Wrong retail stones or wrong season for sleeveless tops? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Wrong retail stones or wrong season for sleeveless tops?

Peri

Veteran

I'm looking for a specific type of top for a specific use and either it's so out of style I'm not going to find anything, or sleeveless hasn't hit retail quite yet, or I need a new place to look. Or all of the above.

DH and I compete in ballroom and I like to dress up a little for coaching sessions. Just enough to put me in a dance mood. The last time I bought new tops was in Spring 2020 and then we had a long forced break. Now we are back and the kinds of tops I used to find without too much trouble are nowhere to be seen. Past sources were mostly Nordstom but some Karen Kane and a few Anthropologie. The must have elements:

Sleeveless...it's quite the workout and also sleeves get in the way.
Machine washable...again, quite the workout.
CYA length because those practice pants are clingy and I'm not booty proud at the moment...or ever.
Some interesting details that make them feel dance/artsy as opposed to sporty or like a blouse. Things like interesting hemlines or flowy fabric.
Fabric with some stretch and movement.

I've put some very old Finds below just for the visuals. I haven't seen things like this so far this year. Are they too out of style or am I looking too early? Any ideas of some retailers I can check out?

Vince Camuto Flecks Drape Tank

View Info

Top Pick

8

Women's Simply Vera Vera Wang Print Handkerchief Hem Top

View Info

Top Pick

3

Two by Vince Camuto Double Layer Slub Cotton Tank

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

3

Halogen Asymmetrical Sheer Hem Tank (Regular & Petite)

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

10

General

23 replies

Latest reply was from Peri

slim cat

Veteran

Sleeveless tops are always on my radar - with disappointing results last few months. I like Simply Vera Wang tops but it gets more difficult to find
(( Kohl's - last time I saw some ). Follow with interest your search.

cat2

Veteran

Nordstrom has asymmetrical Karen Kane tanks.

Peri

Veteran

Thanks cat2...I looked those up and I wish they would work but the ones I like are either dry clean only or polyester with no stretch...the kind of material that doesn't mix well with a hard sweaty workout.

And indicative of the problem I'm running into...the search on Karen Kane tops at Nordstrom gave me 225 but filtered by sleeveless there are only 21. I'm hoping that just means early in the season, not that we aren't getting much sleeveless this year. It's weird because I remember lots of complaints from years past about sleeveless and women wanting sleeves. In ordinary life I often do too, but not for this purpose.

Slim cat...thanks for the new retail stone. I'll keep looking for those. Right now, again, either sleeves or polyester.

LJP

Veteran

I’d be tempted to look on yoga / workout gear sites . Athleta , for example , often has tops that aren’t typically “ workout “ ish . Alo , Lululemon , Nike , Golf Town , etc

kkards

Veteran

I think they may be harder to find, as bottoms gotten looser and rises have gotten higher, tops have gotten shorter

I di find these when i goggled sleeveless tunic. They are shorter than what you showed, but i think they’re still butt covering
https://www.jjill.com/product/.....gclid=EAIa
https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse.....onpl000078

This post has 2 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

What kkards said. I’ve been kind of relieved to find tops that aren’t so terribly long and tunic-y now that pants are looser and wider (short torso girl problems), but I bet that is making it more challenging to find what you need. Athleta has had some good tops that are not workout wear, and they tend to cut long. I’d maybe try using a search term of “tunic” along with your sleeveless parameter and see what comes up.

DonnaF

Veteran

I have a black top like the cobalt one that Angie had as a Top Pick. I rarely wear it because I run so cold plus finding a layer that looks good on top is difficult. Maybe I should take up dancing, lol.

LaPed

Veteran

Athleta was my first thought as well. They used to have a whole "CYA" section; I wonder if they still do? Leggings still seem to be their bread and butter, so I would imagine they still have some longer tops, even as trends shift toward shorter tops. Lulu, Alo Yoga, Beyond Yoga, Prana, and Title Nine might all be worth a look too.

