Does my snowflake T shirt exist?

September 24, 2017 6:36 AM

Plus size, high quality, deep colors, elbow length sleeves, does not show my bra straps. Why is this so hard?

I just want to buy some plus size, high-quality, solid color, dark T shirts that hide my upper arms and don't show my bra straps. This means Duluth Trading Company doesn't work (bra straps). And please don't suggest Decent Exposures - this post is inspired by a shirt I received after carefully following their directions for measuring - and the sleeves are a good three inches too short. They also sent me ankle-length skirts when I ordered calf length, so though I love their quality, I'm frustrated with their quality control.

I really want elbow length rather than 3/4 sleeves, but 3/4 sleeve is a possibility - but pretty much everything I see has those wide necks, and I'm really sick of my bra straps showing. Nordstrom's shirts all seem to have the wide necklines. I am willing to pay more for something that meets my standards.

I will be extremely grateful if anyone knows of a way for me to get the shirts I want! If you're going to suggest finding someone to make them in my area, please also suggest options for finding really great fabric.

posted by FencingGal to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (14 answers total)

Response by poster: Just to clarify, the wide necks don't look like they'd necessarily show bra straps in the pictures, but they end up showing them because I move during the day.
posted by FencingGal at 6:42 AM on September 24, 2017

Best answer: I totally understand the frustration at finding the perfect T-shirt. I don't know if this will work for you, but I personally recently discovered the Gap "Modern tee" line and they are amazing. All I wanted was a white T-shirt that wasn't see through and this is it!! The fabric is thick and stretchy and so flattering IMO. They have them in all kinds of different cuts and colors. It looks like they go up to XXL so I'm not sure if that will work for you. They also have tall sizes.

Their elbow sleeve option does have a wider looking neck and a scoop back. I actually have one of them ordered and on the way to me, so I can check back with you about the bra strap issue -- I'm pear shaped with narrow shoulders and I struggle with the bra strap showing problem as well.

They have a crew neck in long sleeve, which might be your best bet (link below). If it worked for you otherwise, I bet it would be really easy/cheap to have the sleeves shortened. In fact, if you can't find an elbow sleeve shirt that meets your expectations, that might be a good way to go -- long sleeve shirts are a lot more likely to be available in crew neck options. Good luck!
posted by pimmscup at 6:57 AM on September 24, 2017

Best answer: How about these LL Bean half-sleeve Ts? Or, one of the reviews for this three quarter length option specifically mentions it covers bra straps well. Plus, I imagine you could get the sleeve shortened somewhere local to you if you find you like the neckline but still want the elbow-length sleeve.
posted by Mouse Army at 7:09 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: My perfect t-shirt, though the color selection rarely thrills me, is Woman Within's Perfect Tee V-neck 3/4 sleeve. Note! NOT anything called "tunic", those are thin and seamy and have a weird short hem, it must specifically say Perfect Tee.

I own 5 of them in black (plus 2 short-sleeved that are only worn at home on the hottest days because I almost always require a sleeve), and pretty much the only way I can tell the oldest ones (~3-4 years) from the newest is that the tagless label is pink on the newest ones and various stages of washed out on the others. The black has remained black, and I wear these for normal days and nasty sweaty yardwork and put them through the dryer every week and they're still in amazing shape. I just recently branched out and bought one in Green Fern and it is also fine so far. I'm sure the long-sleeved Tee is good, and I'm sure the crew neck is as well, but I don't like crew-neck shirts.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:02 AM on September 24, 2017 [1 favorite]

Have you tried Soft Surroundings? I haven't bought much from them, but the clothes I've bought have been high quality. I linked to one t-shirt that seems to fit your bill, but there are lots on that site, so poke around.
posted by janey47 at 10:43 AM on September 24, 2017

Have you tried Universal Standard. Their v-neck t-shirts meet both your requirements for me and feel lovely.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:49 AM on September 24, 2017

Best answer: Afaik, the L.L. Bean pima tees are thinner fabric (made with finer yarn) than the average t-shirt. That's not necessarily bad, but I thought you'd want to know.
posted by puddledork at 11:05 AM on September 24, 2017

Best answer: Mouse Army makes a very good point; if you have access to a good alterations place (ideally they would have a coverstitch machine), hemming t-shirt sleeves is simple. It may be easier to find what you want with a long sleeve. Designers do seem to love pairing an elbow sleeve with a boat neck, it's a vaguely French reference I suppose.
posted by doift at 11:22 AM on September 24, 2017

Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I'm going to clarify based on a few answers here, then stop threadsitting. Wide necks end up showing my bra straps when I move. So wide necks are out even if they're not boat necks, even if you don't see bra straps on the model. Crew or v necks are probably best. Sleeves need to reach my elbows. Plus size means 1x or at least a 20 in US sizes.
posted by FencingGal at 11:30 AM on September 24, 2017

I like an elbow-sleeve t-shirt, and, I have to tell you, I rarely see them without either a boat or (more often) a scoop neck. It balances the length of the sleeves visually, I think. Couple that with size 20 and it gets really challenging. I'd be looking for a local tailor. Mood Fabrics has an online store if you have no good fabric stores locally. They seem to have a lot of cotton knit options.
posted by praemunire at 1:48 PM on September 24, 2017

Best answer: I don't have any shirt recommendations but I can help with the bra straps. Doublesided bra tape is your new best friend. I use it all the time. It sticks your shirt to your bra strap, and holds it there all day.
posted by jhope71 at 3:41 PM on September 24, 2017 [3 favorites]

Try J.Jill.
posted by trillian at 6:49 PM on September 24, 2017

Best answer: As a note, the abovementioned WW Perfect Tee is always worn over a Torrid racerback bralette, which has an annoyingly tight neck-range thanks to the racerback and still doesn't show.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:38 PM on September 24, 2017

L.L.Bean 3/4 sleeve scoopneck (mentioned above) is not going to show your bra straps I swear to you. The neck is somewhat deep but not very wide.

L.L.Bean 3/4 sleeve vneck may also meet your needs.

I'm also a big fan of the J.Jill Perfect Pima Elbow Sleeve V neck.
posted by anastasiav at 10:41 AM on September 25, 2017