13 Chic Tops You Need For Fall and They’re All Under $50
We got really tired of asking, “what shirt do I wear with this?”
by The Candidly Team
Why is it that all our shirts sort of suck? This is a question we ask ourselves way more than we should as women who probably own more shirts than anything else.
Too many tees have been ruined after a few washes. Too many sweaters are slouchy and bad. And somehow, we end up turning to the same 3-4 shirts over and over because they’re the only ones that really fit well and we feel good in.
So we decided to give ourselves a challenge - create a capsule wardrobe but JUST in excellent shirts. The idea honestly worked out so well, we decided to make it a seasonal thing. So here, we proudly present the 13 tops we absolutely need and love for fall.
Oh, and did we mention they’re all under $50. Fun, no?
1. The Cashmere V-Neck
Quince Mongolian Cashmere V-Neck Sweater
Are we patting ourselves on the back for finding a perfect-fitting, softer-than-a-cloud, cashmere pullover within our $50 budget? Of course we are. But the truth is Quince gets all the credit for doing phenom stuff with cashmere at a price point we can fathom. And this kind of sweater is pretty much all we want to wear as a top because it makes us look luxe and put together with any pair of pants or jeans. And the coziness is off the charts.
Price: $50
2. The Chambray Button-Down
J.Crew Factory Chambray Shirt In Signature Fit
A chambray button-down is our laziest hack for looking polished without any effort, because it matches every pant we wear, autumnal colors included. This one is the perfect pale denim hue, but thankfully it’s soft and comes in an excellent size range to boot. Tucked or tied above drapey black trousers and an airy, coccooning scarf - perfection.
Price: $44.50
3. The Perfect Ribbed Turtle
By Anthropologie Long-Sleeve High-Neck Baby Rib Top
The trick to wearing all our wide-leg pants and looser bottoms is having a fitted shirt that gives us actual shape, so we don’t just look like boring rectangles. And that is especially the case in fall when we layer on sweaters and coats. A base layer turtleneck is a necessity, and this one has the most flattering ribbing that holds you in and feels smooth and lovely on. It fits so well, we have it in our carts in 3 colors.
Price: $48
4. The Pretty Knit Tank To Layer Under Coats & Sweaters
Gap Cropped Pointelle Sweater Tank
A knit tank is a way of looking elevated with total ease. Just think about all the boring bottoms we have in our closet that will look so much more like a “look” when paired with this tank. And because fall is the season for layering, once again this is the perfect starter piece, peaking out from under jackets and scarves and adding pretty texture to all we assemble.
Price: $19
5. The Blissfully Oversized Button-Down
Do yourself a favor and buy two button-downs, one in stripe and one in white. Tuck it, tie it, or leave it open over everything, trousers by day, long, silk maxi skirts by night. Nothing will make you look chicer. Nothing. And this is the shirt to do it with.
Price: $34 - $47
6. The “Fun” Going-Out Top
AFRM Power Mesh Martine Long-Sleeve Top
Finding a going-out top is not as easy as it was in 2001, the golden age of the going-out top. SO when we find something fun that fits us beautifully, we tell a friend. Consider yourself that friend.
7. The Base Layer Tank
Abercrombie Sheer Jersey Scoopneck Tank
You can actually see the whispery softness of this tank. It tucks beautifully into jeans, and there is no neckline more flattering to arms, shoulders, and chests. Just perfection in tank form.
Price: $12.50 - $25
8. The Not-Too-Long Long-Sleeve Tee
We The Free The Perfect Long-Sleeve Tee
OK, hear us out. It’s okay to do boxy and baggy. We actually love it most of the time. But you can’t go crazy long when you do this or you risk looking like a schlub. Get a tee in this length, however, and it makes your waist look nipped and your legs look inches longer. We wear it with high-waist jeans, a belt, and boots or sneaks, and we look like we did so much more than just throw on a tee and jeans, The proportions are wildly flattering.
Price: $38
9. The Chic, Striped Vest
J.Crew Emilie Sweater-Vest In Stripe
We wouldn’t do whatever this 90s thing is of layering it over a baby tee but maaaaybe over a button-down? Honestly this vest works best all by itself as a chic top that turns whatever we’re wearing into an instant outfit. Stripes hold some kind of wizardry that way.
Price: $43
10. The 3/4 Sleeve Turtle
Abercrombie Half-Sleeve Sheer Jersey Mockneck Top
Another excellent turtleneck but this time with the perfect length sleeve if you want your arms to look their best.
Price: $25
11. The Easy Occasion Top
Abercrombie Mesh Ruched Slash Top
Imagine every “nice” skirt in your closet you don’t wear because you can never find what top to wear with it. Well, my friends, this is the top. Not to mention, wear it with your most flattering black pants, and poof, you have a going-out outfit made very, very easy.
Price: $24
12. The Lazy Tunic You Toss On Over Leggings
On our bloated days, we wear this tunic. The neckline and cut is actually very cute, and over buttery leggings and cozy socks, it’s a dream chilly season uniform.
Price: $50
13. The Base Layer Long-Sleeve
Free People Caught Your Eye Long Sleeve
Another smoothing, flattering, ribbed tee that give us a gorj silhouette. We want it in every color it comes in, but black and white are a good start.
Price: $50
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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