Ask Angie: polo tops - YouLookFab Forum

A few years ago I bought this madewell crochet polo top (exact item pictured below). I love the texture of crochet or open work in summer. However I have never been able to get this top to work on me!

On my body it is shorter than on the model, and it kind of inches its way up around my shoulders when I wear it, becoming quite cropped in front while the polo neck finds itself quite far back, so it looks like a v neck. I’ve tried mixing it with leather pants for textural interest, throwing it over a slim black dress for coverage, etc etc. but somehow it looks sloppy, sloppy, sloppy.
It has no buttons or fastenings on the placket.

In general I prefer a trim, neat, high neck. Like Angie I have short hair and a long neck. Is this just the wrong neckline for me? I see polo necks are trending… can this one be redeemed?

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1 year ago

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

The more I look at the photos on the model, the more I wonder if I deformed or shrank it in the wash.. it is much shorter and boxier on me! Maybe it’s the boobs?

I would take a try-on pic, but it’s stored in an inaccessible place for the off season..

Karie

This style never seems to work well on me either, but I don’t think it’s because of my short hair and long neck, I think it has more to do with the cropped, boxy fit.
It sounds like something may have happened to yours in the wash. If it’s creeping up in the shoulders that would be too annoying to me and I wouldn’t keep it. It is cute, though.

kkards

Well for what it’s worth, I don’t think it fits the model very well either. It appears to be significantly longer in the front (see the half tuck photo) and pretty short in the back….which makes me wonder if they posed it that way because it kept slipping backwards on the model

RobinF

Cute top! I have a polo like that that pulls toward the back and I am always pulling it back in place - drives me crazy. Could just be a problem with the style.

Runcarla

What kkards wrote. It looks like the model has it anchored at the front with a semi tuck. Probably to hold it down and keep it from slipping back - as you have found to be a problem. Probably not something that is fixable…

Irina

Probably the back part is heavier than the front and it pulls it under its weight. I don’t think anything can be done unless you wear it tucked in.

Suz

It's because it does not have set in sleeve and it has a loose, boxy fit.

A traditional classic polo with set in sleeve would stay up. The neckline would flatter short hair/ long neck, but you might or might not like the style -- it would appear classic/ preppy and would. need to be juxtaposed to more unusual items to work for your style.

This is a really fun, pretty top, but the kind I run from as fast as I can for exactly this reason. For me, the fuss factor would be the kiss of death. My shoulder line is square -- but my bone structure is small and the shoulder area is not broad. And my bust is relatively small. So tops like this will slip and slide all over the place.

Other tops that I have to watch -- wide boat necks without set in sleeves. I love the look of a boat neck but if the neckline is too wide or the sleeve is not neat, it won't work. It will look nice if I'm standing still (i.e. it will flatter well enough) but it will drive me bananas.

This is also why I need to watch all the oversize looks very very carefully. I love a batwing, a dropped shoulder, etc. etc. and some of these styles can indeed work well on me -- but I have to be super careful about the details of fit.

Helena

I really like it, but it doesn't sound like it's a comfortable fit for you, so I'd say perhaps it's time to part ways ... unless as others note a semi-tuck would work for you ...

Angie

Fashion Stylist

What Suz said, Jessikams. The boxy fit and grown-on sleeves make the top do what it's doing. I know exactly what you mean about it riding back. It's so annoying! I'm not sure I can help you prevent it though. It may have shrunk too. Probably a pass on.

My own polos stay perfectly put because of the structured shoulders and sleeves. They are all fluid fits, but have structure in the right places.

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Thanks so much tribe! I am especially glad to hear from Angie and Suz, fellow pixie gals know how the hair really changes the effect of the neckline.

Time to pass on. I love the texture of the crochet, but I have a few other pieces that are similar. Next!

phoebe

Active Member

Maybe add a single loop and button closure at the base of the collar?

You could safety pin it first to see if that would work, it could be the top is so unbalanced it will ride back anyway and a closure might cause a new problem, for example, a rippling placket

Sal

It's a nice top - I can see the appeal. But tops that never sit right are just not worth the hassle.

I have to be careful with boxy tops - I find them a hard fit!

April

Can one of us explain what a "set in sleeve" is?

Liz

a set-in sleeve is when the sleeve formed from a separate piece of fabric and is sewn to the garment at the shoulder.

VioletMyra

Suz made a valid point when she mentioned "
Other tops that I have to watch -- wide boat necks" . . . when I look at your pic #1 I can see that the NL is wide and the collar does not sit close to the model's neck. (Reshaping the neckline on the shoulders is an adjustment I often have to make when I'm garment sewing.) Even with a heavier front the garment will probably still slide to the back. Best wishes to all.

Zaeobi

I was going to suggest tucking in the collar & seeing if that changes the look any, but I think you made the right call to pass it on - it may work for others, but 'fussy' is not a word that I naturally associate with your style. Onwards & upwards!

Yes I’ve tried tucking the collar, pinning or tying it, wearing it backwards— no luck! Too bad.

Janet

That is such a cute top, but I totally get it — it’s very annoying to have to adjust a top that constantly slips back.

anchie

I totally understand, I hate fussing with my clothes, I think you should pass it on. This combination of shape and v neck is not the best, I can see why it is riding up.

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