Do you like the look of layering, but always hated that you looked about 5 pounds heavier? Then you may get a solution of the problem from this post. I am very excited to introduce you to Halftee. Halftees are T-shirts that end below your breast like the blouses under dirndls or the blouses worn under saris. Read my review and be inspired by the many possibilities of styling with a half shirt.
- Layering Is a Great Way to Look Stylish
- What Is a Halftee?
- Reducing Bulk Is Key for a Smooth Layered Look
- Styling Inspirations for Layering with this Shortened T-shirt
- Halftees Come in Many Styles
- These Cropped Tops Are so Versatile and Easy to Style
- What I Love about Halftees
- Layering Clothes Is so Easy with a Halftee
- The Advantages of Using Half a T-shirt when Layering
- Endless Options Color and Style-wise
- Easy Transition from Work to Date Night
- Great Price-performance Ratio
- Who Would Love these Cropped Tops?
- Styling with a Half Shirt in a Nutshell
Disclosure: Ad. The cropped tops are samples from halftee. The post is not endorsed by them. I wrote it entirely myself and it represents my own 100% honest opinion. There are affiliate links in this post.
Layering Is a Great Way to Look Stylish
Living in the sub-Arctic for now nearly 20 years, I have learned to layer. In the middle of the winter, when temperatures drop in the negative double digits, there is no other way to stay warm. First I found it hard to avoid to look like a dumpling with multiple layers.
Stir away from bulky when layering. #styletip #halftee Click To TweetOver time, I became a real layering expert and started to love the stylish looks you can create with layers. I even started to examine how to wear layers just for style because of the cool, stylish vibe. Doing so, my go-to since quite a while are halftees. Remember this cute rainy day look from last week, for instance?
It’s a halftee! <3
What Is a Haftee?
It’s a T-shirt that ends under your breast! It’s the next generation of layering because it enhances the style factor without bulk!
Reducing Bulk Is Key for a Smooth Layered Look
The big advantage of halftees over full-length layering tops is that the former permit you to layer without extra bulk around the waist and in your jeans, skirt or pants (see for example photos above). Not having to stack the tails of a T-shirt into the bottoms gives you a smoother look.
A Haftee halftee permits layering without the bulge. #agelessstyle Click To TweetNot having an extra layer around the waist is also advantageous when the hot flash hits after coffee. 😉 Thus, halftees are perfect for woman in midlife.
Styling Inspirations for Layering with this Shortened T-shirt
Here are some styling inspirations for you in addition to those shown in the photos. A halftee permits you to wear your favorite off-the-shoulder sweater with a slim black pencil skirt for work without violating the office dress-code with respect to showing skin. When there is a Casual Friday dressing culture that permits wearing jeans add to the halftee off-the-shoulder sweater combo straight dark jeans, black pumps and two strings of pearls.
A halftee can serve also to wear that beautiful blouse you ordered online, which you forgot to return in time. The one where the button always opens up over your breast. Wear a halftee underneath, and leave the button open. Accessorize with a pendant necklace that just hits at the height of the button. Problem solved in style. 🙂
Halftees Come in Many Styles
Halftees come with different lengths of sleeves (no sleeves, cup sleeves, normal short sleeves, 3/4 sleeves and long-sleeves), in a variety of colors, necklines, sizes, and fabrics like cotton, rayon, lace. They can be worn with the front to the back and vice versa which permits you to vary the cleavage for optimal style and/or coverage/cleavage. This means no matter of your personal style, the brand offers you many choices for styling with a half shirt.
These Cropped Tops Are so Versatile and Easy to Style
The many combination possibilities (e.g. under a sweater, shirt, sweater vest, closed blazer, dress, sheath) allow for a lot of wear. In the first week, I wore the navy blue one twice and I wished I also had a red one.
The Advantages of Using Half a T-shirt when Layering
A halftee costs between about $20 to $30 or so depending on the material and style, i.e. their price is about the same as that of a normal T-shirt. While you get less fabric for your bugs, who needs that extra fabric around the waist anyhow, the work effort needed to produce them is much higher, i.e. the price is justifiable. The halftee namely has a wide rubber band entirely covered with fabric below the breast. This feature holds the Tee in place without discomfort. Not being exposed to the rubber band will be appreciated by all those of you who are allergic to rubber.
What I Love about Halftees
When layering with full length T-shirts you often get an additional vertical line when the shirt is longer than the piece worn on top of it. While this extra line may be sometimes wanted to create the illusion of a wider hip or to break the vertical line when you are very tall, for most of us over 40 horizontal lines are unwanted. They make the eye to look at the width and … oops, you know what that means. Tucking it in, means unwanted bulk.
