YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned

YouLookFab Forum » Topic: Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:49:39 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php SarahD8 on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964554 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 23:01:40 +0000 SarahD8 1964554@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Barbara Diane, yes indeed — onwards! Angie, I have a very short torso and 7” is my mid-rise sweet spot — hits just above my hipbones and a shade below my bellybutton. At 8” or higher, pants are digging into my ribs when I’m sitting down, and/or sliding down to give me a saggy crotch when I’m standing up. Oh — I just re-read my previous post and realized it might have sounded like the need for 7” was temporary, like due to a medical condition or something. But I meant hard to find “right now” bc rises are trending higher. Angie on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964493 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 19:36:49 +0000 Angie 1964493@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ SarahD8, why do you need a seven inch front rise?  Barbara Diane on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964333 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 08:09:44 +0000 Barbara Diane 1964333@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ You have gotten a lot of information from this edit that will be useful buying tops from now on. SarahD8 on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964306 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 04:42:08 +0000 SarahD8 1964306@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Joy, I am delighted that you are interested in this top! You are absolutely right. It would look great as a summer topper with a tank and jeans. I *could* wear it that way...but I obviously *would* not, because I didn’t wear it once all summer. I am ready to pass it along. I will message you! Anonymous on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964282 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 03:04:41 +0000 Anonymous 1964282@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Sarah, you are brilliant in your editing and know yourself and preferences so well. The dragon top is so special. I would love it if you decide to let it go. As you know, I have a thing for dragon and oriental prints. Would you wear it as a summer topper with tank or sleeveless shell and jeans? SarahD8 on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964093 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:51:28 +0000 SarahD8 1964093@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ La Ped, yessss, I’ve been really drawn to silk tops lately too. I think it’s the combination of drapiness giving a relaxed vibe, and the luxe material lending a kind of structure. Have been mulling, but haven’t pulled the trigger because I haven’t yet been sure I’ve found the right one. Sterling I know right?? SO wise! SarahD8 on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964086 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:07:36 +0000 SarahD8 1964086@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Glad this was helpful and informative, Janet, cjh, and Colette. And thanks for the love for the dragon shirt! It is hard to let go of — you get it. Janet, yes, I think I’m a smaller size than you. Actually I’m remembering when this shirt came up last year Joy liked it. I will message her and offer it to her later today if she doesn’t happen by in the meantime. Angie, thank you! This feels like high praise! Good point about how tops interact with bottoms. I have identified the following needs so far: - Bottoms to wear with a couple of blue tops in my keep pile that I don’t like to wear with blue denim. Gray jeans would be great. The tops are too short to wear with my black ponte leggings. Which brings me to: - Long tunic tops (29-30”) to wear with black ponte leggings. Bottoms are hard for me to fit, especially right now as I need a 7” front rise. I don’t feel a need for trendy bottoms and am happy repeating the same bottoms often so that takes the pressure off a bit. Anonymous on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964085 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:07:14 +0000 Anonymous 1964085@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Thank you for sharing Chris987's comment.  I must have missed the post, but it is so true!!!!!!!!  I hadn't realized how true until I read it here.   LaPed on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964083 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 16:03:44 +0000 LaPed 1964083@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I've been examining my tops this fall, too. They're often the glue holding a whole outfit together, which makes them super tricky. I totally agree with you on textural contrast! Knit tops under blazers and structured jackets, woven tops under cardis and knit toppers. Silky tops are tricky because they can really go either way, structured or less structured, yet most of the time they don't give off the right vibe -- for me at least. And like Angie says, you need to pay attention to how they work with your bottoms as well. I always feel like tops (especially long sleeve ones for colder weather) are a missing puzzle piece. I have some that work but don't feel like "the one" -- either because they're too long to work with higher rises, too short to fully tuck, sleeves too bulky to layer well, etc etc. It's so important that tops cooperate with everything else. And yet, if you take off your jacket, it's really nice if they can stand alone too... So tricky. Angie on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964071 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 15:21:43 +0000 Angie 1964071@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ YOU ARE GOOD AT THIS. I'm impressed, SarahD8. We live in a similar climate and need neck insulation. I get it. I am always out in the elements and often wear a scarf. Scoop necks FTW for you. Try V-necks with scarves, maybe?  