WIB: Dolce Vita Summer Tops

Ket

Summer is nearing, and I feel like Sophia Loren on Houseboat or It Started in Naples I love her 1950s/early 60s American rom-coms so much.

Anyway. I am adding to my summer wardrobe. I'll have a much longer, in-depth post about that soon. For now, here are two tops I've been dreaming of since starting my summer style board. I actually feel I've nailed the board's vibe for the most part. Missing a few things (again, will share more soon), but getting there. It makes me feel a bit giddy to actually translate the board into real clothes that I've always loved.

I went with orange. I tend to wear orange a lot in the summer. I also wear it some in autumn and winter, but it really lights up my heart in the summertime! And it showed up a lot on my board.

Tried these on with my Eloquii Leigh Jeans, which I was already wearing. Didn't have time to try both tops on with my new summer pants; it's a busy Saturday for us. I'll do some WIW outfits with all my new pieces soon!

Photo 1-3: Eloquii off-shoulder smocked top. Truly off-shoulder, so I need to find a strapless bra to wear with it. (Between my bust size and the fabric, I don't feel comfy going braless in it.) I wish the torso was a smidge longer. It just barely covers the top inch or so of my jeans. I feel very Dolce Vita in this top.

Photos 4-6: City Chic "Kay" blouse. My husband saw me in it during try-on and immediately said he loved me in it. For him to say that means he loves me in it a LOT! Again, I wish the torso was a tiny smidge longer, just 1/2-1 inch. I wanted this top for several months but didn't want to pay $65 for it either. It sold out and I had some remorse. It was surprising when I found it new on Amazon for $17! This also gives me major Dolce Vita vibes.

Your feedback and thoughts are always welcome, as usual.

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ELOQUII High-Rise Super Stretch Slim Jeans - Leigh, Medium Wash Denim

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3 days ago

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21 replies

Latest reply was from Ket

Star

Veteran

Fabulous tops! I love off the shoulder tops, very va-voom (to use an expression of yours) ;). Also love a sleeveless highneck, also va-voom imo. I tried on an off the shoulder top and found it too short for comfort. It was more short than yours. I left it behind. Hoping to find one with a longer torso for summer. Colour is gorgeous. They look rust or terracotta on my laptop screen but I am not so sure this is accurate?

3 days ago

FineArtist23

Active Member

Great outfit and perfect fit on you!

3 days ago

Ket

Veteran

Star, oh thank you!! They do have va-voom they're not rust IRL. I'm probably stretching it a bit to call them straight-out orange hehe. They both could definitely be a very deep, more saturated terracotta (feels very reminiscent of Tuscany's houses and such). City chic called the color for the high-neck top "ginger" which also feels like an accurate color description. I think even copper or saffron would be a good color descriptor?? I have a very juicy papaya colored sun dress hopefully arriving soon. That will definitely be orange Jus hope it fits...

Feeling you on the too-short tops. 90s is big right now, and that means a lot of tops are cropped length. I've had to be very choosy with tops when shopping. These both are just at the edge of my comfort range. I'll probably get some ride-up or back exposure with them if I bend over too much. But I love them so I'll endure.

3 days ago

Ket

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FineArtist, thank you so dearly! Love your username. My sister is a fine arts artist.

3 days ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOW! Cinnamon is one of your best colours, Ket! Gorgeous tops! Both are pretty and alluring! I love that hubs thought so too

The smocked top is going to work well with your new wide tropical pants and sandals! You're ready for Saint Tropez, Sicily, and Corfu.

3 days ago

Ket

Veteran

Angie, OOOO!! I love that it's called cinnamon! Great color name. Thank you so much for all the love! I am thrilled hubs loves it; he's quiet and when he says something, I know he REALLY loves it. All those places you listed are the vibes I was going for, so I feel doubly happy!

3 days ago

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Excellent tops for your Sophia Loren vibe and your coloring. Love Angie's suggestion of pairing them with the graphic wide pants!

3 days ago

Jenny H

Veteran

These tops are fabulous. What a great color on you too.

Bummer that the lengths aren't exactly what you hoped for but I still think they look great.

3 days ago

Active Member

I love the off-shoulder top especially with those new pants! But I hate the need for a strapless bra! I’ve just never found one I don’t dread, and I am one of those weirdos who find underwire bras very comfortable in general.

3 days ago

Kate

Veteran

Beautiful tops, Ket, and so lovely with your coloring. The off-the-shoulder top is especially alluring. Both give off that dolce vita vibe.

