Here are 25 casual and dressy Summer tops that have been winners with my clients this season. All tried and tested. Be sure to look at all the colours, and all the size options because some items are available in plus, petite, tall and regular sizes. 

• Perfect Shirt in Linen: If you can make peace with the crease, try this shirt. The sleeves scrunch perfectly and I can’t rave enough about the loose and carefree fit. Warning: the pink is neon, which is why I love to wear it, but it might not be your cup of tea. 
• Pom-Pom Shell: If I was going to add a sleeveless blouse to my wardrobe for Summer, it would be this style in citron. It’s lined and gorgeously retro.
• Foxcroft Leopard Print Shaped Shirt (Plus): A brilliant tailored shape. It works well on a larger bust line so don’t let the breast pockets put you off. Also available in brown. 
• Bellatrix Sheer Print Shirt: An attractive pattern in mauve and orange, and even more rich in person. You’ll just have to take a peek. 
• Pleione Split Neck Roll Sleeve Mixed Media Top: Lightweight, does not require a camisole, forgiving, covered and made of both a woven and knit. Great assortment of colours. 
• Vince Camuto Placed Pattern Peasant Blouse: Fun abstract pattern. Boxy, romantic and fabulous. You’ll be surprised at how well this blouse works on a full bust line. 
• Travelers Classic Zebra Sierra Top: Amazing in both regular and plus sizes because asymmetrical hemlines can be very attractive. Crease-resistant. 
• Pleione Dolman Sleeve Print Top with Banded Hem: Kimono-esque, pretty and quite alluring. 
• Travelers Classic Zebra Print Lindsay Top: Also amazing in both regular and plus sizes. Cold shouldered, very bold and eye-catching. Trust me, it looks better in person than in the photo. Also available in black. 
• Bobeau Stripe Roll Sleeve Top: A classic. The substantial weight of the fabric ensures a good drape. The rust and white striped version is available in stores. 
• Vince Shimmering Silk Dolman Top: A stunningly simple and crisp modern classic that can be dressed up or down. 
• Elie Tahari ‘Marney’ Drop Hem Silk Blouse: My client launched me into orbit when she tried this one on. Modern relaxed elegance.
• Silk Safari Tank: Easy breezy. 
• White Circle-Lace Shell: A pretty little retro darling. Great on it’s own or layered under a jacket. 
• White Twist Front Shirt: Waist defining and forgiving at the same time. Perfect over tapered Bermuda shorts. No camisole required. 
• Linen Cotton Chambray Shirt: Classic and divine. The colours are mouth wateringly fresh. 
• Floral Pintuck Drop Waist Top: Great for the office over a pencil skirt. No jacket required. 
• Ruffle-Front Blouse: Romantic, ventilating and flirty. 
• Femme Back Zip Shell: This may look like a boring shell, but it’s so lovely. It has an interesting side seam and hem detail when worn un-tucked. I vote green. Simple tops can look best. Great layering piece for the office. 
• Asymmetrical Pleated Front Print Top: Another simple top that looks better in person than in the photo. Great sleeve length. 
• Striped Cotton Three Quarter Sleeve Tee: This is what I call a feminine rugby stripe. 
• Madewell Lookout Pullover: Ventilating and covered fabness. Also available in black. 
• Free People Polka Dot Easy Rider Button Up: Nice high-low blouse in a festive polka dot. Oversized, yet collapses back onto the body. 
• Type Z Daina Blouse: Bright, boxy and happy. 
• Organza Peony Top: Very pretty, both on it’s own and as a layering piece. Dress it up or down.  

Although there is still a shortage of sleeved tops in stores at the moment, it’s a GREAT improvement on last year. Feel free to share your fabulous Summer top finds in the comments section below and add onto the list.

You are on Team Hunt if you enjoy the hunt for the perfect wardrobe item as much or more than actually wearing it. The process of searching for items, the actual shopping experience, finding a bargain, stalking the item until it’s been marked down, or discovering an exclusive hidden gem, can be as enjoyable as sporting your new treasure. You are on Team Wear if the very best part about the item is wearing it and feeling fabulous while doing so. 

This is an easy one for me. As much as I love the shopping process, NOTHING about the hunt can compare to the enjoyment that I gain from wearing the item. It’s not even close. I can’t wait to wear my new stuff, and will wear an item straight out of the shop, the same evening, or the next day if it’s weather and occasion appropriate. If the process by which the item was acquired is particularly meaningful or sentimental, it will merely make wearing the item extra special. I am Team Wear all the way.

Over to you. Are you Team Hunt or Team Wear? Remember that you are on Team Hunt if you enjoy the process of acquiring wardrobe items as much as wearing them. No batting for both sides.

