Printed toppers?

Anonymous

There are sooo many printed toppers in the NAS this year, and Janet's jacket thread got wondering about everyone's approach to toppers.

Janet said her toppers are outfit completers, so print or otherwise statement toppers work, if they stay on all day.

In contrast, I use toppers for warmth, and put them on or take them off as needed. The outfit beneath has to stand alone. I've normally bought simple toppers, but there's a couple PC ones that have prints I like.

So-if you have a statement topper, what is or will be your approach? And how do you make sure what's underneath is interesting enough to be without?

4 years ago

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from Echo

anne

Veteran

Suntiger, I have no solutions , because I agree with you. I also tend to take my toppers on and off through the day.

In my situation, it's why I am looking for some fitted long sleeve with stripes so that I am not just wearing a plain top when I take my sweaters off.

4 years ago

RobinF

Veteran

I tend to use mine as you do although in cooler weather I can usually plan on just leaving them on so I plan accordingly. I would say in that case that my under layer isn't interesting by itself, but it has to be decently covering of the bust.

4 years ago

LaPed

Veteran

Huh, I don't know that I have any patterned toppers. I've looked at florals, stripes, star patterns, etc in the past but can never justify them as substitutes for solids, so they'd end up splitting wears, I feel. And figuring out what tops and bottoms to wear with them seems like such a headache. I like the glen plaid blazers that have been big for a couple of years and might still consider adding one this fall (if that trend sticks around?), but that's a pretty subtle, tonal pattern.

4 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

For me, it's pretty simple. Even though I do use jackets as outfit completers or "third pieces" I tend to have them on and off during the day too, depending on the weather and what I'm doing that day.

I pair solid tops with patterned jackets, and rely on a bit of jewelry -- a pendant or dramatic earrings, but not both at once -- to keep some outfit interest when the jacket is off. Sometimes a scarf works that way too, but I tend to take scarves on and off as well, and I'm not a big pattern mixer and most of my scarves are patterned. It also keeps things simple that most of my bottoms that are worn with jackets are dark solids. When I wear one of my few patterned jeans, I'll stick with solid tops and jackets.

With a patterned or bold jacket, I tend to keep supporting acts a bit simpler or the overall silhouette more streamlined. The more shiny hardware a jacket has, the simpler I keep the jewelry, etc. It's a little balancing act, but I'm quick at it. I think decades of work in design have given me a strong inherent sense of when I've hit the right balance for my personal goals.

4 years ago

Anonymous

Thanks all! Was thinking of necklaces if I decide to buy any statement topper. Scarves + toppers feels algo/cluttery on me-probably since my torso is short.

Unfortunately I don't control the temperature in my offices-and never know how they're going to have it

4 years ago

SarahD8

Veteran

Oh, that’s interesting. The only time of year that I tend to take toppers on and off throughout the day is summer, and wouldn’t you know it most of my summer cardis are solid. I wear them with patterned dresses or tops.

I do have several patterned cool weather cardis (floral, intarsia, fair isle). They are much loved, but I realized recently that because most of them are cropped, they require specific outfit formulas (over a dress, or a long tunic shirt) and thus don’t get worn as often as I would like.

4 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Suntiger, I'm like you - our weather seems to be primarily "need a warm jacket for practiciality" with a shorter "boiling hot don't even think about a jacket" season, and very few days in between! I love the look of an outfit with a jacket as a key piece, but I longingly admire them on those living in more temperate climates, and keep mine pretty functional.

4 years ago

nemosmom

Veteran

I have a few statement and printed toppers. Like Janet, I will wear them as a completer piece over solids and often have to take them off during the day, depending on what I'm doing. I keep the rest of the outfit simple, in both color and silhouette. I will add a scarf, belt, or jewelry but I find that requires planning (which I am working on), so I will usually wear a pair of tailored or interesting shoes. I keep a pair of hoop earrings and patterned silk scarf in my laptop bag for the times I don't finish my outfit and feel like I'm lacking something. Hoop earrings are magical...

The majority of prints in my wardrobe are scarves and button up shirts, that I also occasionally wear as toppers. I have graphic tees, but I only wear solid toppers with them.

4 years ago

Anonymous

Yep-thinking I need to keep any hot weather but indoor ac toppers simple, since they're often off most of the time (and I'm outside more).

Mild weather, we don't really have either, so outdoor only/non layerable light toppers aren't needed much.

Winter I often do wear multiple layers in the office-but some days it's warm enough to do without. And-I'm much happier to not wear layers if not absolutely necessary.
I'm just starting to plan for cold weather dressing, so not adding any right now. Just wondering if they'd be practical-especially at PC prices. The plaids and animal prints at NAS don't appeal to me for my own style.
ETA @nemosmom yes shoes are a key. Was hoping for some teal booties this year, but NAS is just giving us brown, black and leopard/snake print so far.

4 years ago

Anonymous

I have lots of printed lightweight coats, jackets, bombers, etc and they are styled in as part of the whole outfit. I am into pattern mixing , and that often happens when I wear a printed/patterned topper. I don't necessarily go all minimal with printed outwear - I wing it as I get dressed and if it works, it works . Because I'm often removing the coat inside a store or client's office , whatever is underneath has to stand on it's own ....

4 years ago

Anonymous

I love the look of pattern mixes, but on me it feels algo, since my coloring is low contrast. I'm most likely to have a print accessory with a print garment!

But I did realize a dangerous (for my wallet) thing. I really don't buy truly basic tops. Many have sleeve interest, like mesh. I'm always sad to cover that up with a not so exciting topper if cold in my office. See where this is going

I think I was tripped up by NAS, with columns of black or jeans and white shirts with the toppers. But those toppers are 2 color neutral patterns, while the ones I'm looking at have more color to play with!

4 years ago

DonnaF

Veteran

I don't think I have many prints. Non-solid items are more likely to have patterns like stripes, polka dots, or animal like zebra or leopard. Does that count? These patterns are also in neutrals which makes pattern mixing easy and not too hectic.

My toppers are mostly solid, come to think of it. Although my legs are heavy and short, in the past few years I have been drawn to patterned jeans and skirts, mostly because they are more unexpected than solids. But they are usually *false solids* meaning the patterns may look solid from a distance. It makes pattern mixing pretty simple.

Btw, I LOVE NAS's plaid blazers. With salt'n'pepper hair, glasses, and small features, I think they are a bit busy for me. If I still dyed my hair (or if it were all white) and had a life/lifestyle that supported them, I would consider them. And then figure out the supporting acts, lol.

Angie has said to make an outfit interesting, think Color-Pattern-Texture-Shine. I would also add line/cut/silhouette. So if you remove the patterned topper, think what the outfit looks like with respect to color, texture, and shine. And don't forget to consider footwear!

4 years ago

Anonymous

The standalone outfits feel easier in summer. I naturally wear a lot of color, pattern, texture and shine-and it doesn't seem like too much, because I have bare arms and legs. In winter, there's a lot more fabric. There's more of that color, etc by the nature of the garment.

4 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I have quite a few patterned toppers, but those are pieces I do not take off during the day. They are an integral part of the outfit, and I wear them all fall and winter.

In the warmer weather when a topper might get too warm, they are always solids so the bottom layer can be interesting enough to stand alone. I never really thought about that dichotomy until you brought it up, but I agree with Janet in that jewelry can add interest to the base layer for when the jacket is off.

4 years ago

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