The 9 Very Best Black T-shirts for Women

Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric: Slub cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Loose crewneck

Over the years, Strategist writers have interviewed many stylish people about their favorite T-shirts, and no brand has come up more than Buck Mason. With tons of backing from experts (our staffers included), I set out to test the brand’s Slub Easy Crew for myself. After wearing it consistently for six months, I now understand why it has everyone’s seal of approval: It’s a regular-fit crewneck — the most all-around universal style — and made from soft, breathable slub cotton, which makes it easy to layer and tuck in.

“I have loved Buck Mason T-shirts for years now and happily wore the men’s ones, saving them for special occasions so they wouldn’t get worn out,” says our senior writer Liza Corsillo. After the brand launched its womenswear line, Corsillo started to wear this style and never looked back. “It is just as good as the men’s with one exception: It fits my body correctly.” Another of our writers, Dominique Pariso, is a loyal fan, calling Buck Mason’s tees “awesome.”

Sizes: XXS to 4XL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Loose crewneck

Everlane tees have been recommended to us often (and by all kinds of people) because they’re a reliably good deal for the money. The brand’s box-cut tee is a favorite of Taylore Glynn, a senior editor at VinePair, who told me this black T-shirt perfectly fits her body shape. Glynn says she has “a large bust and smaller ribs, so certain tees can end up looking wonky on me: Too loose and the shirt balloons out under my bra cups; too snug and I get that overly tight stretch across the chest.” But the Box-Cut Tee is just right. Our writer and resident fashion expert Ambar Pardilla agrees. “I’ve always had trouble finding T-shirts because I have a bigger-ish chest and I’m petite,” she says. But Everlane’s box cut “hits my shoulders without the dreaded drooping, and the length just skims the top of my jeans.” She’s impressed with the construction, saying Everlane’s T-shirts “wash so well with no shrinking or saturation loss at all, which is super important when it comes to black tees.” The boxy style also looks great with high-waist pants, according to Corsillo.

Sizes: XXS to XXL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Loose scoop-neck

I’d consider this the scoop-neck version of the boxy Everlane tee above. Another one of Pardilla’s favorites, she says the Air Scoop-Necked Tee doesn’t cling while still being figure-hugging. It’s made from airy cotton that makes it “the easiest tee to throw on on the hottest of days,” Pardilla told me. But the standout feature is the scoop neckline, which shows some tasteful collarbone and skin across the chest. It also comes recommended by photographer and content creator Ashleigh Reddy, who calls it “easy to style and easy to care for” thanks to its 100 percent cotton material, which, she adds, holds up over time.

Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric: Supima cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Cropped crewneck

A previous version of this story listed the Pima Cropped Easy Crew as our favorite cropped black T-shirt, but a brand representative told me that the tee has since been rebranded to the Pima Boxy Crew. This style from Buck Mason got nods from two experts: Aishwarya Iyer, the founder and CEO of olive-oil brand Brightland, describes it as “soft, comfortable, and perfect for hanging at home or wearing out and about in.” Meanwhile, our senior editor Simone Kitchens adds that the shape is the “ideal combination of boxy and cropped: It doesn’t feel too tight anywhere, especially under the arms — it just hangs in this cool, easy way.” Both like to wear it with high-waisted jeans; Kitchens notes that it “looks especially good with faded black Levi’s.”

Sizes: XXS to XL | Fabric: 95 percent cotton, five percent elastane | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Cropped crewneck

Baby tees can be hit or miss, but this one from Copenhagen-based brand Organic Basics features light-as-air cotton and stretchy elastane material, which makes it ideal for layering or wearing on its own. I’ve been testing it for more than a month now, and I love that the fabric is semi-sheer, which I find to be more interesting appearance-wise than a regular solid-color baby tee. It’s so soft that I regularly throw it on while lounging around at home and because it’s extra-lightweight, it’s great for wearing under a sweater or over a bikini top. According to the product description, the Core Baby Tee runs small, so I recommend sizing up one or two sizes since it’s form-fitting. (This will also ensure the hem sits closer to your waistline.)

Sizes: XXS to 3XL | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Lightweight | Fit and neckline: Loose crewneck

If you’re looking for an easygoing yet fitted silhouette, consider this vintage-inspired Madewell tee, favored by Megan McCarty, a fashion and e-commerce editor. McCarty says it checks all the boxes: “My closet is full of many (many, many) white tees of all kinds of silhouettes, weights, and materials. I only need a couple of black ones though, so they need to be easy to wear, easy to clean, and easy to layer. This one does it all.” Even after consistent machine washing, her Northside Vintage Tee has maintained the richness of its black color. And at under $25, the price is nearly impossible to beat, McCarty adds.

Sizes: XS to L | Fabric: Cotton | Weight: Heavyweight | Fit and neckline: Loose mock neck

“Maria Stanley’s Mockneck Tee is the least basic basic I own,” McCarty told me. That’s because the mock neckline and boxy fit elevate the top, making it dressier and more sophisticated than a standard crewneck T-shirt. “Beyond the fit, which is unlike any other black tee in my closet, its fabric — a sturdy, soft organic cotton — is a stunner, too,” McCarty says, adding that she’s owned hers for years and it still looks as good as new. Another fan is Pardilla, who owned three long-sleeved tees from Minnesota brand Maria Stanley, before buying this short-sleeved version, which she says is just as great. “The sleeves are like bells in the most flattering way, so you get really rounded-out shoulders,” she says. Pardilla likes that the mock neck is face-framing, with the top of the neck coming up right underneath the chin, and the hem is cropped but not too cropped. “Essentially, it’s the best you can do for a basic. It makes me feel like Jackie O,” she explains.

Sizes: XS to XXL | Fabric: 50 percent Pima cotton, 50 percent cotton | Weight: Medium weight | Fit and neckline: Boxy crewneck

Cozy Earth is known for its luxuriously soft bedding and sweaty-sleeper-approved pajamas, but the brand also has some incredible basics thanks to the recent launch of its All Day Collection. I tested the All Day Tee, which is made from 50 percent Pima cotton, an extra-long staple cotton that’s naturally breathable, and loved how the mid-weight fabric is soft and comfortable even on sweltering hot summer days. The cut is slightly boxy but since it’s more of a relaxed fit, this tee doesn’t cling to your midsection. The hem hits right below the waist, and the sleeves end about halfway down my biceps. Though the price tag is on the higher end, the All Day Tee is one of the sturdier and more structured options on this list, so I think it will hold up better over time.