What is a baby tee, and how is it different from a crop top?

A baby tee is a short, snug t-shirt with small sleeves, cut much closer to the body than a regular tee. It usually has a little stretch in the fabric, so it sits tight without feeling tight.

The name comes from the fit: it looks like a tee that's a size or 2 too small, on purpose. The style was everywhere in the 1990s and early 2000s, and it's back. Below is what makes a tee a baby tee, how ours measures, and how it differs from a crop top.

What makes a tee a baby tee

You can spot one by 4 things.

• A fitted body. It follows your shape, where a regular tee hangs straight.
• A short length. It ends around your waist, so it meets high-waist jeans without much tucking.
• Small sleeves. They're short and close to the arm.
• Stretch. Most baby tees add a little spandex to the cotton. Without it, a cut this close would pull every time you moved.

Our baby tee, in numbers

We have 3 baby tees right now: Flying Cat, Born To Be Loved and Cute But Psycho. Each one is Rs 699.

The fabric is 95% cotton and 5% spandex at 240 GSM. That's heavier than our regular women's tees, which are 100% cotton at 180 GSM. Heavier fabric is less likely to turn see-through when it stretches over you.

This is the size chart from the product page, in inches.

• XS: chest 24, length 14, fits a 30 chest
• S: chest 26, length 14.5, fits a 32 chest
• M: chest 28, length 15, fits a 34 chest
• L: chest 30, length 15.5, fits a 36 chest
• XL: chest 32, length 16, fits a 38 chest
• 2XL: chest 34, length 16.5, fits a 40 chest

Look at the first and last numbers in each row. The tee itself measures 6 inches smaller than the chest it's made for. That gap is the stretch doing its job, and it's the whole idea of a baby tee.

Baby tee vs crop top

People mix these up because both are short. They aren't the same thing.

A crop top is defined by its length. It's a tee that ends above the waist, and the body can be loose or boxy. A baby tee is defined by its fit. It's snug all over.

Our own 2 styles show the difference well. Take size M.

• Baby tee, M: chest 28 (fits 34), length 15, cotton with spandex, 240 GSM.
• Crop top, M: chest 36, length 17.5, 100% combed cotton, pre-shrunk, 180 GSM.

So our crop top is 8 inches wider across the chest than the baby tee in the same size, and 2.5 inches longer. A crop top like Party Cat hangs away from your body and has no stretch. The baby tee hugs.

Which should you pick? If you want something easy and airy for a hot day, go for the crop top. If you want the fitted look with baggy jeans or cargos, go for the baby tee.

How to pick your baby tee size

Use the last column of the chart, the one that says what chest it fits.

1. Wrap a measuring tape around the fullest part of your chest. Keep it level, and snug without squeezing.
2. Find that number in the "fits" column. A 34-inch chest is an M.
3. Take that size if you want it properly snug. Go 1 size up if you'd like a little room.

Between 2 sizes? Take the bigger one. A baby tee that's slightly relaxed still looks right, and one that's too small rides up.

Never measured a tee before? The steps in our how to measure t-shirt size post work for any tee, and that one was written for men's fits.

And if you get it wrong, it's fixable. Within 7 days of delivery you can swap the size for free. Keep the tee unworn and unwashed, with the tag on.

What to wear with a baby tee

The rule is simple: tight on top, loose below.

• High-waist jeans, the baggier the better.
• Cargos or wide trousers.
• A skirt, short or long.
• An open shirt over it when the evening gets cooler.

A baby tee with tight jeans can work too, but it's a lot of fitted in one outfit. Most people find one loose piece makes it easier to wear.

Which designs come as baby tees?

Flying Cat comes in white, light baby pink and black. Born To Be Loved and Cute But Psycho come in light baby pink and black, and Born To Be Loved has a white one too.

Not sure about a fitted cut? Born To Be Loved and Cute But Psycho are also sold as a regular tee at Rs 699, an oversized tee at Rs 899 and a terry oversized tee at Rs 999, so you can have the same print in a looser shape. You'll find all of them under women's tees, and the cat ones under cat t-shirts.

Is a baby tee the same as a crop top?

No. A crop top is any top that ends above the waist, and it can be loose. A baby tee is fitted all over, with small sleeves and some stretch. Ours is also the shorter of the 2: 15 inches long in M, against 17.5 for the crop top.

Why is it called a baby tee?

Because of the fit. It looks like a tee that's a size or 2 too small, with a short body and small sleeves.

Should I size up in a baby tee?

Take your usual size if you want it snug, which is how it's meant to fit. Go 1 size up if you want a little room, or if you're between 2 sizes.

Can men wear a baby tee?

Anyone can. Ours are cut for women, so go by the chest number in the "fits" column and ignore the letter on the label.

Does a baby tee stretch out over time?

A little spandex helps a tee spring back, and ours has 5%. Heat is what tires stretch fabric out, so wash it inside out in cold water and dry it on low heat.