Summer Tops, An Exhaustive Guide

The don't have to think about it top, extreme girlish details, decadent silk, what to wear instead of a button down and MOREEEEEE

TLDR: My top five TOPS for this summer from left: One, Two, Three, Four, FIVE!

This may sound crazy, since I think about clothes all day for my job, but I haven’t quite gotten a grasp on my “summer uniform” yet. My mood is constantly changing. The temperature constantly rising. The one thing I know for certain about this summer, however, is that I am needing a break from t-shirts. Yes, we all need t-shirts, and yes I am wearing one as I write this in my bedroom. But when I’m getting dressed, I’ve been needing something MORE. So I did a deep dive this week, and parsed my way through the internet’s vast selection. In doing so, I may not have settled on one signature uniform but I have been reveling in the feeling of completeness that comes with an outfit finished with a “top” as opposed to a tee. So today, a long superlative list of all the best summer tops out there. Warning, there are more than five. There are more than 30, in eight different categories. But it’s a concept so broad and one that so many people struggle with that I just couldn’t stop. There is something for everyone here, so enjoy the scroll and pick your poison.

The Shells

The least exciting (but also securing the easy summer top is also the most exciting?) but most useful summer top? These shells from Eileen Fisher and Posse. They are outfit completers big time: Good looking, simple design, the right price and not a t-shirt. Praise be! I couldn’t be more in love with this textured little “vest” from Eileen Fisher. The cut is perfect, not too high, not too low on the neck. The body cut slightly boxy and the texture a little bit vintage-looking. She works in the way a plain black or white t-shirt would work and therefore I don’t have to give her too much thought. Yet she looks totally intentional. *I’m wearing an XS for scale.

The Eileen Fisher “vest” with a vintage skirt (not the same, but into this and this) and Chanel shoes that I wanted for a year…and then scooped up on The RealReal…unfortunately, for basically the same price as retail? I guess I should have just bought and loved them a year ago? LOL. Here’s another pair if you’re a size 10. But the point is, the top has a little more depth with all this texture and color than a T-shirt. And it’s just more airy for the dead of summer.

The shell/vest/whatever! with our bubble skirt, continuing our Black for Summer movement. With a pasticcino, Wayfarers and Tevas for a very fun lunch date.

The shell with my biggest white jeans says: Yay summer! But don’t touch me! :) The shell with Citizens of Humanity jeans and the Doen x K. Jacques sandals, still the best collab of the summer if you ask me.

In addition, the cropped linen shell from Posse is a winner if you’re like me and spend most of your time, energy and disposable income on skirts and pants. She’s not actually all that cropped with a high waisted bottom - just grazes the top of your hips so you don’t have to wonder if you should be tucking or not.

My favorite summer weight shells (both also come in white!) Left: Posse. Right: Eileen Fisher

The Light As A Feather Tops For When You’re Too Hot and Bothered to Put in the Effort

A light as air shirt that looks like it could have been a mens under thing at the turn of the 19th century is the easiest, breeziest, option with literally everything and anything when it gets too hot to think. Beach cover up? Check! With sweatpants to drop off your kid at camp after he gave you his cold and can barely put one foot in front of the other? Check! With cut offs for a Saturday in the park? Check! With a party skirt for a little dressy/cash flirt. Check!!!!!! I’ve long loved the Nili Lotan Normandy blouse. It’s divine in white, and looks great (maybe even better!?) as it slowly yellows, like all well loved whites do eventually. And then it also comes in different shades of chambray which she launches new iterations of each season. Great if you are stain prone. :) The fit is just so easy. The fabric weight, light enough that you can tuck or untuck to your heart’s desire. It’s just good.

Not for nothing, Buck Mason makes a great similar version, which I recommend often. It’s not as long, but the general shape is great. Just size up. With the Nili, your regular size. I’m wearing a small.

The Normandy blouse with Suzi Kondi pants and Row sandals (but I love these too) which I’ve worn on repeat all week as I make my way to camp drop off, desperately trying to recover from a cold.

With old vintage Levi’s cut offs. Even if you think you’re done with cut offs, reminder to keep a pair at the bottom of the drawer! The amount of times I’ve removed these from the give away pile. And yet have been wearing them often this summer. Ralph Lauren belt, Chan Luu beads and Tevas.

The Normandy blouse with my big little circle skirt from Khaite. Someone invite me to a party that involves dancing please! Ancient Greek Sandals and Khaite sunnies

And for the day after said dance party above. Back to my 80s mom summer style goal. It works! The Normandy with Alex Mill linen shorts and AGS.

And since we are on the topic of tissue weight tops…When we are blessed with a cloudy day and I get to wear longs and longs again, which I pine for by this point in summer (yay!), I reach for this Kule tissue thin khaki button down. Wore it for a 4:30pm taco date with my kid on Monday so I thought I’d throw it in here.

Kule shirt, now on sale!, Auralee jeans since sold out but try these and Gabriela Hearst sandals. Maybe these instead?

From left: Nili Lotan, Buck Mason, Kule

The Overly Sweet Tops That Are What I Mostly Want to Wear These Days

This category is just for me. And if it’s for me, maybe it’s for some of you too!? All I want to wear lately is super duper girly tops. Pretty colors, ties, hearts, ruffles, smocking. Just the more the better. I find its a great balance for all the khaki I’ve been gravitating toward. They’re nice fodder for all my summer skirts and also a fun styling surprise with techy shorts.