2 days ago

Lisa

Veteran

You have two beautiful tops here. And this is a great color. I like the earthy vibe a rust/earthy color like this gives, especially in the summer with ivory or tan. It has that safari vibe to me.

I plan to experiment with shades of orange this summer, definitely with rust colors similar to the one you have here, as well as brighter oranges like peach and coral. I wear a lot of blues and I think the orange will pair nicely with blues.

And I totally understand about strapless bras for off the shoulder tops. I do not have a large chest but the girls are ah let's just say perky all the time. I must always wear a bra/bikini tops with padding to avoid the headlights/girls at attention look.

2 days ago

Ket

Veteran

Jaime, Jenny, Kate, oh thank you! I'm excited and impatient for warmer weather to arrive. I can't wait to try them with my graphic pants and sandals!

Cookie, oh thank you! I haven't worn a strapless bra in probably 10 years or more. That said, it didn't bother me much in the past. Have to see what I find and how it goes.

Lisa, oh!! I love that idea of safari vibe!! Orange and blue are complimentary colors and typically look really smashing together. I bet you'll look sensational in orange and blue this summer. I can't wait to see them. I have one more orange item coming (a very juicy papaya or citrus orange) and then I think my orange collection will be complete? Ha! yes, perky is also any issue for me I rarely ever go braless even when my bust is a smaller size for that reason. (I'm not really that busty, especially being at a lower weight.) I'm not above taping over my nipples-- a trick from my dance days. I've done it a couple of times when wearing a thin shirt and unlined bra and wanted some modesty. I was taught to use a bandaid over each nipple. Easy, effective, no sweat, and readily available. (This was long before all the various nipple shields came out in recent years.) Not something I use often, but handy.

2 days ago

Carol

(website)

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Great shirts! I like to flatter myself that I can go braless, but I also need some sort of support. Would you Dolce Vita-fy the first look? What would that be...a hair scarf? Big sunglasses?

The second look is also great--good with jeans, but I bet it would also go with a skirt.

1 day ago

Ket

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Carol, thank you! So... I would definitely add more DV with one or more of cat-eye makeup, hair scarf, larger earrings, bangles.

Love your idea to try top 2 with a skirt! I was just thinking of wearing it with my Leigh jeans, but a skirt feels more fresh. I had my eye on a printed maxi skirt. (Photo 1) It's not as glamorous as a pencil skirt or a solid skirt, but not sure I would enjoy a pencil skirt in the summer. I also have been wanting to sew a ruffled skirt pattern I have. (Photo 2) It is beginner level, so should hopefully be do-able. That could be equally nice with Top 2. I also have my orange satin slip skirt. It would be kind of hot; the top is also 95% poly. But it would be very pretty!

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by Ket

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1 day ago

SarahD8

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SMART to get two tops in different styles but the same color. Duplication but in a different dimension -- a fresher approach! And this color certainly loves you. Can't wait to see what you do with these.

1 day ago

Ket

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Sarah, oh that's a great insight I didn't even think about it as duplication, but it is. I really love the color, so I am glowing that everyone loves it on me too We have some warmer weather forecasted this week, so hopefully I'll be able to share a WIW with my new tops and new pants together. YAY!

1 day ago

Lisa

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Ket - Oh yes I am very familiar with the band aid and tape trick.:)

1 day ago

Ket

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Oh good! I kind of figured you knew but wasn’t sure. It’s handy though I hate when it’s time to remove them. It can be a little owie.

1 day ago

Carol

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Ket: oh, that ruffle skirt is to die for, and it's the kind of thing I see and never buy. I hear what you are saying about pencil skirts--hot, and they almost never work on me. Have you ever tried a sarong style? Those are great for summer.

12 hours ago

RobinF

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Great tops and so pretty on you! I bet these will be easy to dress up or down I'd love to see them with a skirt, the satin one would be awesome.

1 hour ago

Ket

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Carol, I ordered the green ruffle skirt. We'll see how it fits and looks I would love to try a sarong style, I just haven't found it yet. I tend to purchase a lot from retailers who cut for curves, and so far they haven't offered sarong styles. I'll have to see if I can find one or sew one soon. The style is so lovely for summer and less confining than a pencil skirt.

Robin, thank you so much I will get out my satin skirt to pair with them -- just for you! I think the satin skirt paired with top 2 would be very appropriate and lovely for a dressier church outfit.

14 minutes ago

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