Catalina | A Letter About Wearing A T-Shirt Again
At 57, I realised I'd stopped wearing simple T-shirts because I didn't want anyone looking at my arms.
Julie HayesSydney · October 2026
I'm Julie, I'm 57, and I never thought a plain T-shirt would be something I'd miss. After 31 years working at a bank, I imagined retirement would mean feeling free to wear whatever I wanted. Yet somehow, the simplest thing in my wardrobe was the one I kept avoiding.
It started so quietly I hardly noticed. I'd try on a T-shirt, catch sight of my upper arms in the mirror, and put it back. I'd reach for a blouse instead. Then a cardigan. And little by little, I began covering up even when the weather was far too warm.
One morning I was in the garden, trying to finish the watering before taking Banjo for his walk. The sun was already warm, and I was wearing a long-sleeved blouse again. I remember thinking, Why am I making myself uncomfortable just to hide my arms?
That was the bit that upset me. It wasn't really about a T-shirt. It was about how much of myself I'd quietly stopped allowing the world to see.
Nobody sits down one day and decides to give up on T-shirts. You try a few on, feel a little exposed, and move on to something that feels safer. Then one summer becomes another, and you forget there was ever another way to dress.
How it happens
I don't think most younger women realise how much a sleeve can matter. A lot of the T-shirts you see have sleeves that finish right at the widest part of the upper arm. They're perfectly lovely on the hanger. But if that is the part of yourself you've become self-conscious about, you spend the whole afternoon thinking about it.
At first I told myself I was just being sensible. That long blouses looked smarter. That a cardigan was handy. But there is nothing sensible about feeling too hot on a spring afternoon because you don't feel comfortable showing your arms.
And I missed something else, too. The ease of pulling on a simple top and heading out without needing to think about how I looked from every angle.
What I had wrong
I thought I had two choices: show my upper arms and feel exposed, or cover them completely and feel too warm. I hadn't really considered that the answer might be as simple as a longer sleeve.
A half sleeve that reaches further down the arm offers coverage in the place that matters to me, while leaving the forearm free. It's such a small difference on a hanger. In the mirror, it can feel like an entirely different kind of top.
The top is called Catalina
I found the Catalina Everyday Comfort Coverage Tee at Claire & Grace Sydney. It isn't a complicated top. It has a classic round neckline, longer half sleeves, soft lightweight fabric and a relaxed fit. There are no big prints or fussy details. It's the sort of top you can wear with the trousers and jeans you already own.
The part I kept coming back to was the sleeve. It gives the upper arm a little more coverage without making the whole top feel like a long-sleeved blouse. The body falls loosely rather than hugging the middle. And the soft, breathable fabric is designed for everyday comfort, which matters when you've got a full day ahead.
It's not pretending to be a fancy blouse. It's a proper everyday tee. Somehow, that is exactly why I like it.
What changed when I pictured wearing it out
I thought about a weekend lunch, the sort where we all end up sitting outside long after we've finished eating. Normally I'd be worrying about my sleeves or pulling at the hem whenever someone took a photograph.
With the Catalina style, I could imagine wearing my favourite jeans, a pair of sandals and a little necklace. Nothing special, really. And that was what felt special about it.
The nicest thought wasn't even about compliments. It was about reaching for a plate, waving to a friend, putting my arm around someone for a photograph, and not spending a second wondering what my arms looked like.
That freedom sounds like such a small thing until you realise you've been missing it for years.
Three things I wish I'd known earlier
One. The sleeves don't have to be tiny. Catalina's longer half sleeves give you more coverage over the upper arm while still being a short-sleeved everyday tee. I wish I'd known I could have both.
Two. The shape matters just as much. The relaxed fit leaves more room through the body, so the top can sit comfortably over jeans or trousers. I don't want to spend my day pulling at my clothes.
Three. Simple doesn't have to mean boring. It comes in Grey, White, Blue, Black and Pink, with sizes S to 2XL (approximately AU 8–18). I love that you can choose a shade that feels like you and wear it with things you already own.
About the price
I always look twice at a sale price, especially online. Catalina is currently A$74.95 at Claire & Grace Sydney, reduced from A$249.95 — a saving of 70%. That's the price listed on the product page as I write this, so it's worth checking the latest price and your size.
What makes me interested isn't the discount on its own. It's the thought of finally having an everyday T-shirt I'd be happy to wear. I have spent enough time hiding under layers, and enough money on tops I rarely reached for.
The store also offers free shipping across Australia and New Zealand. Catalina comes in five colours and sizes S to 2XL, with an AU size guide on the product page.
What I'd tell you if we were friends
If we were sitting in my garden with a cup of tea, and you told me you'd stopped wearing T-shirts because you didn't like showing your arms, I'd understand completely.
I wouldn't tell you to stop worrying. I know it isn't that simple. I would just tell you that you deserve to feel comfortable on a warm day. You deserve to get dressed without apologising to yourself for the body you've lived in all these years.
A T-shirt won't change your life. But sometimes it's the ordinary little freedoms that you miss most — walking in the sunshine, wearing something simple, and forgetting about your upper arms long enough to enjoy the moment.
That's the feeling I'd like to have back.
I'd like to enjoy wearing a T-shirt again.
With love,
Julie
Catalina™ | Everyday Comfort Coverage Tee
- Longer half sleeves for more upper-arm coverage
- Soft, lightweight, breathable fabric
- Relaxed fit that falls comfortably over the body
- Classic round neckline and easy everyday styling
- Grey, White, Blue, Black and Pink
- Sizes S–2XL (AU 8–18)
- Free Shipping Across Australia & New Zealand