where do you find nice tops?

[DreadfullyUncool]

Help me, oh wise mumsnetters! My summer uniform used to be a dress with sandals, but due to ankle problems this year I am restricted to wearing clunky shoes and a foot brace, which I prefer to conceal under trousers. And so I am facing the problem of finding tops to wear with aforementioned trousers.
The specific activity is a semi-dressy weekend one: going to an exhibition, having lunch, seeing a play in the evening, etc. The location: London. Needs to work with flat clunky shoes (and a brace, but it is not visible).
On the bottom half I am wearing wide-leg trousers or jeans.
I would like to find interesting-looking and current tops that carry the outfit, so to speak, so not plain t-shirts. I also don't like shirts.
I am 5'4'', size 16, suit jewel colours (blue/navy, purple, forest green, teal, dark red) and black. No polyester due to the sweatiness factor.
In winter I wore nice jumpers, which were somehow much easier to find. Now I am stumped. Please help!

These are all cotton or linen (John Lewis)

A few more

I like these from H&M with statement necklace.

Cap-sleeved blouse www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1204909002.html

I would look at Mint Velvet. I have a number of tops from there over the years that are vaguelly t-shirt styled, but a million times nicer. Also a few nice flowy type numbers. Let me see if they have anything this year that coul dwork.

I am a 16-18 (depending on style and fabric) with large books and carrying my weight around my middle. I would consider

possibly this one - I've had tops like this before that are brilliant but it can also make me look pregnant. Probably need to try on to be sure. For me, neckline might be a smidgeon high making me more likely to look pregnant

this might work for you colour wise? It's a bit too autumnal for me but otherwise I love it

I like this one but possibly wrong colour and/or a bit too casual for you?

this is probably entirely down to your style. Do you like cute floral details?

Lots of other tops I liked a lot but not a lot of the sorts of colours I think you'd like.

Oh, I missed that you like black. In which case, scroll through the other tops - lots of black options. https://mintvelvet.com/collections/all-clothing?filtered=%5Bproduct_type=tops%5D

They are fairly frumpy. There is a website called festival stall and they sell tunic tops which are much nicer.

Would you consider a wide leg jumpsuit? You may find as a dress wearer that it suits you better

https://www.parfois.com/en/gb/clothing/shirts/cotton-shirt-with-embroidery/216853.html?dwvar_216853_color=_WT

Do you do blouses? This is pretty 😍

Charity shops are brilliant for tops.

Or this? More colourful https://www.parfois.com/en/gb/clothing/shirts/cotton-printed-shirt/219713.html?dwvar_219713_color=_BM&_gl=1zux64b_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0ruyBhDuARIsANSZ3woo1TSsifqS07eRIpGw0lhnUL8XNf91tCQPUBh5ITZq7rAduAIQh0EaAjNREALw_wcB

@Defiantlynot41 , thanks! The first one (with the print that resembles gears) is not bad at all. I would look very frumpy in others (trying to avoid this word as much as possible, but I don't know how to convey this otherwise). But I will look more closely at John Lewis, it looks like it has potential.

@GerbilsForever24, thanks! I really like the shape of the leopard-print one! They don't seem to do it in other colours, though, and I don't wear animal print :( (nothing against animal print on others, I personally intensely dislike it on myself).
The orange one - definitely interesting, but I suit winter colours rather than autumnal, so no orange. Also, is it weirdly shiny?
The third one has an interesting shape and details for sure, but seems to be intentionally see-through?
The fourth one (blue with embroidered flowers) is almost there, except for the flutter sleeves. I just don't understand flutter sleeves - like, do you want a sleeve or not?
But Mint Velvet is a good shout! I really like this one https://mintvelvet.com/products/neutral-embroidered-blouse (love these buttons!), except it is lined in polyester (why???).

@soupmaker, thanks, I like that one, but more for everyday/work, I guess? I think it would need something else to be a museum/lunch/theatre top, no?

@Mountainormolehills, I am not sure what is it exactly, but jumpsuits always make me look like an overgrown fat toddler, so I tend to avoid. Maybe I haven't found the right one...

I also liked the one you flagged, but I can't do long sleaves in summer and I didn't think you'd like white.

I hear you - the colours aren't quite right. I wear a lot of great/ off-white but I've had a lovely forest green shirt from Mint Velvet in the past and a cotton knit multi coloured top last year so it's worth keeping an eye out.

@Punsandroses, thanks! I definitely do blouses! I hate ironing, but I have a steamer, so it (together with not really caring about creases) solves the problem.
This is pretty! The dual size is worrying - I suspect M/L won't fit on size 16...

@CointreauVersial agree! also Vinted and sometimes ebay. but it is pure luck, unfortunately.

@Punsandroses, the second one would probably fit in M/L. Would I look like a tent in it? I suspect I would :(

@GerbilsForever24 yes, the long sleeves are a problem in the summer... Also, I am clumsy, so white is indeed problematic in case lunch is involved (or coffee - I manage to even spill coffee!).
I will keep an eye out on Mint Velvet, so far it probably was the closest.

this might be too casual?

don't know how you feel about broderie

I only like the black/lemon pattern myself

three quarter sleeves

if you like a statement floral

although again, probably too casual

I like thse in most of the colours but would probably be too high necked for me - you haven't said if you are large of bust or not

Thanks everyone! Please keep the suggestions coming!
A few updates:

• Don't wear animal print - just don't like it on myself
• Suit winter colours
• Don't like flutter sleeves
• Can't wear strappy tops, because need a bra
• Prefer not full-length sleeves in the summer
• Don't like ditsy flower prints
• Like blouses
• Don't like tops that have a potential to make me look like a tent (you know the shape - gathered on top and billowy)

Also, I am in my mid-fifties, so I feel that I need the top/blouse to be somewhat edgy and modern, otherwise I risk looking like I ventured to the city in my pyjamas.

https://www.cottontraders.com/women/shirts-and-blouses/broderie-blouse/AB12421DarkAqua.html?dwvar_AB12421DarkAqua_color=Dark%20Aqua&cgid=womens-shirts-blouses#cgid=womens-shirts-blouses&start=1&list=product%20list&p=0

Also comes in a lovely purple/pinkish colour...minimal ironing!!

Apricot have caught my eye with a few nice tops. I'm not sure of the fabrics though. They are doing quite a bit of linen and crochet. And a very snazzy sequin shirt which looked fab.

No ironing at all 😁navy or white crinkle tophttps://www.cottontraders.com/women/shirts-and-blouses/floral-embroidered-crinkle-top/AB12436White.html?dwvar_AB12436White_color=White&cgid=womens-shirts-blouses#cgid=womens-shirts-blouses&start=12&list=product%20list&p=8
Also summery and colourful, live this brand..
https://www.fatface.com/women/clothing/shirts/margot-paradise-ikat-blouse/0003346.html?dwvar_0003346_color=MULTICOL&cgid=women-clothing-shirts#pagination=true&start=28