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Tops (& at what price point) to wear in warm climate?

rholmes27

My first question for the forum: We just moved across the country where the climate is predominantly warm (today it was 92 F). I currently wear shorts, capris, & casual skirts everyday. I want to get away from so many tee shirts, & even the embellished ones that were once nice are starting to look worn. I'm not really opposed to giving any type of top a try. But I don't even know where to start. Also, since these will be real workhouses in my wardrobe, should I purchase high quality tops to last or should I buy lesser quality (& maybe spend less money) knowing that they will need to be replaced more frequently?

Thanks so much for any suggestions.

Dressing

14 replies

Latest reply was from rholmes27

JR

Veteran

Well, Angie always says to buy for your dominant climate, and if you are going to be weary summery things most of the year, it makes sense to get better quality.

Where to start? Well, I'm sure some of the very competent ladies on here will have more and better ideas, but try sleeveless button-downs, peasant blouses, and short-sleeved cotton tunic tops.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

In FL heat I wear almost exclusively tanks. Most of mine are now woven, but I do have the cheapy basic $5 ribbed knit, and layer ones, as well.
My wovens tend to cost more than the knits - from $15 or $20 all the way up to $50. The knits, as I mentioned, are cheapies, with almost every one being under $5.

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jayne

Veteran

Mo, you nailed it. Of course you live it, so you should!

rholmes27

Thanks for your responses. Mo, it was kind of you to take the time to post the pics. I don't know if my arms are in good enough shape to show as much as they would in tanks; however, looking at the pics you posted gave me some ideas for tops.

Kristin L

Veteran

Have you looked into woven short sleeved tops?

Anonymous

Hi, and welcome. It's hot where I live too, so this question is one I ask myself often. Some good ideas while starting would be to figure out what kind of tops will work well with your body type. If you want to cover your shoulders, that's a good place to start. Also what kind of style do you aspire too? Then work out the neutrals and core colors you want in your wardrobe (oh how I WISH I had done all this first).

I've found that breathable fabrics are superior to synthetics in the heat. And woven fabrics are cooler than knits. I shop mostly a thrift stores so my budget for a top is under five dollars.

April

Veteran

I would recommend washable silk, although it's hard to find.

Are you in a humid warmth, or a desert warmth?

Mo

(website)

Veteran

No problem! I get that we all have different levels of comfort when it comes to revealing clothes.
One thing I do notice, though, is that with less layering opportunities, a tank (or top in your case) with some detail or visual interest helps to carry the outfit. Notice the tanks in pic 1 are not plain? There is a print, or buckle, or a ruffle, or a zip, or piping, etc. Just something I found that works for me

DonnaF

Veteran

FWIW, when it is really hot, I find linen, even with longish sleeves, to be cooler than cotton. I have never tried, much less found, a linen sweater, but I'll bet a loosely woven one might be nice to have in air conditioning.

rholmes27

I previously lived in the south where the summers were humid hot. We moved to the west where it is desert hot. Believe me, it feels completely different--in my opinion the humidity makes the temp feel much worse.

For some reason, I've always worn knits with my shorts & capris. I'm going through a style renaissance/revolution, & I'd like to look more pulled together/polished, without looking too boring. As I have spent time on this forum, I realized that overall I like my fall/winter wardrobe (just need to add a few pieces), & I like my dressier wardrobe (what I wear to church, funerals, weddings, etc). But something seemed off with my warm weather clothes, & that is a big issue since that is now my dominant season. The difference in the wardrobes is that in my head, which can be a scary place, I had come up with a quasi-formula that worked for fall/winter. I always tried to wear a combo of 3 above the waist, eg shirt-jacket-necklace, knit-jacket-scarf, etc...

Obviously, it's too hot to wear that for much of the year, & sometimes I'm so hot (probably a little menopause action going on too), I don't even wear my wedding rings, much less something around my neck. So after this novella, I think the bottom line is finding a warm weather look that is me. I've looked at the MOTG formulas, so that has been a good start.

Mo--In looking at the pics you posted, I immediately noticed that your tanks were visually interesting, whether it was the texture of the fabric, the design or print, or the trim. That has been helpful in sparking some ideas for me.

Thanks again for y'all's help!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Please know you are not alone. This is a perennial problem for quite a few of us. My dominant season is winter, but I do have a hot summer to live through - and I still haven't figured out quite how to dress for it. I will be following you with interest.

rholmes27

Duh moment---Last night at book club, a friend was wearing a tank, bermuda denim shorts, a lightweight short sleeve cascade cardigan, & a simple silver pendant. She looked polished, & yet cool (temperature-wise) at the same time. Geez--that's exactly one of my preferred formulas in the fall/winter, just with long sleeve jackets & cardigans, so I could have thought of that on my own, but my poor mind just doesn't work that way.

I think one thing that made a big difference was that the cardigan had aqua & gray stripes, not just a solid color, so with the pendant, there was some visual interest.

In my initial research, I haven't had a lot of luck finding short sleeve cardigans/lightweight jackets in brick & mortar stores in my area. They are already stocking like there is a blizzard on the way--yesterday it was 91 F. And my husband, who was here for last winter, said the usual daytime highs were in the low 50'sF.

So I'm off today to do some thrifting--never had much luck before because I prefer petite sizes. But I'll give it a try.

I know this idea is not for everyone, but just wanted to post in case it helps.

Sharon

Veteran

I struggle with this dilemma too, as for the next 6 months the temperature will be over 25 degrees (77) everyday.
I think Mo has nailed it by her choice of tops with a visual interest "feature" to them.
My epiphany this spring has been texture. I have a black top that has origami-like folds at the front, and a white top with a line of fine pleating detail in the centre, and another with a soft ruffle down the front, all of which I think look so much more polished than my knit t-shirts. I bought some patterned tops too, but the textured ones in a plain fabric have my heart!
Maybe you could experiment a bit with pattern and texture and see what calls to you?

rholmes27

Good Idea, Sharon. Thanks.