Shirts as Toppers Yay or Nay? - YouLookFab Forum

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Shirts as Toppers Yay or Nay?

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I have recently seen a few examples of shirts worn as toppers and wonder if this style has YFL approval.

I am always looking for light weight toppers but only own a few so far that are light enough for our long hot season. I own a couple of BR linen shirts that could be used this way and one on order from jcrew (below) that I'm considering to wear with my rarely worn ribbed tanks (because I feel l need more coverage).

What do you think?

Some pinterest examples on this page:
http://pinterest.com/cynthia33.....ynthia335/

Jcrew Linen Shirt:
http://www.jcrew.com/womens_ca...../42841.jsp

Dressing

24 replies

Latest reply was from Wendi1984

Anonymous

I say Yay! I do this all the time in the summer, as I often need a topper lighter than a blazer.

Sara L.

Veteran

I do this occasionally in the summer too. You just have to be careful with fit and proportions.

kellygirl

Veteran

Absolutely, yay! I do this over my ribbed tanks or tanks where my bra straps don't stay hidden. I really like it for our casual style

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I wonder if you all tuck or semi tuck with this look or leave the shirt long?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I do it too, Texstyle. As Sara said, you have to watch for fit and proportion so it doesn't look too sloppy, but it's a great solution when you don't want your shoulders exposed to sun but you can't wear a jacket. I don't really wear tanks on their own any more (due to flattery issues) but will pop a shirt over top and show the tank, which doesn't seem as problematic for me.

Astrid

Veteran

I say yay, I like the look for a casual outfit. I agree with Sara about being careful about fit and proportions.

kellygirl

Veteran

I typically leave it long like a jacket open or with a few buttons in the middle buttoned. I've never tried semi-tucking or tucking--could work though.

Carole

Veteran

Absolutely! Love the JCrew linen shirt and can't wait to see you layer this with your outfits. I would leave the shirt long and wear like a jacket or cardigan.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

So far it looks like a Yay. I wonder what Angie would say.

And I think now that I wear longer shorts it will work better than it would with my shorter shorts of the past. I think I have well fitting linen shirts (maybe for the first time in my life thanks to YLF) so I'm going to give it a go soon.

I'm not sure if the flax color will work for me on the jcrew linen but I have a weak spot for those natural cozy colors of wood tones so I'm going to give it a try.

linneylou

Member

I love wearing shirts instead of jackets in the summer especially. But I made the mistake of wearing a beautiful silky shirt over a t shirt thinking it would look nice but I couldn't wait to get home and take it off because the shirt
was to 'boxy' that is, it gave me no shape around the waist area. But if I get it right a shirt can look just as good as a jacket.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Do you mean wear a shirt over a tank as a jacket?

I think you have to be VERY careful with this concept. It looks frumpy fast, and I'm not mincing my words about it!

I dress men in this look quite a bit - and Greg wears it. Printed tee - jeans or shorts - open striped long sleeved shirt scruched at the sleeves. It looks fantastic on the boys when the elements are right.

I have a few lady clients who wear this look in a fab way. One is classic and one is trendy. You have to get the details right though. So give it a bash

T-Rex

Veteran

I think it can work, depending on proportions and the mood you are going for. I remember a springtime trend from a few years ago where everyone was wearing midcalf or slightly longer fit-n-flare jersey spaghetti strap dresses with sandals and loose, almost sheer linen shirts unbuttoned over them. I really liked that look. The loose fit of the shirt was balanced by the fact that you could see the shape of the body through the open front, and a suggestion of the body shape through the sheer fabric.

unfrumped

Veteran

I am chiming in with a “be very careful.” Or at least for my age group.

The big-buttondown- shirt-over-T or tank, plus the obligatory crops and slides or sandals, is the summer uniform for a lot of middle-aged ladies around here. I like the ease of loose comfy shirt as a topper, too, and had some built some outfits around them. However, this was probably one of the most frumptastic looks for me. I’ve made an effort to switch to light blazers or other jackets when possible.

I still think the look can work if done right. I wish I could analyze it for you, but I suspect it’s individual—shape, size, proportions. I’ve kept a few such shirts for very casual wear and overall they tend to be more fitted in the waist, good fit in shoulders, and a bit shorter—not cropped at all, but not overwhelmingly long. That may be me-specific because the big shirt does not provide enough structure.

Also the short-sleeved camp shirts or puff sleeves are really hard to style for older ladies, IMO, and I used to rely on several of them. Gone now!

There might be other aspects of a “formula” to fight frumpiness, such as keeping other aspects of the outfit very updated. I’m not wearing rolled pants, but I could see it with Bermudas and oxfords, for example, looking better than wide crops or Mom jeans. Scrunching sleeves helps too, of course.Or wearing over a dress instead of shorts, or in a special fabric. Or more interesting detailing and not the cotton discount store shirt.

I’m still game for using long-sleeved shirts for light toppers , but not over-investing in that look.

Karie

(website)

Veteran

OMGoodness, I was just thinking about that this morning! This has happened to me before - I'll be thinking of a fashion related topic, then go on YLF and there it is! Spooky!

I vote YAY. I just purchased a Gap Shrunken Boyfriend shirt that I was thinking of wearing as a topper next week. I think a BF style shirt is perfect for styling that way, as they are a bit looser fitting and not so structured.

DonnaF

Veteran

I'm with Unfrumped. I worry about looking like a page from the J.Jill catalog when I wear a shirt in place of a jacket.

I ordered the following recently: http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/ca.....et/3435634? Hope I cut the link at the right place. Anyway, it's an UNLINED linen blazer and the collar sits flat instead of heating the neck so it's very cool. I am going to order it in another size and do a K/R if I can't choose. The polka dot one that I have now looks more crisp than rumpled, but the blue one looks rumpled as described and is a bit wonky so it is going back today. Since Caslon is a Nordstrom brand, I expect the jacket to be marked down from its current $69 at some point this season.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, interesting replies. Thank you for chiming in Angie! I agree that a lot of people who wear this look end up frumpy looking to me. Which is exactly why I'm concerned about it and wanted to get some opinions. Last year I just didn't wear most of my tanks at all because I didn't have enough lightweight blazers/jackets. I have 2 or 3 now, but have not found the right one in a neutral tan or taupe, which I really wanted (mine are white, navy and a slightly heavier one in charcoal).

I think I would only do the look with long sleeve linen shirts that were at least a bit fitted or tailored looking (for my taste) and of course roll/scrunch the sleeves, but I imagine some people could get away with the more roomy, flowy style if it were sheer enough. Not sure if mine are or not.

I don't really wear crops for the most part - I do have one pair of slim cropped jeans but they aren't really cropped on me when unrolled.

It might actually be an issue of those ribbed tanks just not being my style any longer.

Edit: DonnaF, I do have a couple of Caslon blazers so thank you for pointing it out. I think I might try the Olivia Moon linen blazer (nope, never mind, it has shoulder pads not for me). I tried a linen one from Caslon before but it was a bit snug so I need to order up a size I guess. Doing that now.

Laurinda

Veteran

My eye needs training. I would love to see Angie's advice/examples on how to pull this off.

pil

Veteran

My initial thought was, yes, absolutely. Going wrong with frumpiness hadn't even entered my mind. One added benefit would be the shirt doing double duty.

Denise

A definite yay if styled well. I would tuck or semi tuck or do a sheer shirt and very skinny jeans. I'm older but thin. 5'5" and size 2. On me this style can look overwhelming or matronly..

Anonymous

I used to do this but no more. It's too RATE and sloppy on me, especially using oversized linen shirts with straight bottoms. Instead I use a denim vest over a tank or light weight jackets or even cardigans.

Adelfa

Veteran

I wear shirts over tanks or other layering tees but not exactly as jackets. I button a couple of buttons in the solar plexus region and then semi-tuck. So the shirt (which might be silk, cotton, or denim) is part of the outfit. I don't *think* it looks frumpy.

Wendi1984

I almost bought a button-down shirt today, planning to use it for that purpose among others. It was black gingham, a nice fit on me but loose enough to layer a cami under, a little sheer (very lightweight cotton), with 3/4 sleeves rolled up and buttoned with a tab. I thought I could wear it tucked in, untucked, tied at the waist, or as a topper over a tank top. I didn't buy it because it seemed a little pricey ($35), but now I'm starting to think I should have. I was just a little nervous that such a lightweight cotton wouldn't hold up to frequent washings, and would require a lot of ironing.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I think I like the idea of wearing the shirt at least partially buttoned and semi-tucked for this to work. I'm going to try it that way.

Wendi, I own a lot of very light cotton button downs and never have a problem with them lasting. I only put them in the dryer on low for just a few minutes then take them out and put them on a hangar and straighten the plackets and collar. I use a spray bottle of water to "iron" many of my shirts while they are hanging in the shower or I just hold them in there so I don't get my floors all wet. I spray more water at the bottom to help weigh them down. And I focus on the wrinkles with more water. I don't soak the shirt. Anyway, I am pretty casual so I rarely iron any other way unless it's for a dressier event.

Wendi1984

Hmm, texstyle. That's good to know.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/sa.....search-per
I found the shirt in a different color on Nordstrom's website; I tried it in black. There's only one review, but it's very positive. Maybe I should get it. Gingham seems like a good pattern for adding a little pop to plain jeans or a solid skirt or khakis, while being mixable with other patterns if I get brave.