Ask Angie (and forum): Floaty 70s glam tops - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Ask Angie (and forum): Floaty 70s glam tops

Kari

Veteran

At the YLF Seattle meetup today, Angie was kind enough to take some time and show me what I should look for in tops that could create a glam (and not boho) 70's vibe with my outfits. I swung by Anthropologie to try on tops that fit the criteria that Angie had suggested - floaty, silky tops with a very soft drape, not too stiff, not too voluminous in the sleeve area.

What do you think - any worth taking home in this group? Keep in mind - the bottom half of the outfit is simply what I happened to be wearing already that day, not what I would actually wear with any of these tops.

The last top is not floaty or voluminous, but was just tried on with the rest.

I think there *might* be a few viable options in the group, and I'll chime in with my opinions later. (We're about to head out to dinner, and I keep changing my mind on what I think about the tops I like - there are some in the group that I'm really not crazy about at all, and others that I think could work.) I also took one top home just to try it on with my outfits and think about it.

This post has 12 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from lyn67

Sheila

Veteran

Hi Kari, good to see you today! My favorite on you is #7/8...I actually love #9/10 so much and thought long and hard about trying it on but as I said to you while walking around with Angie, I was not on a buying trip.

Best of luck in making this decision. How super to get in-person advice from Angie!

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

How do you feel about 5, 7 and 12? Lots of options here. The only thing I don't like is the cap sleeves in 1.

MNsara

Veteran

First, I LOVE your hair, Kari! So cute and flattering!
Second, I think #11/12 is extremely flattering as you were made for that cowl neckl!
But I am smitten with you in #3/4 because you and that citron are beautiful together.
#7/8 is a very pretty top, and has a very nice floaty element.

They are each so different that I'm dying to hear what you think and why. . .

Lisa

Veteran

1/2-Ok but not wow, return.
3/4-Like the drape, but the color can't compare to the next one, return.
5/6-Great color, love the drape, looks like a fun top and a departure from your usual style, keep.
7/8-Very pretty print and colors, like the drape, and I don't recall seeing you in many printed tops, keep.
9/10-Ok, would like more prints or smaller print on you, return.
11/12-Great print, nice fit too, again liking you in prints here, keep.

Misia

Veteran

I`m voting for 1, 3,9 and 11! As you can see I like you better in fitted tops, lol

Heather

Veteran

Kari, I am swooning over 3/4, 7/8 and 9/10 on you!!!!! I can't wait to see your own thoughts.

Anonymous

My favorites are 9/10 and 7/8. I think it's because the sleeves are longer, as well a beautiful prints. However, I like something about each of them. 1/2 is my least favorite but I could see you wearing it layered under a jacket. Both greens are fab colors on you too. I'm not much help.

Isis

Veteran

LOVE 3,4: the color, the drape, the detail at the neck. Wow!

A close second 7,8: great print, wonderful drape.

It'll be fun to hear your thoughts!

Reneeb

Veteran

I love the color of 3/4 and it does have that glam look that you want and I think 7/8 would be my second choice. But 9/10 and 11/12 fit you great but I don't know if that is the look you are after. BTW your hair looks pretty. Good luck.

Ginkgo

Veteran

My favorites on you are 3/4 and 11/12. The green is gorgeous with your hair and complexion.

MsMary

Veteran

You must keep 7/8 and wear it next Friday for the art inspiration challenge!

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I didn't read the others because i didn't want to be influenced.

My favorites are the ones in 3/4 and 11/12. The first one drapes beautifully and is a great length. I would roll the sleeves a touch wider so they stay a bit higher on the arm but other than that, I love it. I like everything about the cut of 11/12 and the pattern/color is very flattering.

catgirl

Veteran

I love 7/8 - it is beautiful and different from your usual choices, but still suits you perfectly. Also love 9/10 and 11/12 for the fit, and I think the funkier prints will give you some of the change you've been craving.

I'm not as crazy about the others. I read about the green top (which I considered in red) and the reviews said it was somewhat difficult to wear as it required a cami which defeated the point of a light summer top. Don't know if you agree, but something to think about.

So glad you are stepping out and trying some new styles! Your hair looks fab.

san

Veteran

You always look fabulous. You are a true style inspiration.

Sharon

Veteran

LOVE 3/4! The colour is spectacular on you, it is a nice length, it looks suitably "floaty" and the cut-out around the neck area gives it a retro look to my eye. I can imagine this looking amazing over flares or boot cuts.

rute

Veteran

Love 4, 5 and 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the way they fall on your body and the volume!
Love boho influences! I'm learning also with your post

lynne

Veteran

3/4 looks amazing on you!

Evie

11/12 is simply perfect! 7/8 is my favorite from "floaty and voluminous" group.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You are an extremely fast learner

They *all* work, Kari. WELL DONE!! And thanks for taking the time to experiment with the ideas of our discussion. I think it helped that I could point to tops and suggest "yes, no, maybe".

#3, 5, 7 & 9 = KILLER.

And KILLER do too

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

7, 9 and 11 are my faves. Some lovely options Kari!!

Kate

Veteran

Kari, I can't wait to hear what you think!