Be aware of horizontal lines. #turningfashionintostyle Click To TweetI love that you don’t have to worry about any of that when styling with a half shirt.
Layering Clothes Is so Easy with a Halftee
I also love the versatile and ease they offer in looking put together and effortlessly stylish. Put the halftee on and add a
- fitted shirt on top and a skirt or pants for an office appropriate look
- tailored blazer with a belt plus jeans for a Casual Friday fall style
- low cleavage dress to make it office appropriate
- crisp button down fitted shirt with a blazer and trousers or a midi skirt for a winter work outfit
- plaid shirt, vest or knit jacket plus boyfriend jeans for a stylish weekend look
- graphic V-neck T-shirt from summer and white jeans for a summer to fall
- transition or fall style. Later in fall just put a fitted vest on top
- tank top and a bottom
- slip dress
You get the idea. All you have to worry about is the color combination. Here you can just pick a scarf with the color of the halftee in it. Then collect pieces from your closet and add the scarf for a pulled together look.
A halftee is instant effortless style with a scarf. #stylisttip Click To TweetRead more on layering stylishly in cold weather in this guide.
Endless Options Color and Style-wise
You can get these cropped tops in a variety of colors like white, black, gray, red, navy, purple, olive, coral, nude, mulberry, and blush pink. The ones shown in this post are the navy, purple and olive one. They are available in all sizes from XS to 3X. I am wearing a S. It’s a perfect fit for my 34 inch breast (86 cm). There are also cup sleeve, short sleeve and long sleeve versions. I love the 3/4 sleeve as it permits wearing an arm party and covers the upper arm entirely. The styles run from casual to elegant including lace.
Easy Transition from Work to Date Night
I love that these half-shirts can be worn forward and backward. One side has a deeper cleavage than the other. This feature not only means you have two options to wear it, but also that you can go from work to date night. Or from church to brunch. All you have to do is a walk to the restroom to switch from high to low cleavage, swap the pearl necklace for a statement piece, and update the makeup. What a time saver!
The next example photo shows a dress styled for work with the half top worn as low cleavage cover and underskirt for a modest office summer to fall transition look. The right photo shows the same dress, but styled for date night by swapping the jewelry and shoes and taking off the modest top and underskirt worn underneath the dress at work (second next outfit inspiration).
Fit Is True to Size
I am wearing a size S and it fits perfectly. My bra size is 34A (75A). I recommend to check the size chart for best fit when ordering.
Great Price-performance Ratio
Halftees are well made and the quality is great for the price. The quality of the cropped tops from this company have been consistent over the years. I judge everything by the cost-per-wear. It’s a no-brainer with the many option to style a half shirt that you get your $22.99 investment below one dollar after 23 wears. When you are following the blog already for a while you know that a cost-per-wear below $1 is my criterion for a great deal. Thumbs up!
Who Would Love these Cropped Tops
This 3/4 cropped top from halftee is an item every fashionista owns and can’t get enough off. Full disclosure, I have several. These cropped T-shirts are great pieces for all women who want to look stylish, and put together all the time without bulk. It’s a must-have for all women who want instant style, because they can’t spend a lot of time on getting dressed in the morning. Its invention is a life-saver for all women who need to look put together for their job/career, but don’t enjoy the process of creating looks. These cropped tops are also great for all women who are looking for a modesty top to wear clothes that feel too revealing otherwise. Last, but not least, you can use them to add sleeves to sleeveless dresses when you are arm-shy.
Haftees are perfect to hide bingo wings when wearing tank tops or sleeveless dresses. #halftee #armshy Click To Tweet It's easy to get layering right and look incredibly stylish with a halftee. #agelessstyle Click To Tweet
Styling with a Half Shirt in a Nutshell
In other words, the halftees are affordable layering crop tops and wardrobe staples with a multitude of incredible, effortlessly chic styling options. They permit you creating effortlessly stylish,, modest and/or arm-covering looks without additional bulk. Browse their collection now to get the pieces that up your style factor instantly.
It's easy to get layering right and look incredibly stylish with a halftee. #agelessstyle Click To TweetWhen you liked the free outfit tips of this post, and want styling tips for all kind of dressing situation in midlife, buy my book How to Dress for Success in Midlife.
Are you registered for my email notification to let you know when a post goes live? I’d highly appreciate it if you take the time to sign up and ask your friends to sign up too!!
Photos: G. Kramm
© 2013-2021 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved
