Inspired by Angie’s blog posting this week on summer tops, I thought I’d share a top that has worked well for me this summer. It's on sale right now for under $20 US until 8/11.

The brand is Style & Co from Macys. This brands always fits me well. I generally get petites although occasionally regular sizes in pants. The styles tend to be extremely casual and/or boho, and items are quite inexpensive, in fabrics that often last only one season (especially tops) but the fit is so good for me that I keep going back. My holy grail to find a brand that fits as well, in higher quality fabrics and more sophisticated styles.

I generally avoid lantern or bell sleeves because I find them fussy and annoying, but these sleeves are just streamlined enough to be fine. It’s a light cotton t-shirt fabric so despite the sleeves it’s comfortable even when it’s hot. It's just structured enough without being tight or restrictive.  I am wearing a PM, which is  loose enough to be a bit breezy. It's 18” long from neckline to hem, a perfect length for me. I am so short waisted that even petite tops are often too long for my preferences but this is just right. My summers hot and humid but fairly short, so I tried layering it under a long cardigan to see if I could wear it when the weather cools a bit. It was a little fussy to get the sleeves sorted but not too bad.

This style does a good job of straddling the line between dressy and casual for me. I've been wearing the white one with denim and olive pants, and the sage one with white pants.  I've worn a simple gold pendant with it or my beach-glass necklace, and almost always a bracelet too.

The one negative is that it twisted every so slightly when I washed in in a mesh bag on a delicate cycle and hung to dry. There is a vertical crochet trim right down the front and the twisting was a bit noticeable so I’m going to hand wash from n ow on.

I originally got it in white and sage green. The sage is sold out now , but it’s available in white, a light blush, and a very dark navy. I’m about to duplicate the white one, having learned my lesson on the short shelf-life of white summer tops, and am also going to get the dark blue one although I generally prefer lighter versions of navy. Once I see the navy IRL I'll decide whether to keep. 

No makeup, no styling, just showing how it fits…

1 & 2 white top with olive chinos and black flip flops
3 Added the black cardigan

The first two finds are the white and sage ones I bought earlier this summer. The blush and navy (and white) are the colors available today. I also found a purple that is not on sale.

p.s. DH said these tops remind him of the pompoms on his mom's kitchen curtains, which he like to bat at when he was a small boy. 

p.p.s.  this top is also available in plus sizes but not in regular sizes.