Ulla Johnson top with Doen shorts and old Row sandals. Please note I am heeding my own advice about pairing with a black bra, just to give it a little something extra. :)

The Ulla top with our date night pants. If you missed em last season, this season’s is also fab. Granny sandals and Bembien tote. All of these elements are a little intense on their own, but together a dynamic shooting star. The “frumpy” shoes give all the romance a little weight.

Loeffler Randall top with Sea nylon shorts which I wore last weekend to Greenwich, CT for the day when my kid begged me to take Red Line on Metro North. We had lemon sorbet and watched the boats. My outfit was perfect. 

The Loeffler Randall top again with an APC skirt from last summer. But any airy printed skirt would be a cute match for her. How about this one?!

At first try on, I thought this Molly Goddard shirt was going to be too sweet for me. I already read a bit *basic* and young, so the peter pan collar and smocking, while calling to me, are elements I tend to avoid. Especially together. But something about all the elements together make this shirt just work. I’ve been throwing it on with ease and not mad about it. Glad I leaned into something I like without over thinking it! I tend to mostly wear it with white bottoms to not make the top feel like too much of a statement. Molly Goddard top with old Toujours pants (these look similar) and granny sandals. I met a Five Things reader in the park last weekend wearing hers and I am still smiling about it! Your feet will thank you. We promise. :)

Best In Camp

The staple needed to roll your sleeves into a cap and pretend you are Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. A must! It’s also a great breezy layer for a tank on a hot day when you just don’t want to wear just a tank. Consider a medium weight linen like the Naomi Nomi version below. Fun fact, I accidentally put it in the dryer and it’s still great. Slightly smaller but maybe that’s for the best? And for more of a statement, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Attersee’s tonal check shirt in, I don’t even know what this fabric is, but it sure is pretty. The color and shininess make it not too masculine, even though it’s a bit oversized. I sized down to an XS, FYI. And if you’re on the fence, this one from Uniqlo is awesome!!!

Naomi Nomi linen short sleeve shirt with last summer’s Kallmeyer skirt and granny sandals. An Anderson’s belt and Khaite cat eye sunnies

Attersee’s short sleeve shirt, which we saw as a layer last weekend with my LA Apparel bodysuit. Also great with a standard cami! This one from Hanro.

The Best Tops To Pair With Your Dinner Jeans

More going out tops!! Because, we need them!!! This motley crew of a selection were chosen because they will all look FANTASTIC with your hold me in dinner jeans.

LaLigne’s Cecily top. It could have fit in last weekend’s show a little skin theme, just a little sweeter. I love the covered buttons and exceptionally skinny straps. Also, it’s lined so no fear about transparency if you choose to go braless.

From left: Deiji Studio’s sweet gathered neckline is less casual in black. High Sport’s square neck tank will sit perfectly over your hips. Rachel Comey’s gathered top with flutter sleeve will look great with any shade of denim and a strappy heel. Bode’s delicate little embroidered tank will look airy and romantic, the perfect kind of skimpy. And below, Matteau’s one shouldered tank in a super thick, compact knit to hold you in sans bra (I’ve tried her on and she feels GOOD.)

matteau

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Alternatives to the Poplin Long Sleeve Button Down

For those who want to wear a big white poplin button down but it’s just too much fabric for July, August, and if we are being real, September. Here, white (and white adjacent) poplin tops that do the thing your classic shirt does, but a little lighter.

From left: A Caron Callahan shell with pretty lace detail sticking out of the bottom. Non-tuckers rejoice! Fforme’s poplin top. This brand is honestly so gorgeous in person, and it’s so difficult to tell online. Just click and look at it from all angles. So beautiful. Proenza Schouler’s loose peplum that will look great with your black pants. Lemaire’s slightly techy pullover.

Or If You Insist on a Long Sleeve Button Down, A Decadent silk Version to Wear as an Outer Layer

But then if you DO want to wear a long sleeve button down, silk somehow feels less oppressive than a big cotton poplin. It sits closer to your body. Feels fluid in a way that suits the slow movement required as the heat index climbs. When you still have to be inside, or just need layers to feel like yourself (guilty!) grab a decadent silk button down in lieu of a blazer or cardigan. I found the one I’m wearing below on The RealReal. It’s a size 10 Loro Piana from this season! Four brand new gorgeous options below. But this is also your reminder that you can hunt these down at resale. Don’t forget to size up!

A recycled picture from our office layers newsletter a few weeks ago: Loro Piana silk shirt. Nili Lotan tank. Maria McManus pants. The Row mesh flats but get these :)

Pure extravagance in the form of a shirt. From left: Tods, Loro Piana, The Row, Etro

And Last But Not Least. Two Tops I Simply Enjoy

They’re giving me 70s summer camp and I couldn’t be more smittened with these two styles so I thought, heck! Lets include them. Perfect for that beach vacation I never booked. Maybe next year!

Left: Double RL, Right: Suzie Kondi

And there you have it. Tops, tops and more tops! Which flavor are you?

Yours TRULY,

Becky