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Before they cannonballed into the menswear mainstream, the best cropped T-shirts were DIY'd at home with a pair of scissors. But the good news is that what started as a trend on TikTok (CropTok, if you will) has made its way to Hollywood's elite and LA's style setters. Global retailers have even taken notice and now the hip-brushing tee is more widely available than ever before.
That it comes at a time when the so-called menswear golden ratio is at its peak is no coincidence. What else would you expect after an era rife with oversized tees? The trend has its extremes, of course, but unlike crop tops, which truly expose the midriff, a cropped tee still retains the classic T-shirt elements—short sleeves, a crewneck, and a relaxed or boxy fit—but just finishes it all off with a higher hemline. This helps the tee work with any sweater, trucker jacket or blazer, because it'll never hang lower than whatever's layering on top of it.
Having realized these added benefits, plenty of brands are truncating their hemlines for you. But before we get into our round-up of the 12 best right now, a quick note on styling: With the tiny top, baggy bottoms movement still going strong, cropped tees pair easily with high-waisted pants, sweatpants, jeans, and yes, those never-ending-pocketed cargos. And to get a little more specific, a fitted cropped tee highlights the torso, creating a sharp balance with either looser bottoms or slim pants, while a boxy cropped tee softens the lines and leans into a more chill vibe, but requires some straight or loose bottoms to keep things proportioned.
The Best Cropped Tees, According to GQ EditorsBest Cropped T-Shirt OverallMerz B. Schwanen 2m15C Cropped Vintage Machine Refined Fit T-Shirt
Read moreBest Budget Cropped T-ShirtGap Heavyweight Cropped T-Shirt
Read moreBest Heavyweight Cropped T-ShirtBuck Mason Field-Spec 90s Boxy Heavy Tee
Read moreBest Cropped T-Shirt for Mall RatsAbercrombie & Fitch Premium Heavyweight Cropped Tee
Read moreBest Customizable Cropped T-ShirtAsket The T-Shirt
Read moreBest Cropped T-Shirt for Fashion GuysMfpen Washed Cotton Jersey T-Shirt
Read moreBest Cropped T-Shirt Overall: Merz b. Schwanen Organic Cotton & Hemp T-Shirt
Gitta and Peter Plotnicki, partners in life and business, deserve a round of applause—if it weren’t for them, the historic German brand Merz b. Schwanen would be nothing more than, well, historic. Instead, after coming across a 90-year-old henley from the brand at a flea market, the Plotnickis reached out to the Merz family, who gave them the approval to restore its once-great name. Quickly, the Plotnickis tracked down one of the last textile manufacturers originally used by the brand, who blew them away by revealing 32 authentic loopwheelers dating from the 1880s to the 1960s—unused and covered in dust.
While the now-successfully-revived brand's full-cotton loopwheeled T-shirts are the obvious staple, this boxier, cropped version with tube-knit construction deserves just as much attention. It's still knit on retro machines for a dense, yet plush-feeling jersey that is as retro as the silhouette is modern.
Best Budget Cropped T-Shirt: Gap Heavyweight Cropped T-Shirt
If dressing like the relaxed best friend in a ‘90s indie film is the move right now, Gap basically styled the era—so it’s no surprise the brand is absolutely crushing some throwback looks today. From resurrecting their greatest hits to accidentally producing men's knitwear gold in the women’s section, Gap is on a tear that feels straight out of their heyday.
Take this cropped tee, for example. It’s got a high crewneck that stays put (no sad, droopy collars here), drop-shoulder sleeves for that effortless slouch, and a perfectly grungy faded black wash that looks like you swiped it from your older sibling in ‘97. Toss it over a thermal, pair it with some baggy jeans, and you’ve nailed the art of laid-back nostalgia. Because if Gap’s proving anything, it’s that dressing like the past is sometimes the best way to win the present.
Best Heavyweight Cropped T-Shirt: Buck Mason Field-Spec 90s Boxy Heavy Tee
Buck Mason has already dropped one of this year’s best collaborations, they’re cranking out super dialed-in clothes for the wage cage, and now they’ve unleashed one of the weightiest tees around. This bad boy boasts a ‘90s-inspired cut with longer sleeves and a flat hem that casually grazes your belt line—because sometimes, a little extra drape just hits right.
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