Short-Sleeve Sweatshirts

In the last few years, sweatshirts have gone from the slovenly stepchild of weekend wear and risen into the ranks of cool off-duty style. Gone are the shapeless gym pullovers made from puffy, pilled fleece. Today's sweats have been upgraded—cut from quality jersey and French terry fabric in slimmer, more considered fits. Lately, short-sleeve styles without all the extra weight have been popping up from big brands and smaller indie labels. Some, like Zara's seed stitched version, is a more modern interpretation while Robert Geller or Beams offer a more classic take with with old school athletic details. Whichever you choose, they make an ideal layering piece for pulling over another shirt or under a jacket. And sure, the easygoing Steve McQueen undertones can't hurt either.

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  Got a spare sweatshirt? Make your own short sleeve style by cutting off the sleeves a few inches above the elbow. It's a tad longer than a standard T-shirt's sleeve, because the unfinished edge will naturally roll up. It also gives you the option of cuffing the sleeves.