What cool summer tops are you wearing that are not tshirts?

[CaliforniaDrumming]

I am feeling the heat this spring as peri-menopause has kicked in. Also feel that clingy tshirts don't suit me any more as I have a menopausal tummy. And can only wear cotton; feel sweaty in anything else though it is a bugger to iron. So looking for simple flowy cool tops without frilly yokes or puff sleeves. I had a look in a few shops but nothing appealed. Budget more H and M or Uniqlo than Cos or Arket.

I like oversized cotton or linen shirts - either done up or undone over vest tops. I just borrow my husband’s but there’s loads around in the shops this year.

Over the last couple of years I've started wearing what I would call a blouse. 100 cotton, button up, variety it sleeve length. I love that they don't cling. They do need to be ironed but I don't mind. Summer for me is all cotton with blouse, dresses, skirts and trousers. I just take 30 min once a week and iron last week's things.

Forgot to say, I can't suggest brands as I've not showed this year for then and mine are all toast, cos, arket, hush, boden. But they were sale items so do keep an eye out later in the year!

Where do you get your blouses please? I am really thinking of just going into actual shops rather than online because this new shape of mine is hard to dress without trying on a lot of stuff.

www.marksandspencer.com/it/pure-cotton-tie-neck-regular-fit-blouse/p/P60543697.html

Something like this?

Or maybe with more sleeve?

www.marksandspencer.com/it/double-cloth-embroidered-3%2F4-sleeve-blouse/p/P60539489.html

I like that first one though wondering if it will make my belly look larger.

I just bought this. It's veey pretty.

I bought a green linen top from Hobbs the other day. It was definitely on the pricey side, but it's really flattering and cool. I've really struggled to find anything I like in the shops recently - don't really go for the frilly milkmaid look.

www.hobbs.com/product/halle-linen-top-/0122-6308-9094L00-AMAZON-GREEN.html

I do think this kind of style, being non clingy, has the potential to add a few pounds. But clingy stuff does too! You can tuck them in like in the last link above and that makes a nice shape/silhouette.

I'm another fan of linen shirts either buttoned up over shorts or jeans, or else open over a dress or vest top.

I have one from M&S and another one from an eco label based in London.

Following

Oh yeah, you have to French tuck and belt with the wider styles.

I have a couple like the Hobbs one (it's a gorgeous colour @CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory !). Love them. The ironing is annoying, but worth it.

I used to love M and S linen shirts but fancy a change this year. Thanks for the links. Most of them look nice. I always forget about Zara because I hate their website but that white blouse looks lovely.

I prefer sleeveless so my armpits can feel the breeze. Just got a couple from M&S but they’re not 100% cotton I’m afraid.

I bought 2 shirts in this style from TK Maxx although mine were navy and white and cost about £25. French Connection do have a few colours reduced to £27 including this lilac colour. 100% cotton.

The white company has lots of floaty cotton t-shirt or long sleeved style tops in at the moment. Things with pretty necklines to detract from the belly. (I know of what you speak...)

Lots of cotton and linen shirts and blouses here too with jeans or wide leg trousers/culottes if it's really warm.

I actually got a really nice but plain white linen shirt from Tu.

Monsoon and Fatface occasionally have nice cotton blouses, although you have to look through a lot of crap to find them.

Seasalt is my go-to for cool cotton tops. They can be a bit pricey compared to H&M etc but I’ve got a few that have lasted years and they have frequent sales/offers.

Following. I usually wear the boatneck 3/4 slub cotton tops from Boden in a loose fit.

I’m in the same boat @CaliforniaDrumming, finding it very hard to know what to wear these days. I am 5’3” so find oversized shirts, anything too loose swamps me and makes me look even bigger. But then as you say clingy tshirts are not possible either.
Think I need to spend some time on the french tuck as have never quite mastered it, that might help with the swamping maybe

Unfortunately The White Company and Boden both fund the Tory party, so neither of those is an option for me these days. Grrrrrrr.

In the same boat here.

Size ranges from XXL in Zara and H&M to a 12-14 M&S/Boden/Seasalt to an 8-10 in all the vanity stores (ie Next) which complicates things further!

I ordered some plain shirts from Zara over the weekend, a linen shirt from Marks and a couple of stripy tops to replace my old ones that are looking worn.

I was looking at Uniqlo but reading reviews it seems they are also the opposite of vanity so with the sizing mentioned above, wouldn't know where to start.

What's a French tuck? If it's tucking all in its out for me as I'm an egg shape, if it's the trendy one bit in one bit out thing I just look like I've forgotten a bit.

Take it from someone in her mid 50s with menopausal tummy issues, the French tuck is definitely NOT a solution.