The highest item level chest armor a level 1–10 character can wear as a Mage start with Simple Blouse (item level 15, uncommon). 127 items fit the slot and band; the top 25 are ranked here by item level, then quality, not by simulation.
| # | Name | ILvl | Req. | Armor | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Simple Blouse | 15 | 10 | 28 | Cloth | Drops from Licillin (Darkshore) at 2.4% (+396 more) (vanilla) |
| 2 |  Simple Robe | 15 | 10 | 28 | Cloth | Drops from Licillin (Darkshore) at 2.4% (+396 more) (vanilla) |
| 3 |  Barbaric Linen VestCHANGED | 14 | 9 | 26 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 4 |  Blue Linen RobeCHANGED | 14 | 9 | 26 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 5 |  Ancestral Robe | 13 | 8 | 25 | Cloth | Drops from Shadowclaw (Darkshore) at 3.8% (+426 more) (vanilla) |
| 6 |  Ancestral Tunic | 13 | 8 | 25 | Cloth | Drops from Shadowclaw (Darkshore) at 3.8% (+427 more) (vanilla) |
| 7 |  Disciple's Robe | 13 | 8 | 25 | Cloth | Drops from Shadowclaw (Darkshore) at 3.8% (+432 more) (vanilla) |
| 8 | Disciple's Vest | 13 | 8 | 25 | Cloth | Drops from Shadowclaw (Darkshore) at 3.8% (+432 more) (vanilla) |
| 9 | Foreman VestCHANGED | 13 | 8 | 25 | Cloth | Drops from Gibblewilt (Dun Morogh) at 50.0% (vanilla) |
| 10 |  Double-Stitched RobesCHANGED | 13 | 8 | 23 | Cloth | Sold by Anadyia (+6 more) (vanilla) |
| 11 |  Calico Tunic | 13 | 8 | 22 | Cloth | Found in Hidden Strongbox (Alterac Mountains) at 0.7% (+228 more) (vanilla) |
| 12 |  Azure Stormsewn VestFOREVER | 12 | 7 | 23 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 13 |  Blue Linen VestCHANGED | 12 | 7 | 23 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 14 | Cloudy Stormsewn VestFOREVER | 12 | 7 | 23 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 15 |  Red Linen VestCHANGED | 12 | 7 | 23 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 16 | Beaded Robe | 11 | 6 | 21 | Cloth | Drops from Thuros Lightfingers (Elwynn Forest) at 0.0% (+375 more) (vanilla) |
| 17 | Beaded Wraps | 11 | 6 | 21 | Cloth | Drops from Thuros Lightfingers (Elwynn Forest) at 0.0% (+375 more) (vanilla) |
| 18 |  Journeyman's Robe | 11 | 6 | 21 | Cloth | Found in Battered Chest (Westfall) at 0.4% (+380 more) (vanilla) |
| 19 |  Journeyman's Vest | 11 | 6 | 21 | Cloth | Found in Battered Chest (Westfall) at 0.4% (+380 more) (vanilla) |
| 20 |  Brown Linen Robe | 10 | 5 | 19 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 21 | Red Linen Robe | 10 | 5 | 19 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 22 |  Sleeping Robes | 10 | 19 | Cloth | Quest: Druid of the Claw (vanilla) | |
| 23 |  White Linen Robe | 10 | 5 | 19 | Cloth | Crafted: Tailoring |
| 24 |  Knitted Tunic | 10 | 5 | 18 | Cloth | Drops from Hillsbrad Tailor (Hillsbrad Foothills) at 25.0% (vanilla) Sold by Aeolynn (+13 more) |
| 25 |  Simple Dress | 10 | Miscellaneous | Crafted: Tailoring |
Ranked by item level, then quality, among items with a known source: gear nothing drops, sells, rewards or makes yet (raids not yet open, the client's test items) is left out. The class filter keeps what the class can equip at level 10 (armor type, weapon skill, Dual Wield, the item's own class limit); the side filter drops items that only the other side's vendors and quests offer. Source: the best known drop first (a Forever rate at 10+ loots, else the vanilla 1.12 chance), then vendors, quest rewards and the profession that makes it. Reviewed picks: Mage Best in Slot.
Other slots: Head, Shoulder, Back, Wrist, Hands, Waist, Legs, Feet. Every slot and level.