There are many levels of denim distress, from slight fading and fraying, to rips and tears and everything in-between. Each level of distress creates a particular look. I want to talk about the different levels and hear about your preferences. 

I love faded blue jeans and wear these worn denim darlings quite a bit. In fact, I bat for Team Faded Jeans and these days prefer a medium and light wash to dark denim, especially for Spring and Summer. 

I enjoy the look of a deliberate fray on the hem of denim shorts, tapered bermudas and clamdiggers. There is something about frayed denim hems that remind me of my carefree ’70s childhood, and that makes me smile.

Although I don’t personally wear this amount of distress, I also like the look of light denim that is gently shredded. But not to the extent that it has created a skin exposing hole.

Then there’s the type of denim that is distressed to the extreme, with deliberate rips, tears and holes. The look has been around for decades and is still making a fashion statement. To some extent, it’s considered extremely cool to wear denim with holes and tears. Sometimes the rips and tears are created over time by the wearer, which makes them even more cool.  And sometimes, brand new denim is purchased with ready-to-go rips and holes.

I have never worn jeans with holes, rips and tears because the look does not pull at my heart strings. Not when I was a child, teen, young adult, or even right now as a grown up adult. I don’t bat for Team RATE (Rough Around the Edges), so I guess this makes sense. 

That said, I can appreciate a torn jeans look on others in small doses, especially on those with a RATE style and youth on their side. There is something about the rugged workwear vibe that is appealing, much like how I find the look of the original workwear Dr. Marten boot appealing. However, I’m not fond of torn up, skin-baring jeans that are shredded and ripped all over on any age. But the odd tear at the knee or lower thigh, as shown in the photos here look fine to my eye. 

Although I don’t wear hectically distressed denim myself, my threshold for the look on others is quite high. How does yours  compare? Do you wear ripped jeans as a style statement?  Do torn jeans look cool? If so, when do ripped jeans look cool, and when do they look un-cool? Or do torn jeans look awful no matter who wears them, or how they are styled. Is very distressed denim age-appropriate for all ages when it is worn as a style statement?

The Double Take DVD in our store contains both versions of romantic caper The Thomas Crown Affair. In the 1968 original — with lots of split screen scenes – the always cool and composed millionaire Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen) is robbing banks for kicks. Pretty soon sassy insurance investigator Vicki Anderson (Faye Dunaway) is hot on his trail, determined to get her man no matter what. In the 1999 remake debonair Mr. Crown (Pierce Brosnan) strikes again. This time he specializes in art theft, stealing a valuable Monet from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in broad daylight. When self-assured investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) enters the scene, the two quickly become involved in a seductive game of cat-and-mouse, in which both players equally enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

I loved the remake when it first came out, but must confess it was Rene Russo’s movie wardrobe that really made the film for me. I’ve always wondered how Faye Dunaway dressed in the original, so last week I watched the two movies back-to-back for a spot of outfit comparison. Fun!

Both enterprising ladies favour a soft, neutral colour palette and rock their oversized sunglasses, but that’s where the similarities end. We are treated to two very different wardrobes and style personas indeed. Vicki sports a flirty and mod look, very much in keeping with the times. She accentuates her features with heavy black eyeliner and false lashes. Her skirt suits are short, with sweet pleated minis, fab belted jackets and hosiery in matching colours. Beautiful patterned blouses, lots of cream and pastels, and large clip-on earrings are all part of her daytime look. So is her long, blond hair that is often arranged into elaborately braided chignons, very sophisticated sixties. And my word, it’s impossible not to fall in love with her delightful low-heeled retro pumps and absolutely stunning hat collection.

Catherine, on the other hand, is the epitome of classic elegance. She wears high necklines and covered up styles that are super alluring. (Big exception: the all-revealing black dress in the seduction scene.) Luxurious fabrics, tons of textural interest and perfect fit are her trademarks. Miss Banning goes about her day in tweed pantsuits with wide-legged trousers, chunky cashmere sweaters that never look bulky, and dons cognac and camel coats for extra warmth. There’s also room in her closet for beautiful suede and leather pieces. My heart beats faster just thinking about all her amazing midi sheath dresses and pencil skirts. She keeps the accessories to a minimum, but finishes off her evening look with pearl necklaces, apricot lipstick and subtly shimmery eyeshadow in gold tones that play up her stunning shoulder length red bob. 

Both leading ladies have a killer wardrobe, but I’m Team Catherine Banning all the way. After all, a woman who turns up for her first day on the job wearing a fantastic three-piece pinstriped skirt suit with a bustier in lieu of the traditional waistcoat is a lass after my own heart! 

What is your favourite Vicki or Catherine outfit? And if you’ve seen both film versions, would you rather borrow clothes from Miss Anderson’s or Miss Banning’s closet?