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Sunday, January 30, 2011
Now that you have pants and/or skirts figured out, it’s time to find tops. My rules for tops are simple…
~Natural fabrics only! Think cotton, linen, rayon, or silk (although, I don’t advise that last one if you’re on a budget or have young children). Polyester just looks cheap, in my not-so-humble opinion! It makes you sweat too, which is not pleasant, so it’s best to just skip it and stick with the stuff God made.
~Find CLASSIC styles. That means KEEP WALKING past the Juniors section and only shop in the Misses or Women’s department (even then you have to be careful). By classic styles, I mean styles that won’t look odd on you in a couple of years, and/or won’t look totally out-of-style next year. If fashion isn’t necessarily one of your hobbies, it can be hard to know what is a classic piece and what is trendy.
Basically, the word “trendy” can be attached to any style that wasn’t popular two years ago and probably won’t be popular in another two years (but then will re-appear in about twenty years…). Confused?
Basically, a trendy style is one that BEGAN as a classic style but has been tweaked to give it a different, and “new” look to intrigue women all around the world who will then go buy it, thereby keeping the fashion designers in business 
For instance, this first shirt is a basic square-neck shirt that someone got bored with and decided to try adding some pleating and gathers in various places. This style comes and goes about every twenty years. When it’s in, it’s IN, and when it’s out, the only women who want to wear it are pregnant women, and then only out of necessity!
This second shirt is an even better example of classic-gone-trendy. The designer chose the classic Empire-waisted design and added a twist to the bodice (no pun intended!). Notice the hemline of the shirt. Rather than the classic straight hem, this shirt has what I like to call a “warped hem.” Hey! It looks exactly like the unhemmed bottom edge of a dress before it is measured and cut evenly! …That’s probably actually where the designer got the idea…
I’m NOT ditching trendy clothes. I personally LIKE to wear trendy tops as long as they’re not skimpy and cheap-looking. However, as busy moms on a budget, it just doesn’t suit to fill our closets with clothes that will all look outdated in a year. I do believe there is a time and place to look outdated, like if you’re going to a historical reenactment or love to wear vintage clothes, but most of us just want to look put-together 
So it’s best to fill our closets with classic styles that we’ll actually be able to wear proudly until they fall apart!
Note: It’s perfectly fine to have a few not-so-classic things if there’s a current trend that you’re especially in love with Just don’t make them the bulk of your wardrobe. And MAKE SURE they’re age-appropriate! If you’re over 35, my recommendation is to avoid all trends. You are timeless and should dress timelessly
Here are some of my favorites from the trendy department…
If you’re under 35 (and especially if you’re smaller than a size 10!), you can still get away with a younger look. Just be sure it’s made from a more grown-up fiber like silk or rayon. A polyester silk look-alike is acceptable as long as it’s not too stiff, bright, or shiny like a Halloween princess outfit! This style of blouse would look beautiful with a dressy wool skirt, tailored slacks, or even a pair of dark-wash jeans (dark-wash is always more slimming and elegant)…
This style, whether as a shirt or as a dress is a perfect casual alternative for times when you need something other than a t-shirt… As a shirt, wear it with your favorite jeans or cords, and as a dress, pair it with boots or ballet flats…
This style leans toward the classic side, but the fabric has a soft vintage look to it, and paired with jeans, it looks downright contemporary, so I’m at a complete loss as to which category it fits into. What do you think? Classic, vintage, or modern? Your guess is as good as mine I’m sharing it with you for one because I’m a romantic and love flowy things, but mainly because it’s a very feminine top that’s still practical and comfortable when worn with jeans. A perfect mommy shirt for days when you need or want to look beautiful yet still be comfortable enough to play on the floor with your little ones…
Simplicity Pattern Company has a wonderful line of plus size pattern styles that are really quite flattering. No longer are you relegated to baggy t-shirts and stretchy pants just because you’re bigger than a size 14. I also love these patterns because they use a REAL woman for a model so you can see what today’s styles look like instead of seeing them on a size 0 model then wondering why they never look good on a real body! These next two pictures are two of my favorites from the plus size line of patterns…
This pattern is similar to the very first picture on this post. It’s less BIG (fewer gathers and pleats everywhere), but still has an updated t-shirt look and feel to it. I can’t say I like the camel-colored option, but blue and red options qualify as wardrobe staples in my book!
This is another one of those not-quite-categorizable styles. In MY romantic, lace-loving opinion, this one should be considered a classic. It has that feminine, almost-Western, almost-old-fashioned style that never goes out of vogue…
If you’re getting tired of trendy tops, have no fear: the classics are here! Sorry… Any of the rest of these styles can be worn by anyone from the age of 9 to 109! I consider these the true classics. Obviously different ages of women will wear them slightly differently, but the beauty of a classic piece of clothing is that it is extremely versatile and can be worn with any pants, skirt, or accessory, depending on your personality and still look wonderful.
Can anyone tell me exactly when THIS particular style was so popular? Probably not because there’s never been a time when it HASN’T been popular! This is what I mean by a classic style. Well, maybe not the necklace, but the tank and overshirt. This is what I want to fill my closet with…
A prettier take on the over-used t-shirt. If you’re tempted to buy a $5 t-shirt, STOP! Is that really your best option? Why not look for something that FEELS like a t-shirt and WEARS like a t-shirt but LOOKS prettier?!!! You will go from frumpy-mom to chic-mom in a matter of seconds…
A trendy classic. A classic white cotton shirt with a fascinatingly trendy twist…
This is a true classic. The wrap, whether faux or real is second only to the button-up blouse. It is feminine, tailored, and ultra-slimming, and who doesn’t want to look all of those three?! You can find wrap styles in just about any color, fiber, and print. If you need a tailored blouse, find a wrap in cotton or linen. If you’re in a t-shirt mood, find a cotton knit wrap. If you’re feeling spunky, look for one in a colorful floral print or plaid. This is a good style for those of us who have NO waist.
You can even find wraps with an empire waist… Sad to say, this one isn’t quite so flattering if you’ve lost your waist, but is perfect for the smaller-busted woman who needs to balance out wider hips.
A slightly updated take on the button-up blouse. Supposedly it’s camouflaging to have a tie there. I haven’t decided if I agree with that or not. But I definitely think it’s adorably feminine if you have a slim waist… (please no comments on the accompanying pants. I haven’t made up my mind on those yet…)
And last, but certainly not least, the epitome of classic: the button-up blouse!!! Drumroll, please… When in doubt, buy one of these This shirt goes well with jeans, corduroys, tailored slacks, business suits, and all of your favorite skirts!