You need to look at your bottoms to get a better idea of which new tops to look for. And do you need a bottoms refresh?  Colette on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964042 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 14:08:32 +0000 Colette 1964042@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great analysis. Reading this is very helpful as I’m currently knee deep in editing. cjh on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964037 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:50:43 +0000 cjh 1964037@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Great explanations. I enjoyed reading this, and top in photo 4 also! Janet on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964027 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:29:36 +0000 Janet 1964027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Good reasons for all! Well done. I appreciate reading your analysis. I really like that top in pic 4. I'd offer to take it off your hands, but I suspect you are a smaller size than I am? SarahD8 on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1964022 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:06:29 +0000 SarahD8 1964022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Christina, exactly. Onward! Next! efbgen, I'm glad I'm not the only one who tends to hang on to those insight-sparking garments (and those perfect color ones!) for longer than is ideal. But, we are learning! Sterling, THANK YOU for your kind words. Hmm, how long did it take me? I'm not sure. The items that I don't have photos of had been in a holding zone for several months. I passed them along a few weeks ago when I did a big closet reorganization -- looking at them again it was clear that they needed to go and it was easy to move them along. I'm finding that a holding zone is a good strategy for me, if I keep it to a defined space. Once something has been in the holding zone for several months, it's much easier for me to detach from it. The other items I made a final decision on just yesterday. That was the result of noticing which tops I was drawn to wear as I got out my fall clothes, and which I wasn't. Also reading others' editing posts and just kind of absorbing the milieu of their edits. As for the why, it was a matter of thinking about how I felt when I wore those tops in the past vs. how I've felt in other outfits that made me happy, and trying to pinpoint the reasons for the difference. I didn't sit down for a defined time and hash it all out. It was more going on in the background, or I would glance at my tops as I passed by my closet and go, "hmmmm...." So on the one hand it took no time at all, and on the other it took hours and hours. That makes me think of Chris987's "reasons" post, where she said, "One of the things I've realized about why it's important to let stuff go is that while you still have them you are spending lots of time in tiny little chunks looking at and thinking about them." It's SO TRUE!!!! Anonymous on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1963996 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 11:17:52 +0000 Anonymous 1963996@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ OMG.  This was such an amazing read!!!!  So insightful.  Fascinating the amount of information that was learned.  May I ask how long it took you to assess your tops and assimilate this information?   I'm going to come back to this and study your results more thoroughly.  I feel you may have found the holy grail of closet edits/lessons learned.   Anonymous on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1963979 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 09:38:18 +0000 Anonymous 1963979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ Very thoughtful job. I love when people say they have aha moments about what suits them and learn what styles look and feel best. I totally get wanting to keep those “lessons learned” for posterity- lol. Don’t we all have a few of those in our closet. I too have morned the loss of items that were perfect in color or fit. I am guilty of hanging on to items like this far too long- so good job and a hug to help you get over it ( dang I love teal too) CHRISTINA nailed it though- now with lessons learned- onward and upward with decision making on tops. Christina F. on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1963917 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 02:05:41 +0000 Christina F. 1963917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I love how you've broken down your more global reasons for editing tops out. You'll now really be able to move forward and shop with those lessons in mind. Brava! SarahD8 on "Closet Edit Challenge: Tops edit & what I