'It's the piece you pick up in Zara as an afterthought, and then find you wear twice a week for the next six months while the more "fun" buys never quite take'
What do you call a T-shirt with no sleeves? Sorry, no punchline: I don't know, that's why I'm asking. Some call it a shell top, which has a nice ring to it and is appropriate in that it evokes a delicate layer of protection. But I'm not sure such oblique nomenclature is helpful, so I'm calling it a grown-up vest top, which doesn't have any ring at all, but is appropriately utilitarian for what could be the hardest-working piece in your wardrobe. I'm talking about a crew-neck T-shirt, sliced off vertically towards the outer edge of your shoulders. Only a few inches of fabric differentiate this from a classic vest top scooped at the front and back, narrow straps but those inches are crucial.
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