This one looks pretty cool to me: https://athleta.gap.com/browse.....1&

And here's an Old Navy option that could work: https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse.....onpl000078

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm with La Ped! Was going to suggest this:

Gap Swing Forward Tank Free Fast Shipping

View Info

Top Pick

1

Gap Swing Forward Tank Free Fast Shipping

View Info

Top Pick

3

Gap Swing Forward Tank Free Fast Shipping

View Info

Top Pick

1

Joy

Veteran

Check out consignment shops and , if they are rather small, tell the owner or SA what you are looking for. Good luck. Stores will be stocking prom dresses soon, so that may help, Angie may have some good ideas.

Joy

Veteran

I like Angie's idea of a swingy top. You could wear a simple straight skirt and let the top have the movement.

Anonymous

I had a top cut like the first one in your Finds and loved it! Most tops around these days are definitely not CYA :/
Does it have to be the top that's flowy? Could you wear a flowy skirt, dress, or pants instead?

Peri

Veteran

Thanks for the help everyone! So far I'm not seeing what I want, so it's probably on me to compromise. I was spoiled for choice for many years so I'll have to work on changing.

I should have listed "nothing that takes a special bra" on my requirements list, so that Athleta top, while cute, is a no for me. I also don't think it would flatter anyone busty.

Joy, consignment did occur to me last night as a good place to find what is no longer in style. But...can't dance ballroom in a straight skirt!

Suntiger, I don't like to practice or go to coaching in any kind of skirt because then the issue becomes about not being able to wear comp heels for that long but feeling like my practice shoes and socks look ridiculous with a skirt. That's why I settled on dance pants and keeping all the fun on top.

I will keep looking, maybe attempt consignment and hope more sleeveless options show up closer to actual summer. Thanks for the help.

Murph11

Veteran

I did a quick search on Amazon using "women's sleeveless tunic swing tank" and saw some options -- FWIW. Good luck to you!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I see some on Soft Surroundings, searching by tops, then sleeveless.

Carol

(website)

Veteran

Chicos has a couple in the tunics section.

Peri

Veteran

Murph11, thanks, good idea. I did the same and see a few that might work. I've never bought clothes from Amazon but it's worth a try.

Firecracker, good call on Soft Surroundings. I had looked there a few months ago and forgot to re-check but I see one I will probably buy and even better, there is a store in my area so I can check in person. I'm also wondering since they weren't there before, if this means I've just been checking out of season and more things might show up if I'm patient.

Carol, I've been checking Chicos but will keep that in mind. More things might show up as it gets closer to summer.

Sal

Veteran

It's hard when what you want is not really available - I have had that with sports gear.

How would a skort work for the dancing. Or skirted leggings?

RobinF

Veteran

Ooh fun! DH and I took some rumba lessons and had a great time but then they stopped being offered during Covid and never started back up again. So sad.

I commiserate with looking for a particular item and coming up blank. Happens to me all the time. You have gotten some great suggestions though. I will echo the Amazon idea. They seem to still have quite a few longer tops.

Claire C

They may be dressier than what you desire, but I have often had good luck at Ann Taylor with looser sculptural styles. I also will only buy machine washable. There are far fewer this year than other years, but still some possible contenders depending on your desires. I also refuse any specialty undergarments especially for everyday casual style so most don't require that either. https://www.anntaylor.com/clot.....021&a

Kyle

Veteran

Available in 6 colors:
https://www.nordstrom.com/s/58.....size=large

https://www.karenkane.com/prod.....8;gclid=EA

https://www.softsurroundings.c.....V4gznCh1Db

Hope you find something.

Maeve

Here’s a tunic that I’ve had my eye on, that might work for you:
https://www.marcellanyc.com/products/ines-tunic

The other tops that I have from Marcella have been generally high quality and true to size.

Peri

Veteran

Sal..thanks. But no, not at all!

RobinF...thanks also. I hope you get to restart some day. We do Smooth and Standard, not really Latin or Rhythm, but it's all fun.

Claire C...I like that one! I may try it. But really, I may even try it just for normal life...love the coral color.

Kyle...I've looked hard at those. The style is good and the color choices are great...but it's dry clean only. Deal breaker, don't want to pay for dry cleaning after every wear. Thanks though, because otherwise you've nailed it.

Maeve...wow, I love that! The coach would hate it because they do have to be able to see body lines and that is taking fluid so far it would obscure everything. I would love the fun of wearing it though and that's a new brand for me.