The Best Tops, From Budget to Luxury
Updated July 2026 · 12 brands compared
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We line up 12 brands — one representative top from each — and sort them by price tier, from $25 (H&M) up to $348 (Frame).
At a glance
Budget
· Under $30
At $24.99 it sits squarely in the budget tier, and the price is honest: you are paying for the satin look, not the fiber — it is polyester, priced like polyester.
Mid
· $30 – $70
At $38 list it sits low in the mid tier, and Gymshark's frequent sitewide sales regularly pull it under the budget line. Part of the sticker is brand positioning, but the seamless knit itself is priced about right for what it is.
At $38 full price it sits at the bottom of the mid tier, which is roughly fair for a Supima-cotton rib knit. A few dollars of that is brand positioning — plainer cotton tanks cost less — but the premium is small.
At $58 it sits near the top of the mid tier, and part of that price is Aritzia's popularity rather than the fabric. The double-lined construction still makes it defensible against thinner single-layer bodysuits at similar prices.
Premium
· $70 – $150
At $74 it sits at the low end of the premium tier, and the double-layer construction backs up part of that; the rest is Alo's studio-to-street brand positioning, which the shopper is paying for knowingly. Colorways cycle through the bran…
$75 lands at the bottom of the premium tier, and part of that is label positioning: owners consistently say the comfort and cut are real but advise waiting for markdowns. Within the brand's own range it is the cheapest way in.
At $79 it sits at the low end of the premium tier, and the dense compression knit does more work than a basic tank at that price. Part of the sticker is still brand positioning — frequent sitewide discount codes suggest waiting for a sal…
At $95 the tank sits at the upper end of the premium tier for what is structurally a simple cotton rib knit, and part of that price is plainly brand positioning. The US construction and the way the fabric wears in are real merits, but fu…
At $98 the Isabel sits at the upper end of the premium tier for what is structurally a tank top, and part of that price is the label's positioning. The made-in-USA ribbed knit and consistent colorway program are real value, but shoppers…
At $128 list it sits in the premium tier, and part of that price is brand positioning. Everlane marks this line down constantly — colorways were recently selling at around half of list, where the price genuinely matches the product.
Luxury
· $150+At $139-199 full price the line sits at the bottom edge of the luxury tier, and it is real mulberry silk — thin, but real — for less than most dedicated silk labels charge. Part of the price is fashion positioning, though, and the brand'…
At $348 for solids and $398 for prints, the Gillian sits firmly in the luxury tier, and part of that price is FRAME's brand positioning rather than the fabric alone. One owner's verdict — 'cute, but not sure it's 400$ cute' — is a fair c…
Where the money goes at each tier: The real cost of denim →
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Prices reflect each brand's representative top and may change. Our take on each is editorial and independent — not the brands' own claims.