While reading the responses I realized just how awful of a judge of floaty tops I am. And sleeves. I like tops to be a close fit, and so the only one of these tops I truly liked is 1/2, and I like those sleeves because they're longer than cap sleeves and the hem of the sleeve is parallel to the ground instead of being curvy (like in 5/6). Every time I go to anthro I grab just about every top in my size and color from the sales area in order to push myself to try something new, and most times I don't like any of them on me because they're too flowy/boho/romantic. Even if I'm sure some would get the YLF thumbs up, I just don't feel comfortable in tops that aren't fitted/structured/tailored. On the bright side, it makes it a lot easier to keep my anthro spending in check when so few of their tops feel right on me.

It's hard to know when to push myself and when something just isn't "me" (and will be a waste of money because I won't wear it), and so I commend you for embracing Angie's challenge head-on!

Kari

Veteran

Thank you all for stepping in with your feedback. The responses are interesting - some observations that I hadn't made, and some similarities to my own thoughts in the dressing room. I'm also thinking a bit differently about some of these outfits after looking at the photos vs. seeing them in the mirror in the dressing room.

Here are my own observations:

#1-2 - I did not like the sleeve length or puffiness, and the top didn't drape quite as nicely on me as I was hoping it would.
#3-4 - I liked the color better than I anticipated. In the dressing room, I felt like something was off about the cut of the sleeve, and I couldn't put my finger on it. Now, looking at the photos, I like this top a lot (especially the pretty neckline) and am tempted to go back for a second try, and potentially stalk the top to see if it goes on sale later.
#5-6 - loved the color, but hated the cut. It was too tight on my breasts relative to the volume in the waist, and sizing up didn't really help (because it still was hanging straight down from my chest, making me look uniformly as wide as the biggest part of my body.) I think this blouse is better suited to someone who is not very busty.
#7-8 - LOVED the color and print, and the top moves very well. I'd almost say that it looks better in person when I'm in motion than it does in a photo. This is the one that I took home to try out.
#9-10 - I really like the cut, and this would be a great top to wear with skirts. I'm torn on the print. It's a bit different for me. This top was the most expensive of the bunch, so I did not take it home. I'm going to think about it and stalk the top online to see if it possibly comes down in price eventually.
#11-12 - I adore the pattern and the colors. It's not the cut that Angie was talking about - not a 70's style top, really - but it's another top that I'm going to stalk and see if it goes on sale.

Kari

Veteran

And to continue my very long comment:

As I mentioned earlier, I took #7-8 home to try out. I showed it to my mom (I only had Gap Long & Lean bootcut jeans and a borrowed black camisole to try out with the top.) She loved the colors & pattern, and loved the way that the top moves on me. However, she did mention some hesitations about the cut, because it could potentially make me look bigger than I am in the torso area, and suggested that it might look better belted or cut closer to my body. That expresses my hesitations exactly with voluminous tops. I don't want to look as wide as the widest part of my body. I'm tempted to return to Anthropologie and try on this blouse in a smaller size to see if that solves any of the issues with the cut.

It's also possible that the issue is that I was wearing the top with bootcut jeans - perhaps it's better suited to skinnies, or even the pencil skirt I was trying it out with yesterday (I actually kind of like the look, even though it's not the bottom that I intended to wear it with.)

It is a pretty expensive blouse and I don't want to buy something that costs this much unless I absolutely 100% love it. I'm waffling.

Angie, thank you *very* much for taking the time to show me some concrete, in person suggestions for what to try and what to avoid. It was incredibly helpful and somehow a switch was flipped in my head - I don't exactly have this look down pat, but I have *much* better idea about what to look for. I was so bummed that I didn't have more time to spend shopping with you and the group! I had such a great time, and really appreciate your advice and encouragement to try something different.

Kappy

Veteran

Not looking at any replies yet: I think #5/#6 has too much volume in the body. I love #1/#2 on you, but I don't think it has a 70's vibe if that is important to you. #7/#8 has a real 70's vibe and it looks great even though the sleeves are voluminous; I think because it fits so well in the shoulders and neckline. I love #9/#10 but I've always loved prints with a black background. I also love #11/#12 on you but it doesn't seem 70's to me at all.

Kari

Veteran

Kappy, when you go back to look at the replies (and my comments at the bottom of the thread), you'll see that you almost exactly echo my thoughts. Thanks for chiming in!

Marley

Veteran

Sounds like you've got the tops sorted - my favorites were 3 and 7! Way to go for trying out something new. Also, I've just got to tell you that your hair is fantastic!

Kari

Veteran

Marley, thank you! (Oh, it's such a relief to have a fresh haircut... I let it go for *much* too long this time.)

Anonymous

I just wanted to add that I LOVE #9! I actually really like the print...and the cut is so perfect! Hope that you find this one on sale

lyn67

Veteran

Hi Kari, the last 2 are the best fit for you -photos(9-12). I actually like their colour and print, too.
Can I also suggest trying that fab white embroiderred blouse from the first picties..(or maybe that was your own shirt?)It seems to have a cleaner cut, and is so springy...:-)

12