learned" https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/closet-edit-challenge-tops-edit-what-i-learned#post-1963899 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 01:41:10 +0000 SarahD8 1963899@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ I have mentioned several times (probably ad nauseam at this point) that tops are a weak link in my wardrobe. This is true across seasons. I think part of the problem is that I don’t really know what I’m looking for, particularly in the case of non-statement tops. I conducted a thorough review and edit of my tops capsule — primarily looking at cool season tops — with the aim of understanding exactly what details and qualities make tops work in my wardrobe. You will see below that my cull includes some items that were bought just this year — painful! Going forward, I hope this analysis will help me make fewer mistakes, and also more purchases (I tend to talk myself out of buying tops because I’m not confident that they’re right, and then, surprise! I don’t have enough tops). I have included a few photos but I don’t have pictures of all the tops I have recently culled because I had already passed them along before Angie issued her challenge. This is long, so I’ll abstract the lessons here: <ul> <li>No more “layering sweaters” and no welted hems</li> <li>Scoop necks or other openness at neckline - MUST</li> <li>Stay away from boho split-necks for cool seasons</li> <li>Vintage-y, but not too girly or sweet</li> <li>Especially for solids, look for details like pin tucks and texture</li> <li>Natural fibers</li> <li>Quality/construction is paramount</li> </ul> 1. Black layering sweater - Banana Republic / Thrifted / 2012? 2. Fuchsia layering sweater - Banana Republic / Thrifted / 2013? (Both sweaters are the same style but were thrifted at different times.) I have hemmed and hawed about “layering sweaters” (by which I mean, sweater-knit pullover tops that I wear under a cardigan) many times. Due to weight gain, these don’t fit as well as they used to, plus I’ve felt that I’m moving away from them style-wise. But I kept wondering whether I was *really* over the style, or just telling myself that because I didn’t want to admit that they no longer fit! These used to be an absolute staple in my wardrobe. But I think I’m less satisfied now by the color block-y effect that these tops often create in outfits. I want something both more subtle and more maximal (sounds like a contradiction but makes sense in my head). Also, I now prefer textural contrast between my top and topper, so woven tops (or if knit, a lighter-weight fabrication) work better. One thing I’m learning is that often when it’s hard for me to let go of something, it’s often because that item taught me something important about my style. Because that style insight is still true, it “seems” like the item should still work! But that’s not always the case. For these sweaters, the insights were: - A scoopneck is an ideal neckline for me. - When I wear knit pullovers, I prefer a non-welted hem (I find welted hems fussy). I still have 3 layering sweaters in my wardrobe, in colors (black, magenta-y purple, icy aqua) that fit my palette during the coldest time of the year, which is when I’m most likely to wear them. I do not need to accumulate any more. 3. Chambray popover tunic - Old Navy / Ebay / 2016? - photo 1 4. Black popover tunic - Old Navy / Retail / early 2018 - photo 2 I like boho-ish split-neck tops in summer, but I do not want to wear this style of top in cool seasons. They just don’t mesh well with the rest of my style. I need tops that skew more vintage-y rather than boho. Related: One of my outfit formulas for hot summer days is shorts or a skirt with a lightweight 3/4 sleeve woven top. Occasionally I will wear a long-sleeve top with sleeves rolled up in this formula, but mostly I prefer ones that are designed as 3/4 sleeves — it’s just simpler/cleaner/less fussy. Do not rationalize top purchases with the idea that they will be worn across seasons in this way. 5. Green silk/cotton popover - Loft / Ebay / Late 2017 - photo 3 Was trying to add more of this emerald green color to my wardrobe, but did not get the details right. The neckline is too high/tight — I need tops with some openness at the neckline. Also, rounded collar is too “sweet.” And I’m realizing it’s too “plain.” Especially for solid colored tops, I want them to have some kind of detail — pin tucks, textured fabric, etc. 6. Dragon shirt - Thrifted / 2010??? - photo 4 Works best as an outer layer, especially at my current weight, and I just am not likely to wear it that way. Plus, the color scheme is a bit off (too warm) for me. Love this piece in theory, but time to let it go! 7. Teal layering sweater - Banana Republic / Retail / 2010? I have a high tolerance for wear on my clothes but this was legit worn out — thin and stretched out. Very sad because it was absolutely the perfect shade of teal! 8. Blue/black knit top - August Silk / Ebay / early 2018 - photo 5 I like the blue/black mix and the Victorian-ish detail at the neckline, but the nylon mesh sleeves are simultaneously not warm enough and make me sweat. Gone! 9. Navy long sleeve tee - J. Crew / Retail / 2013? Too small, getting faded at the edges. 10. Medium-blue Breton tee with eyelet trim - Anthropologie / Retail / 2014? Weird cut (boxy torso, too-tight arms), and the side seams were sort of twisted around to the front so you could see that the stripes weren’t matched at the seams. Drove me crazy!