Ask Angie: How to identify dressier knits - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: How to identify dressier knits

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Hi Angie,

Today my question is about dressier knit/cotton tops. I would like my style to be Comfortably Dressy, and I need to add more comfortable tops to my wardrobe that offer the comfort of a t-shirt but look more like a blouse.

However, I need to be sure that I understand what 'dressier' tshirts are first. Many Fabbers have recommended silk tees and I will try to find these.

As per my understanding, dressier tees have prints or other detailings like ruchings, puffed sleeves or metallic shoulder detailing, with a better drape. I don't think stripes and checks are dressy. But I think floral prints and other small prints, including polka dots and animal prints, are dressy. Am I correct?

Could you please also show me a few examples of dressy tees so I know exactly what to look for?

Thank you in advance. Have a great day!

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Maneera

Melaine

(website)

Good topic! I will be watching this thread

Meredith

Veteran

Hmmm. I wouldn't say a shirt with a print, ruching, puffed sleeves, or applied details is necessarily dressier. Those elements certainly add visual interest, but they can still be casual and they might make your look feel too girly or fussy (your style reads more streamlined feminine than frilly to me). I think great fabrics and good drape and fit are the key. I'll look for some examples.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Not Angie -- but I would say it is fabrication and cut more than details such as print, ruching, puffed sleeves, etc. that make a top qualify as dressy. The latter may make it look dressy -- or they may merely make it look overly feminine (as Meredith said) or dated. Stripes and checks are not inherently casual in a dressy fabrication. But if they don't work for your style or you don't care for geometric patterns, rule them out, of course.

Woven fabrics always read as slightly more structured and dressier than knits. But wovens are less comfortable for work at home or casual activities (for some people -- and depending on the work and the climate).

Also consider trying to meet in the middle, as someone said yesterday. A piece I own that is (for me) an example:

A black knit peplum top. The shape makes it dressy and feminine. The colour (black) makes it cross easily from dressy to casual. The knit makes it comfy. (Though it is too warm for my high summer except on the coolest nights, it does work cross seasonally and can be layered over a silk blouse for a different look.)

The VC knit pencil skirts are another example -- "dressy" silhouette, but casual fabrication. Some of them have patterns and the patterns read differently depending what they are paired with. Mo has some great examples of her own tube skirt (striped) worn dressy and casual.

Meredith

Veteran

Oops, didn't notice that you directed the question to Angie! Looking forward to reading her thoughts. I'm on my phone, so finds are hard, but I just thought I'd show you this example of something that has lots of visual detail, but isn't dressy at all. I think looking for special details is good, but you have to ask yourself if the overall appearance is refined.

http://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/.....seUrl=Tops

Dee

Veteran

More than 3/4 of my tops are knits, of varying dressiness. I don't think you need to have ruching or puffed sleeves to be considered dressy. Fabrication and silhouette matter most, in my opinion. Silk is always lovely but I have some nice cotton tees that skim the body in cuts that drape well. They are very different than a fitted crew-neck tee. Some of my knits do have a pattern or an added detail (one has lace trim on the bottom, for example) but that's only part of what makes them dressy or not. And I don't necessarily find some patterns to be dressier than others. It depends on the styling.

Liz

Veteran

To me, the difference between a plain t-shirt and a "real" knit top comes more from cut and fabric than prints or embellishments. I am wearing a black knit top today. No embellishment of any sort, but the structured neckline, smooth knit fabric, and shaped silhouette make it a stand-alone knit top that completes an outfit -- it is definitely not a t-shirt.

Also, what feels polished, "dressy," and pulled-together to you will be different than what feels that way to someone else.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Thanks everyone. Your answers do clarify that a dressier top doesn't necessarily have to be fussy. Meredith, your visual really really helped. I can see pleats and details on that top but it's too boho/casual for my style. Great example. Thanks so much.

Suz, your example of peplum cuts are great. They happen to be one of my favourite styles and I do have a few peplum knits. They are comfy and dressy, I agree. But I need more options or my wardrobe wil have ONLY peplums. Not so much fun then.

All of you (Suz, Liz, Dee) are inherently saying the same thing - fit, drape and cut. But unless I see a visual of WHAT cut and drape you're talking about (baring peplum), I cannot understand what you mean.

