Every wardrobe needs a few great basic T-shirts. In today’s post I’m sharing five cotton options that work well for petites, ranging from cropped and boxy styles to slim fits and side-cinched designs. Each one has a petite-friendly fit and makes an easy staple you can wear on repeat.
Affiliate links are included in this post.
Basic T-Shirts for Petites
My Sizing: I’m 4’10”, and my bust, waist, and hip measurements are 32″, 24″, and 36″. My inseam is 25″ (the measurement from the inside of my leg to my ankle bone). The clothes shown are unaltered and show how they fit me right from the store. I list my sizing beside each item to help you compare when shopping online. When referencing my true size, that is often the smallest option available at a brand or petite xxs/00/24. I wear a size 5 shoe.
Old Navy Vintage Crew-Neck T-Shirt
The Vintage Crew-Neck T-Shirt from Old Navy is made from 100% thick cotton and comes in petite sizing, so the proportions work really well for a petite frame. I like this T-shirt because the fabric is soft but substantial, and I love the slightly wider crew neckline.
The fit is cropped and boxy, which makes it easy to wear tucked in or untucked depending on how you want to style it.
For reference, all of the Gap family of brands—Old Navy, Gap, and Athleta—carry petite T-shirts, so they’re great places to check if you’re looking for petite-friendly basics.
*I made an error with this t-shirt. The top I’m wearing here is the Relaxed Heavyweight T-Shirt from Old Navy. It fits me very similarly to the Vintage Crew-Neck T-Shirt, so in my mind it was the same one. The notable differences to me are the little slits on the sides of the Vintage Crew-Neck (the Heavyweight doesn’t have them) and the Heavyweight option is a little thicker and softer. Fitwise they have a similar fit. I’m adding a photo of the Vintage Crew-Neck t-shirt as well. Sorry for the confusion – I’m human!
T-Shirt Petite XS (exact) | Vintage Crew-Neck T-Shirt Petite XS | Jeans Petite 24 in Harvey Wash | Shoes tts
T-Shirt Petite XS exact color is from last year | Shorts and sandals are from last year
Madewell The ’90s Crewneck Tee in Compact Cotton
The ’90s Crewneck Tee from Madewell is a slim, cropped T-shirt made from 100% cotton. I like this one for the shorter length and fitted silhouette, and the sleeve length is just right—not too long or bulky.
The fabric isn’t sheer, which is always a plus. It’s easy to tuck in, but also short enough to wear untucked without looking too long on a petite frame.
I’m wearing this T-shirt in XXS, and it fits true to size.
T-Shirt XXS | Pants XXS Short in Admiral | Shoes tts
Old Navy Side-Cinch Top
This 100% cotton T-shirt from Old Navy has a slightly different design thanks to the cinched sides, which give it a naturally cropped fit that’s easy to wear untucked.
The top is true to size and also comes in petite sizing, which helps with the overall proportions. One thing to note is that the arm openings are cut a bit low, so I prefer to wear this one layered over a camisole.
Compared to the Vintage Crewneck Tee, this style is a little thinner overall, but it still makes a great casual everyday T-shirt for petites.
Top Petite XS | Pants XXS Short | Shoes tts
Quince Cotton Jersey Tops
The last two options are cotton jersey basics from Quince made from a blend of 91% organic cotton and 9% spandex, which gives them a comfortable stretch and a slim, easy-to-layer fit.
The boatneck style was one of my favorite basics to wear last summer. It’s stretchy, fitted, and easy to tuck in, and the boat neckline gives it a slightly more elevated look than a standard tee. It’s a piece you can dress up with trousers or wear casually with jeans or activewear.
Both styles have the same soft cotton jersey fabric and slim fit, so it really just comes down to whether you prefer a sleeveless option or one with sleeves.
Pants XS 28″ | Tank Top XS | Sandals tts in Hazelton
T-Shirt XS | Pants XS Short | Sandals tts in Hazelton
If you love organic cotton, last summer I reviewed a few of the options from Pact that also have a great fit.
