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Orphan skirt - what kind of tops should I look for?

Astrid

Veteran

This isn't really urgent, but my lovely COS skirt is on it's way to becoming a wardrobe oprhan. And that would be too bad, because I love the colors and pattern, it's well made and it fits well.

Problem is that the skirt is very high waisted, it actually ends at my natural waist. Tucking in doesn't work, it looks off to me. The pic below doesn't count, that one looks better than it does IRL. But I don't really have any tops I could leave untucked, I'm feeling frumpy when I try to pair it with my casual tanks and tees. Tucking and then wearing a jacket over it works sometimes, but this is a summer skirt (unlined cotton) that's meant to be worn when it's warm, so that's not the best solution.

What kind of top should I look for? I don't want to give up on this skirt.

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Dressing

26 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Anonymous

Maybe a banded top in a mid toned blue? Though I actually rather like pic 2.
I think you need a top where, as Angie might say, the structure is reigned in by a band then it would suit the flare of the skirt?

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Diane. Yes, that might work if the top is cropped enough. Pic #2 looks alright, but that was only the K/R post - that's a layering tank I don't wear on its own and it doesn't look as good IRL (and from all sides).

Anonymous

Yes I think the top would need to be a bit cropped. How about going for a proper short cropped top that finishes just a touch below where the band on the skirt comes and stands away from the body a little. Hasn't Angie shown some pictures like that? Not sure whether it was in a blog post.

lyn67

Veteran

Lovely skirt Astrid, I wouldn't give up on it, either! Picking out a colour from the skirt is no brain(black and white, too).
You could try one blousy /tailored (depending on the level of formality you want) woven short sleeve/sleeveless top/shirt/buttond down with a self string tie at the waist-(mean with gummizug or so, too?:-)))-or maybe belting it with a real belt? Kind of peplum. But lightweight.
Or a strechy/body con knitted tee to the hips, over the high waist?

lyn67

Veteran

Oh, and what about a breezy/kind of boxy-straight hem cropped to the waist woven something, leaving to peak out under it the high waist of the skirt?

ETA: Oh, I see this is same as Diane G suggested, I think:-)

Anonymous

Just had another idea, what about tying a shirt in a knot at your natural waist then you would still see the shape of the skirt. A light chambray colour would be fab.

lyn67

Veteran

Wow, love the knotted chambray ideea, too.(maybe with a cami under for contrast?)

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, a proper crop top might work too. I normally wouldn't buy one, but this skirt is so high that there would be no midriff showing. Although I couldn't do the short tee like ones that were in the stores everywhere, I think I want something that's a bit dressier.

Thanks Lyn. I haven't found a way to belt over my existing tops yet without it looking off. I think a top with waist definition or a belted top worn over the skirt would have to be shorter than most of my tops are when I leave them untucked.

ETA

Diane, I actually wore it mostly with my blue button down knotted in the waist so far! The one I wore recently with the wrap skirt. But one top isn't enough...

lyn67

Veteran

And what about this way of top/belting:
http://www.puttingmetogether.c.....-neon.html

Astrid

Veteran

Yes, that could maybe work. I've tried tucking and belting before, but not with a blousy top. Although I think there still might be too much skirt visible that way, even with the belt. Maybe it would be different if it were a pencil skirt.

Ornella

(website)

Veteran

I love this skirt, it looks great on you and it's worth working on the right top.

So, nothing smart to say at this point. I think I have to read through my entire thread about the proportions to understand this skirt on you, but even with things as shown here it works... perhaps reconsider your love/hate with tucking? I know what you mean though, but FWIW tucking in the high-waisted skirt on us pears is not the same as tucking in the high-waisted trousers.

How about denim jacket hitting the hipbone worn over tucked in top?

Anonymous

It's such a great skirt! I think the knotting suggestion is good, and also a boxy top that comes down just past the waistband.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

I'm struggling with some top/skirt combinations and proportions too Astrid so am watching this thread closely.

