Light long sleeved tops for summer

[dotty2]

I have developed lymphoedema after breast cancer surgery and have to wear a compression sleeve. (You can get patterned ones but it’s early days and my prescription keeps changing so don’t want to invest ££ until it settles down.) I started wearing the sleeve in autumn and am used to it now but am a bit miserable about summer clothes. Can I ask for your suggestions for either general styles or, ideally, specific tops you’ve seen that are long sleeved, natural fabrics but light weight? My style is simple with a feminine or quirky edge. I’m 5ft 9, 51, and a M&S 14 all over. I have super short hair post chemo so feel I look too utilitarian without a bit of softness somewhere in the outfit. For reference, I recently bought this blouse which I love but I need some cheaper and more every day things too. Thank you.

I need to keep my arms covered too. My favourite thing for a really hot day is a white silk shirt.

@ValueAddedTaxonomy I need to cover my arms while running, and the lack of nice sports tops with sleeves drives me nuts. Plain, long sleeved and covering my bum tops are fairly easy to get from modest activewear places, but obv not patterned. So I'm making my own now - princess seamed for shape, super long sleeves with thumbholes, pockets, and a length which covers my bum but is shaped in after fiddling round with a commercial pattern which was nearly right. And there is so much patterned lycra out there as it can be print on demand the possibilities are endless

I’ve just seen this in person. It’s really lovely.

Primark has some lovely soft 100% cotton full sleeved shirts

https://www.primark.com/en-gb/p/voile-tunic-shirt-black-white-991093805980

Cotton voile shirt

https://www.primark.com/en-gb/p/voile-tunic-shirt-blue-991099216505

OP the Larissa shirt is best twirled around and around after washing and kind of tied in a knot. I hang it up like that to dry. Keeps the crinkles in.

https://www.whistles.com/product/stripe-crew-neck-pocket-top-35911.html#isSecondPage=false&start=118&sz=60&is=true&imageType=model&cgid=Tops_Clothing_WW&pid=stripe-crew-neck-pocket-top-35911&pos=140

Maybe not your style as the sleeves are normal boring tshirt style, but these are really thin and summery art least in terms of the fabric.

I love long sleeves!

I have this broderie tunic style shirt from Matalan, it's really lovely, the sleeves are quite full....

https://www.matalan.co.uk/clothing/et-vous-white-shiffley-shirt/15039280.html?switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&variation=15039283&creative=646698504950&keyword=&matchtype=&network=g&device=m&cqsrc=googleeads&cqcmp=19547695812&cqqterm=&cqplac=&cqqnet=g&cqplt=gp&gaddsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADwvh0y2l75Ln04sIAWQ4RfqsAgA&gclid=Cj0KCQjwudexBhDKARIsAI-GWYVNg7BL2AvaxHm7PdosD-imRFL54EbaAJvIFz3tuGwwEcdoCMj5wT0aAs-GEALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I've also got this, it's cotton cheesecloth type fabric with long sleeves, it's a bit like the Sezane Chlo but only £30....

manamou.co.uk/collections/tops/products/suzanne-top-white

edit. Found it, looks great.

https://www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/serena-double-cloth-blouse-mandarin-orange/sty-t1570-ora?tc_ch=psa&tc_ve=fb&code=H3Q3&tc_so=dpa_pro&tc_me=pp&tc_ca=Meta_UK_Mar2024_WW_Conversion_Adv%2B_New&tc_au=Conversion_UK_Meta_Feeds_WW_Broad&tc_cr=Collection_WW_Holiday_May24_WhitePalmMaxi-NEW&tc_campid=na&tc_adgroupid=na&tc_kwid=na&tc_matchid=na&utm_medium=paid&utm_source=ig&utm_id=120205325695480289&utm_content=120208073013620289&utm_term=120205325695180289&utm_campaign=120205325695480289&fbclid=PAAaYWzkSavp04SeVQ-a1RWG8gVM2sIdyMJBQXmJ0OjYq3Wzx9o02I3YuChQs_aem_AbjbINJdExH8VawSwxmKm3DNznzkoShRkPHSy8VEfCRNM7KkZqwSbKI4A0Ez84BDlwcQ6i3HzG6bhwBewcsYIxw0

The Larissa blouses from Seasalt are super lightweight (and have a collar to keep the sun off your neck, which I like)

There's usually a lot on ebay so I don't think Ive ever paid full price for one. If you cba with cuffs you can cut them off and hem the sleeve like someone I bought one off had done!)

M&S have a great range in simple linen tunics this year - linen rich pop over blouses:

Plain here but they also have patterned

www.marksandspencer.com/linen-rich-v-neck-popover-blouse/p/clp60649510?color=SOFTWHITE&prevPage=srp#intid=pid_pg1pip17g2r1c1

In primark there are quite a few light overshirts for beaches that i wore to give me a bit of coverage in morocco, i think that sort of thing would work, and tgey are only about £8

Matalan are doing long sleeved T shirts cheap as chips

Damart? Cotton Traders maybe

@Bignanna @drusth . I have the Next shirt now. It’s already one of my favourite garments ever. The material feels lovely, and, with large breasts, I am very grateful for the generous overlap on the buttons. Dont like gaping.

The material is soft and nice but I’m not keen on the hem round the bottom. I didn’t realise it turned under like that ; it’s not very flattering, to me, anyway.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. Quick update to say that I also didn't like the elasticated hem on the Next shirt. I couldn't make it sit anywhere other than the widest bit of my hips/tummy, and am sending that back. Which is a shame because I also loved the fabric and how it looked from the waist up. And if anyone else is watching this thread for inspiration, I have tried a few broderie shirts and think this one from M&S is nicest so far - it is lovely soft cotton and has enough holes to look and feel light but not so many you need a vest under it (which kind of defeats the point for hot weather).

Thank you for your last post @dotty2
I am indeed following for ideas.

I also like this from New Look

Also following for inspiration. Thanks for the suggestions, including comments on which ones don't quite work.

Something like this would be lovely! https://www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/washed-cotton-pink-jumpsuit-359784?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping%20UK&utm_term=39-550-965-907628&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS3-v8F4vKX16iqMRq4uadKVW1dCsFQQzdoZxMy6FtueZNTyvaHgNa_UaAumKEALw_wcB#selection.color=2005

This is nice too https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1128778001.html?hier_id=go_cmp-12799254628_adg-147147121860_ad-649049303755_aud-1302409056611:pla-296303633664_dev-m_ext-_prd-en-1128778001004_sig-Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS39yC8D9Tb8K-eL6ch1ZrWk4FRs8jVTY3y6jT1unSRmDoQF3CRU18BMaAn8XEALw_wcB&utm_source=Google&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADvrmzSNMkyP-q1DwU8Z0LZtjEzr-&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS39yC8D9Tb8K-eL6ch1ZrWk4FRs8jVTY3y6jT1unSRmDoQF3CRU18BMaAn8XEALw_wcB

The thing about Primark is that the bigger sizes disappear fast leaving the tiny ones on the rack. It’s so fr to see something nice and know you won’t see bigger than a medium, and their medium is smaller than most. Yesterday they had some lovely broiderie anglais long sleeve, longline tops in SMALL!

I find jumpsuits extremely unflattering for anyone over a 14. They make the wearer’s middle look thick and shapeless.