A reader requested that I do a post on stylish long sleeve shirts that are warm, but not heavy. An excellent request as flattering long sleeve shirts are a constantly desired category of clothing come cold weather, but can be quite scarce. Sweaters, of course, are everywhere in winter, but a sweater can be bulky and doesn’t always fit under light or fitted jackets. Then there are the silky long sleeve blouses that are widely available but provide little to no warmth. We all need those tops that fit in between a chunky sweater and a silk blouse, so I got to work finding you the most stylish long sleeve shirts that will keep you warm in winter and can easily fit under a jacket.
As usual, before I jump into all the shopping advice, I’ll go over some tips on how to wear your stylish long sleeve shirts. If you want to skip to the shopping, click here.
Do I Tuck In A Stylish Long Sleeve Shirt?
Let’s start with tucking… Unless you are wearing a crop top, yes, you need to tuck in your long sleeve shirt. It can be a full tuck or a half tuck. If you don’t want to tuck in your shirt, pair your long sleeve shirt with a side zip pant, like Vince’s stitch front ankle pant.
What Outerwear Do I Wear With A Long Sleeve Shirt?
A good rule of thumb with long sleeve shirts is: your jacket should be longer than your top. Since you are tucking in most of these shirts, this shouldn’t be an issue. There are many cases where a shirt hanging out below a jacket looks cool, but this requires advanced styling skills, and I don’t recommend trying it if you are unsure.
Do not wear a lightweight cardigan over your long sleeve shirt. Your shirt’s fabric will bulk up and show through the thin fabric of the cardigan. Instead, wear a heavier cardigan that has the space for a sleeve and can hide any bunching if it occurs.
Some of the shirts featured in this post have puff sleeves or shoulder embellishments. The best jackets for these stylish long sleeve tops are jackets with synthetic lining inside. You want that silky material to slip over that extra shirt fabric. A cashmere or cotton-based jacket or cardigan will catch and grab any excess fabulosity.
Best Long Sleeve Turtlenecks for Layering
One of my favorite types of stylish long sleeve shirts is the layering turtleneck. I put these under sleeveless dresses or jumpsuits come winter. In order for this layered look to be chic and slimming, the turtleneck must be a synthetic fabric, aka sleek and tight. Not so tight that you are physically uncomfortable, but tight enough that if you wore it on its own, you would feel exposed. If you try to sport a cotton turtleneck or an unfitted turtleneck underneath a sleeveless dress or jumpsuit, it will wrinkle, bunch, add weight, and look unpolished.
Body Type Tip: This looks best on folks with medium to smaller busts.
Best Long Sleeve Crew Neck Shirts for Layering
Although the turtlenecks listed above are insanely comfortable, some people have an emotional or physical aversion to any kind of fabric on their necks. Plus, sometimes you just need a crewneck instead. Here are a few reasons you would want a long sleeve crewneck for layering:
- To create a barrier between an itchy sweater and your skin
- As an extra layer of warmth under a sweater
- You want to wear a neck scarf
The two long sleeve crewnecks pictured above are both by Skims. The blue one is 90% cotton, while the white one is a polyamide/elastane blend. Both are excellent for layering.
Sizing: These are supposed to be tight, so order your true size. Available in XXS-4XL
Slimming Long Sleeve Shirts: Nic + Zoe
The most slimming style of long sleeve shirts has a scoop neck, is fitted in the arms and breast area, and then flares ever so lightly at the back and belly. This keeps bra lines, back fat, and belly activity your private business. This slimming long sleeve shirt by Nic + Zoe has been a massive client favorite for this reason. It’s available at Amazon.
Body type tip: My clients often end up having this hemmed because it is quite long, but this top is great if you are taller with a long torso.
Sizing: Runs true to size. Available in XS-XXL.
Fabric Content: 55% cotton, 35% viscose, 10% nylon
Stylish Long Sleeve Shirts For Winter
Below are the rest of my favorite stylish long sleeve shirts that I have recently put on my clients. I will update this regularly with fresh shopping for you to peruse.
Negative Underwear Waffle Knit Deep V
Available at Nordstrom and Negative
Sizing: XS-XXL
Material: 98% cotton, 2% spandex
Endless Rose See Through Yoke Sweater
Available at Nordstrom
Sizing: XS-M
Material: 73% viscose, 27% nylon with 100% polyester contrast
Free People x Intimately FP Big Love Cardi In Ocean Heather
Available at Revolve.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 64% polyester, 28% viscose, 8% elastane
Negative Waffle Knit Pullover
Complete this look with the matching joggers, here.
Available at Negative and Nordstrom.
Sizing: XS-XXL. Runs large, order a size down.
Material: 98% cotton, 2% spandex
Lovers and Friends Leighton Top
Available at Revolve.
Sizing: XXS-XL
Material: 95% polyester, 5% elastane
Michael Stars Brea Cropped V-Neck Tee
Available at Michael Stars.
Sizing: OS. Best suited for women’s sizes 4-12 (baggy on size 4, very fitted on size 12).
Material: 100% SUPIMA® Cotton
Bobi V Neck Long Sleeve
Available at Revolve.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 56% cotton, 40% modal, 4% spandex
Cult Gaia Collette Top
Available at Revolve.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 82% rayon, 18% polyester
SNDYS Kimmy Knit Top
Available at Revolve.
Sizing: XXS-XXL
Material: 100% viscose
Free People x We The Free Neria Long Sleeve In Vintage Grape
Available at Revolve, Zappos, and Dillard’s.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: lightweight jersey textile
Show Me Your Mumu Josie Top
Available at Revolve.