What cuts are dressier? I do have a dressier high low hem top that has rich print and silk fabrication and i also have a high low knit top in stripes that reads casual. They both have the SAME cut; only fabrication differs. So which cuts are inherently dressier?

I'll need to find visuals because they explain it best I think. Like Meredith just proved that the detailings I mentioned can be casual.

Daria

Maneera, this is an excellent question! Suz and other ladies already covered most aspects I believe, just wanted to add that sometimes little details make a simple shirt look a bit dressier - see examples below.

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Women's Petite Jersey Pintuck Tank Top

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Anonymous

Here is a dressier knit.
I also tend to think of cowl necks and boat necks as being dressier than the basic crew or v-neck. But that's just my eyes.
As well, asymmetric necklines, asymmetric hemlines are a touch dressier than their symmetric counterpart (I think).
And yes, detailing *can* make something dressier, IMO.
But if you want structure, it's easier to get that with woven tops, IMO.

Banana Republic

Flounce-Hem Tank

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Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Thanks a ton Daria and Smittie. These examples definitely help and are in sync with what I already stated I call 'dressier knits'. I also agree that necklines and hems can make a difference that's visually more interesting without compromising on comfort.

I do agree that woven fabrics are more structured. Honestly, I do not mind woven cotton fabric. I usually buy cotton blouses, shirts and tunics and get them fitted at the waist to get a great fit. They are still comfortable for all day wear.

But if I have to compare, knits ARE more comfortable. Even the cotton woven tops with some stretch added (like shirts) are stiffer and can feel stuffier on really warm, humid days.

abc

Veteran

I am lazy and if given a choice will reach for a knit every time over a woven.

A couple of things stick out to me when I think about how I have upped my casual game.

I pretty much use the same shirts over and over now and I think it is bc they have what you're looking for - a little nicer fabric, better drape, and overall a little something over just a plain tee.

Also I will add some of mine are linen and they do the trick nicely. Some also have a slight metallic sheen.

Here are some finds of what I actually own and am talking about. Wearing the rain rain shirt today actually.

Banana Republic

"Rain" Graphic Tee

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1

Banana Republic

Perforated Mesh Top

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3

Banana Republic

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6

White House Black Market

Dot Knit Peplum Top

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1

Women's Linen-Blend Shirts

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1

NYDJ Henley Blouse (Regular & Petite)

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5

abc

Veteran

Will try to add more finds later. Hard on iPhone!

Jeweled

Veteran

One thing that I think is important for a dressier knit is how well it looks after a few washings.

If the fabric is pilling, nothing is going to make that top look dressy again.

If the fabric shrinks, bags out of shape, etc. then it's also not going to look dressy anymore.

I've had the best success with knits that combine cotton with a bit of spandex - the fabric has a nice hand, a smooth look, holds its original shape, is usually very durable - and still looks great after many washings.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Thanks abc. I like your suggestions. I already have tops like these. And I do agree, they're great. I love cotton and linen in summer too.

Aida

Veteran

In addition to all the great tips already listed, there are two main ones that I look for. The first is the weight of the fabric; a heavier OR more dense/long fiber is going to drape better and look more luscious. It'll also read less like a stiff cotton tee. The second are those devilish little details, such as the actual sleeve shape or the knit along the neckline.

Compare, say, a plain cotton tee (#1) with a silk tee (#2) or a lacey, drapey batwing tee (#3).

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Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Thanks Aida. Really helpful! I agree there....I do intend to pay closer attention to neck and sleeve detailing.

Joy

Veteran

To me a silk tee is not a knit but woven, although there are silk knits. A dressy tee usually has the shoulder seam right on the shoulder or slightly in, while a casual tee often has seams past and over the shoulder,thus having less structure.

Ted Baker London 'Priddyy Cascading Flora' Top

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Ted Baker Tee - Akio Print

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Joie Tristabelle Pleated Silk Tee

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Wilfred cyprès blouse

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Gridstroke Tabbed Dolman Blouse

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4

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Joy, you're a genius! That's a great way to segregate casual and dressier tops and I hadn't thought of it before!

I agree, silk tees are wovens not knits. Maybe that's why I got so confused. I didir Google research yesterday and clarified that bit. I also checked all labels in my closet and found I already have 4-5 of those, along with rayon and polyester blended with cotton and spandex. All of these do fit better.

This, along with other some very good ideas above, definitely answers my question.

Thanks a lot, ladies.