I like the idea of the knotted blouse and a light knit with a banded waist. Those are the suggestions that have been given to me for my fuller skirt and I'm going to try them.

As for colors, I think light and mid blues would look great.

Diana

Veteran

What about an open weave boxy summer sweater worn over the cami in the second photo?

Or you could try a skinny belt. Either belt it over a longer, untucked blouse, or belt lower (if it'll stay put) with a tucked top. Either way the belt helps even out the proportions. (I can't take credit for tis idea - lyn* suggested it on one of my threads earlier this week.)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Love the skirt and love all the suggestions so far. I also think it works in the photo you've shown!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Ornella! It looks great with a tucked low contrast top and one of my denim jackets, but then I can't take the jacket off when it gets warm. I tuck often into my other skirts, so I don't have a problem with tucking per se, but those sit all just a tad lower and that makes a difference.

Thanks Ceit! I agree about the knotting look. Below is a picture of the only way I've been wearing it lately, with a knotted button down on top.

Thanks Shannon! Monday is the official start of summer sale, I might have a look if they have some banded or cropped tops.

Thanks Diana! I love the idea of a open weave boxy summer sweater. I never had one, but I like the look. Something like this http://pinterest.com/pin/177047829073867765/ in a different color. I'm going to try the belt trick with my different belts and tops, maybe I'll find a combination that works for me.

Thanks Suz!

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lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Have you tried a peplum top with the same angle of curve in the skirt and the peplum?

I love that skirt - my first instinct would be to tuck,but you said that it didn't look quite right. Do you have some light tops for tucking?

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Archer

Veteran

Daniella has a possible combo with a similar vibe skirt that I just saw on her website. Go thru inges blog

sarah

Veteran

What about a crewneck sweater or twin set?

rachylou

Veteran

I like the idea of the peplum top a whole lot. I have a skirt where the waist is so high, it essentially is right under my bustline. I wear a shorter tunic top belted with it frequently and also tops with a little bit of flare, tops just shy of being peplum tops.

The other thing I'm thinking is very fine, woven cottons. Part of the issue for me would be the right drape. I think tops on the darker side as well - so the line of demarcation doesn't wave a flag.

ManidipaM

Veteran

You've got several great ideas now! My first thoughts were banded bottom and peplum too----especially a deeper band on the knit top.

I wonder if a hi-lo hemline in a shorter style might do the job too. The trick would be finding the right volume and skim to work with the lines of the skirt at the back and yet standing/swinging away in front a little.

For cropped tops, a lightweight bolero jacket ?

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Love the skirt on you You have some great suggestions to try here & I like your last photo with the shirt. If you still feel the skirt won't get much wear, after you've looked for other tops, maybe you could have the waistband removed so the waist would sit lower.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Lyn! I like that a lot. Your top skirt combinations look fantastic, I'm going to try if I can find an affordable peplum top somewhere. Maybe I haven't paid enough attention, but I haven's seen a lot of them in the stores. Maybe I'll try some combinations with what I have this evening and post some pics.

Thanks Archer and Sarah! Both good options, but not really something for warm weather. Layering up over it is easy.

Thanks Rachylou! Yes, this does come almost up to under my bustline too. My waist is quite high. I agree about the top being darker, I don't think something very high contrast would be easy to pull off.

Thanks Manidipa! I do think that a bolero jacket might be too short and would only emphasize how high that waist is. High low might work, if it's just right. But I think it would be difficult to find one with just the right length.

Thanks Caro! That would be one solution of course, but then the zipper has to be changed and that's a lot of work.

unfrumped

Veteran

Great skirt& suggestions. Short boxy, some types of short fitted, and longer- leaner with a banded bottom-- giving it sort of a flapper- look.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

Astrid, you're in the UK, right? Try Dorothy Perkins - I love their tops if you show around and there are some better quality ones

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks unfrumped!

Lyn, I'm in Germany. No Dorothy Perkins here.