Sizing: XS-XXL
Material: 70% acrylic, 30% nylon
HEARTLOOM Lovett Top
Available at Revolve.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 52% acrylic, 28% nylon, 20% polyester
Banana Republic Cotton Twill Popover Shirt
This is one of my favorites for a casual long-sleeve shirt that’s not a t-shirt.
Available at Banana Republic.
Sizing: XXS-XXL. Runs large, order a size down if between sizes.
Material: 100% cotton
Negative Club Pullover
I love this top! It’s soft, flattering, and everyone should own it.
Available at Negative and Nordstrom.
Sizing: XS-XXL. Runs small-ish, order one size up.
Material: 50% cotton, 47% modal, 3% spandex
Rails Indi Top
Available at Rails.
Sizing: XXS-XXL. Runs true to size.
Material: 86% lyocell, 14% nylon
Bella Dahl Button Front Knit Top
Available at Nordstrom and Bella Dahl.
Sizing: XS-XL. Runs true to size.
Material: cotton/modal
Farm Rio Black Knit Blouse
This top is really warm, sexy, and can be dressed up or down. It’s one of my favorite tops of the year.
Available at Farm Rio.
Sizing: XXS-XL. Runs large, order one size down.
Material: 71% rayon, 16% elastane 13% polyamide
Frank & Eileen Anna Long Sleeve Capelet
This sweatshirt-like long-sleeve top is super comfortable. Wear it untucked with athletic leggings or tucked into jeans. See more of my Frank & Eileen favorites in my full review.
Available at Frank & Eileen
Sizing: XS-XL; The arms are fitted, so order your true size if you have thicker arms. If you have lean arms, order a size down.
Material: 100% cotton
J.Crew Vintage Jersey Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Available at J.Crew.
Sizing: XXS-3X. Runs true to size.
Material: 100% cotton
Free People We The Free The Perfect Long-Sleeve Tee
Available at Free People.
Sizing: XS-XL. Runs true to size.
Material: 100% cotton
Nation Lauren Tee
Available at Nation.
Sizing: XS-XXL. True to size.
Material: 100% pima cotton
Clare V. Oversized Sweatshirt
Stylish sweatshirts also work great as long-sleeve tees come winter.
Available at Clare V.
Sizing: XS-XXL. Runs large.
Material: 100% cotton
nuuds Long Sleeve Everyday T-Shirt
Available at nuuds.
Sizing: XS-XXL. Runs slightly oversized, size down for a more fitted look.
Material: 100% cotton
Pact Luxe Stretch Jersey Swing Long Sleeve Tee
Available at Nordstrom, Zappos, and Pact.
Sizing: XS-2XL. Runs true to size.
Material: 95% organic cotton, 5% elastane
Anthropologie Pilcro Stitched Long-Sleeve Top
Available at Anthropologie.
Sizing: XXS-XL. Runs true to size.
Material: cotton, elastane
Isabel Marant Étoile Moby Logo Detail Cotton Blend Sweater
Available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Shopbop, and Revolve.
Sizing: 2-12. Runs true to size.
Material: 88% cotton, 12% polyester
Reiss Brady Jersey V-Neck Top
Available at Reis.
Sizing: XS-L. Runs true to size.
Material: 100% viscose
Universal Standard Light-As-Air Long Sleeve V Neck Tee
Available at Universal Standard
Sizing: 4XS-4XL. Runs true to size.
Material: 50% cotton, 50% modal
Boden Emilia Cotton V Neck Sweater
A lightweight sweater is basically a long sleeve shirt. It adds warmth, fits under a jacket, and doesn’t take up much space in a suitcase. This lightweight sweater by Boden is one of my favorite sweaters that can mask as a stylish long sleeve shirt — the soft v-neck is so flattering.
Available at Boden.
Sizing: XS-XL
Material: 80% cotton 17% polyamide 3% elastane
Nation Jessie Sweatshirt
Available at Nation.
Sizing: XS-XXL
Material: 100% cotton
Farm Rio Mock Neck Long Sleeve Stretch Jersey Top
Available at Farm Rio.
Sizing: XXS-XL
Material: 85% viscose, 15% elastane
Nation Marlowe Long Sleeve
Available at Nation.
Sizing: XS-XXL. Runs true to size.
Material: 100% Peruvian cotton
Stylish Long Sleeve Shirts From Years Past
I originally wrote this post a couple ago and update it regularly due to its popularity. I’ve left these photos here for nostalgic purposes. Whenever I update older posts, I love to hold on to a collection of images as a bit of a time capsule so we can watch how our style evolves.
Boden Supersoft Frill Henley Top
Available at Boden.
Sizing: 0-22.
Material: 50% cotton, 50% TENCEL ™ Modal
Reiss Sienna Ribbed Collared Shirt
This shirt is available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, and Reiss.
Sizing: True to size. Available in XS-XL.
Fabric Content: 81% wool, 17% polyamide, 2% elastane
Sioni Puff Sleeve V Neck Sweater
Sizing: True to size. Available in S-XL.
Fabric Content: 49% rayon, 29% polyester, 22% nylon
Beyond Yoga Twist Up Reversible Long Sleeve Shirt
You can see how I styled this top in my daily look post.
Sizing: Runs large. Order 1-2 sizes down. Available in XS-XL.
Fabric Content: 47% Polyester, 47% Rayon, 6% Spandex
Marine Layer Lexi Rib Henley Tee
Sizing: Runs true to size. Available in XS-XL.
Fabric Content: 95% modal, 5% spandex
2 Responses
Styles for size 12 /L women . Want to enter my 70’s stylish fashion
Hi Rosalinda! Do you mean of these tops, which are best for a size 12 woman? It’s less about size, and more about body type. If you have a bigger bust, go for a scoop neck. If you carry weight in your belly, go for the tops that flare out at the waist. Thank you for reading! x