Many women religiously build outfits around the Big Three upper-half basics: tank tops, T-shirts and shirts. For no particular reason, long-sleeved tops haven’t received as much airtime – until now. The convergence of womenswear and menswear categories and an increasing desire for looser fits have given rise to a long-sleeve top renaissance – no doubt helped along by the “borrowed-from” nostalgia that calls to mind ’90s skaters layering starchy tops beneath graphic tees.
Like a shirt – and unlike a tee or tank (generally speaking) – a long-sleeve can ride solo or work as a layer. In the summer, it could be thrown on over a bikini or swimsuit, worn with jorts for park picnics or, in lieu of a jumper, wrapped around your shoulders in case the weather turns. And in the autumn and winter months, a long sleeve provides substantially more warmth than sleeveless basics, making for a comfortable and stylish layer.
Cotton and cotton blends are the most popular iterations at the moment – a pure cotton relaxed top from M&S is currently the number-one bestseller in the top category at the retailer. Basics specialist Cou Cou, which has captivated the It-crowd with its sexy-cute scoop- and V-neck tanks and thigh-skimming minishorts, has explored 100 per cent cotton pointelle fabrications across its range, and recently released the bestselling Rina long-sleeve in a playful perforated material. Since launching the dipped-hem, bateau-neckline Rina – different for its tighter fit than other styles on the market – in April last year, the top has become the most-searched item on the Cou Cou site, and following a US restock this March, the brand recorded its highest-ever sales day. Both the US and UK restocks sold out in 24 hours.
By contrast, homegrown brand &Daughter has explored classic boxy long-sleeved tops in a unique knit fabrication. Keen to venture beyond the label’s beloved knits, founder Buffy Reid was curious to see how she could utilise the techniques she’d honed from creating cashmere and wool jumpers.
Wearing the &Daughter T-Knit with capri pants, Miu Miu pumps and Prada shield sunglasses.
“A T-shirt is the summer equivalent of a jumper in many ways; it’s that foundational piece that we wear every day. But there are limits when it’s jersey,” she tells Vogue. “I sometimes find my T-shirt doesn’t quite last the day and they tend to fade once worn on repeat. So we were interested what would happen if we evoked a T-shirt sensibility but in knit form. Something with the same ease and wearability of a T-shirt but with the structure and elegance of a knit.”
The result: short- and long-sleeved “T-knits”, crafted from a fine 12-gauge organic cotton crepe from Italy (and subsequently made in England) in slouchy, fitted and polo cuts; realised in stripes, ecru and an array of enticing colourways like tomato red, green, lilac and dark scholarly blue. “T-Knits grew from that observation rather than a desire to launch a new category,” she explains of the “compact, fluid and slightly sporty character” of the collection.
As for her thoughts on the long-sleeve? “I love the drapey-ness and boxiness of a long-sleeve T-shirt, and the way it brings ease to getting dressed. It’s a bit more undone than a classic knit, which makes sense in summer months in particular, when I think we want our codes of dressing to feel more relaxed.” Hear, hear.
Below, Shop pick of the best long-sleeved tops
Striped tops
Polo tops
Raglan tops
Wardrobe.NYC
Citizens of Humanity
Jess Ribbed Organic Cotton-Jersey Henley Top
