairing, whether dressing up or down.
top (s) | trousers (s) | bag | flip-flops | shorts (6) | sandals | bag
Denim tops are also useful as a counterpoint to statement pants. Just like jeans go with everything…denim tops do, too.
top (s) | jeans (s, petite) | flats | bag
6. Sezane Cotton & Linen Button-Front Loriane Top
top | jeans (27) | flats | bag | necklace
Where To Buy: Sezane
This linen-and-cotton top from Sezane has been a pleasant surprise. It’s a little on the cropped side (I’m actually wearing a medium here, the small was even shorter), and the button-front detail is both sweet & sexy. This is another top that can easily be dressed up…but isn’t so serious that you can’t throw it on with a pair of shorts (even sweatshorts). Literally feels like a t-shirt…just a slightly fancier one.
top | shorts (m) | flip-flops | bag | navy shorts (s) | big bag | bag charm
This exact print is sold out, but Sezane just came out with a really pretty new floral print – looks like a good one.
xo,
S
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What the heck? Did I miss the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale lowdown??