A few聽years ago, REI鈥檚聽product design team started to go all in on their apparel line, making budget-friendly pieces that perform聽as well as those twice the price. We've loved most of what we've tested this far鈥擨 recently ranked their 聽as one of the best leggings of 2018. The Birch Spring top falls into a similar category聽of budget-friendly, function-forward pieces. This top has been in my closet for a few months and it is in regular rotation聽in my wardrobe. It pairs well with jeans, skirts, or even leggings, while maintaining a clean, tailored cut that looks good enough to wear to the 辞蹿蹿颈肠别.听
The fabric is made up of聽52 percent聽merino wool and 48 percent polyester, so it feels great against the skin and has the wicking and antimicrobial properties of wool. The back hem drops lower than the front, which I love for work settings or when I鈥檓 layering over leggings, and a pleated back helps it drape聽nicely across the body.聽The bottom hem is split in the front, which allows the shirt to wrap around my body聽comfortably聽when sitting at my desk all day. After upwards of 15 washes, the shirt hasn鈥檛 shown any signs of pilling or wear聽and has only gotten softer the聽more I鈥檝e worn it.聽