Please help me find ‘nice tops’!

[BlueEyedBogWitch]

All I want is nice tops to wear with jeans, but I have searched and searched and I hate everything I’ve seen.

This is my list of things I need to avoid and my reasons why:

1. Puff sleeves (broad shoulders)
2. Cropped (long torso, c-section pouch, mum tum)
3. Backless (51)
4. Polyester (just because it’s foul, also sweaty)
5. Cold shoulder (yuk)
6. Sleeveless (51)
7. Tunics (because of my long torso they make my legs look stunted)

I have lots of nice casual T-shirts, but I just want something a little bit fancier to wear with jeans when I go out for dinner etc. I have a couple of silk shirts, but I was hoping for something summery.

Please help!

I find their trousers generous but not tops.

What's your budget?

For well made basics, I like Rails, Wrap London and BA&SH
https://uk.rails.com/collections/womens-tops
https://www.wraplondon.co.uk/subcats/SMWBL/shirts-tops/index.htm
https://ba-sh.com/uk/tops-shirts/

I’m willing to spend good money on a good top, rather than pay £40 for polyester.

I’ll have a look at those, thank you!

BA&SH have some gorgeous things, omg.

This shop has a variety of brands

https://www.trilogystores.co.uk/womens/designer-tops/

I love Maison Hotel for shirts/blouses - some are a bit frilly/flouncy but there are some beautiful plainer pieces too.

www.maisonh.com/collections/ss25-tops

She's 51 not 101.

And neither am I 101. Does being so rude just come naturally to you?

Temu.

I’ve also taught myself to sew. The problem is that good fabric costs more than buying the actual clothes a lot of the time. And I still haven’t managed to find a top pattern that I really like.

That’s so pretty ❤️

That’s lovely @SoScarletItWas what size would you recommend for a 12 (with boobs)? It looks very flattering.

Me and Em have some great tops styled with jeans. I have this and it’s really lovely: www.meandem.com/silk-cotton-floral-print-blouse-navy-light-blue-light-cream

I’m a slim 12 but with boobs. I got the Medium and it’s snug - not too bad round the boobs but I would have liked it looser on the hips.

A linen pull on short sleeved top, perhaps with a notch neck. I've got 3, two M & S white ones and one in a lovely green, (all of which I got from Vinted). My Go To for holidays or smart going out in summer.

I have a new found love of Uniqlo, it's simple and fashionable but stylish and the stuff seems to be decent quality. I do find the website difficult so have to rely on finding shops in big cities.

Same criteria here, I tend to find things I like in ME&EM, Cos and Massimo Dutti.

Thanks for this OP. The replies have given me loads of inspiration. Am a similar age and worked out I’m most comfortable in a very plain v neck or round neck in a flattering colour in a good woven fabric.
Then accessories do the rest.

Love that kimono top someone linked to but am fascinated by how terrible the styling is! Beautiful kimono. Baggy old skirt and terrible shoes. Even the gorgeous model looks frumpy

Completely unnecessary and very rude.

OP, how do you feel about the Boden Revanna top?

https://www.endource.com/product/boden-ravenna-top/WUKHXMnnfAABONqY

I used to buy loads of these for work years ago as they were cool (silk mix) and washed well, and they had some beautiful colours and prints. They don't make that style any more but there will be lots of Vinted and eBay.

I do feel your pain though. I love that Deane broderie top but it's out of my price range. I've had some lovely broderie tops from New Look in the past actually.

@minipie's suggestion of La Redoute is good too though. And I quite like those Maison Hotel ones suggested by someone else upthread, although again the prices are more than I would spend.

The Ravenna is nice - I think I had one years ago, in red.

I’ve got a Boden order on the way - I’ll report back.

Came to suggest this! I have something similar and wear it over a plain vest or t shirt and jeans/trousers, and it immediately lifts the whole outfit.

I’ve bought quite a few nice blouses/tops from Brakeburn this spring. One has puffed sleeves and one is sleeveless but the others have plain sleeves. I wear them with jeans and chinos. I’ve also bought a pair of their jeans and also a very nice sweatshirt. Really happy with the quality too.

Hope that one of the suggestions works for you, in addition to the silk shirts which I think can be worn all year round.

As for your seven things to avoid, all perfectly valid. I'd call it having a sense of style, something sadly lacking in far too many people in the UK.

I have two of those kimonos. I wear them over black slim ankle grazer trousers and black vest top. Or a satin dress/skirt. Much nicer outfits than the poor model is suffering!