Thanks to a tip from Dianthus, I've made a bit of progress (I hope) in my ongoing and seemingly never-ending search for woven summer tops. All purchased at sale prices. Some I know I'm keeping, and some are K/R.

I also have some shorts/clams up for review.

My apologies in advance for the iffy quality of the pics. Not to mention the end of day exhaustion apparent on my sad visage. I have had a long few days of it at work and more to come.

#1 an ink blue top from Mexx. (They called it black, but it is not.) It may be a bit short to wear with pants (though they call it a tunic -- whatever....) but I am keeping it anyway. I hope that's not crazy of me. I rather like the shape of it and that narrow V neckline. I can always tuck it if you think that would work better. Let me know. I have no aversion to the tuck.

#2 also keeping. The collar does not always stand that way; I was rushing. It can be worn unbelted as well, or tucked.

#3 White twist front top from BR. Keeping. (It may not be brilliant but it fills a need).

#4 Short sleeve cobalt top. I am of two minds about this. The sleeves are weird. IRL the gathered waist actually looks quite flattering, and hubs commented that he loved it. Here I look very washed out, but I think that is a function of the light, not a reflection of reality.

Also, the shorts. I am not sure. You can be brutal.

#5 Side view

#6 Back view of shorts. I think I see some VPL but it might be shadow. In any case, if it's there, I can remedy it; I was wearing a very old and not very good pair of undies. Top is lifted up to expose bum region. It's actually longer in back, as you can tell from the side view.

#7/8 Another top - one of those ones with a wide band at the bottom and sort of bloused waist. The trouble with these is that you need to be wearing something with a flat front. Hubs and daughter were unsure about the colours on me, which confused me a bit since normally I look good in these colours! So maybe it is really the pattern they are reacting to? The top actually feels quite nice.

#9 Turquoise version of the "tunic" in #1. I am of two minds. It looked really good in the store. It doesn't seem so great to me here.

#10 BR denim shirt. Fits loose but is meant to, I believe. Wearing with cropped pants that I could chop to clams. Except now that I have them at home I realize I have very few tops to wear with them and in addition, the feel funny when they are rolled (i.e. they stick to my calves, don't drape properly) and I don't think cutting them off will necessarily work.

#11 Bonus Max.

Frank opinions desired, please.

And thanks to Dianthus for the tip!! Even if I only keep a couple of these, I am WAY ahead of where I was a few weeks ago in the top department!!

By the way, if you have made it to the end of this endless post, do I need different footwear with some of these tops? I wasn't really "styling" here and just happened to have these on, but I am curious to what degree they work or don't work. It's relevant to packing later this month.