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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 04 2012 at 12:41pm | IP Logged
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OK- after watching (and drooling over ) all the pretty clothes on Downton Abbey, I am determined to find some pretty tops for the summer.
I am in a summer wardrobe crisis which has been building for a couple of years. I'm not a tank top, low scoop neck, sleeveless or tiny cap sleeve fan-
these are just styles that I'm not comfortable wearing. Unfortunately, these are the styles that are in fashion 
It is way too hot here in the south in the sumer to be wearing layers such as a camisole under a low cut shirt or a blouse over a tank top.
Last year I had very minimal luck with Kohls and Land's End ( is it just me, or are a lot of their shirts super thin these days?)
I am just looking for a few nice shirts...so I'm hoping that, as the spring rolls around, we can post our summer fashion finds here. 
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 04 2012 at 12:51pm | IP Logged
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ack! I haven't even thought of this. I spent the last two summers pregnant and I don't remember if I needed clothes before that or not 
Since you're looking for atypical summer tops.. I'd be looking at winter clearance stuff for any short or 3/4 sleeve tops that might work.
And rather than a camisole under a lower cut shirt. you can get little pieces of fabric that attach across the neckline (I think on your bra straps? or maybe on the shirt) that will cover the neckline without being a full layer.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 04 2012 at 1:03pm | IP Logged
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oh.. what sort of tops are you looking for Melinda? with capri's or shorts? with skirts or pants? like tunic length tops can look super cute with pants or capris.. not so much with skirts or shorts.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 04 2012 at 6:16pm | IP Logged
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Hmm.... a little fabric insert across the neckline is not something I had thought of, Jodie. That might work. Is that something you can buy or would you make your own?
I'm looking basically for pretty knit tops to wear with capris or skirts.
Short sleeve is fine- I just prefer something a little more substantial than a cap sleeve.
I have never tried tunic length tops since I'm short... I normally have to wear petite sizes, otherwise the tops are way too long. But, since options are limited  , I am not against giving those a whirl.
Basically, I just want to find some pretty things that I feel good wearing. I really enjoy my winter clothes, but the summer ones have me stumped
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: Feb 04 2012 at 7:42pm | IP Logged
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I've had this and this on my list. I have the shawl collared shirt from Lands End that I like as a layer, but like you, I prefer something more substantial than a cap sleeve and not quite so thin on its own. I find the neckline has a lot to do with how pretty I feel. I like a boat neck as well, which also goes well with scarves that can help up the pretty factor and make a piece more versatile. I also feel more elegant in 3/4 sleeves than short and only nominally warmer 
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Lindsay
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SaraP
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I've been seeing blouses like these and these in all sorts of pretty prints and different fabrics. I think they would look super-cute with capris or bermudas.
I'm in the south, too, and have found t-lets to be invaluable for summertime layering.
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| Posted: Feb 06 2012 at 8:11am | IP Logged
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Melinda, I have been wearing the 3/4 sleeved blouse from Lands' End for a couple of years. They have many styles and colors and if you wait for sales you can get good deals. Wearing a blouse makes me feel just a little bit dressed up.
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Stephanie
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ctrivette
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| Posted: Feb 06 2012 at 8:52am | IP Logged
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I like the 3/4 sleeve blouses at Lands End, too. I have some nicer tshirts from Christopher & Banks that have longer short sleeves than most places and are decent weight fabric. They (and my older Lands End) seem to last forever...and don't need ironed:). When I can find a good sale, I try to get a couple.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 06 2012 at 11:45am | IP Logged
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Thanks for all these great ideas! I always forget about Orvis, and although I do buy a lot from lands End, I have not considered the 3/4 blouses... but I will now!
I was surprised to see that the Old Navy tops were so cute! Usually the necklines are so low that I just have to pass on those. I mean- I don't want to flash anyone just by bending over to pick something up, you know?
I am definitely looking for wash and wear items... having to iron a t-shirt makes me crabby. Three of the LE t-shirts I bought last summer are super thin and need to be ironed...  I am really gong to have to rethink buying those any more.
I usually wear a PS or PM... or a regular small. Those sizes seem to sell out very quickly. I did do a quick scan of Belks and Kohls this weekend... seems they don't have much summer stuff out yet....
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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MicheleQ
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SeaStar wrote:
| I am definitely looking for wash and wear items... having to iron a t-shirt makes me crabby. Three of the LE t-shirts I bought last summer are super thin and need to be ironed... I am really gong to have to rethink buying those any more. |
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Try the spray bottle trick. Anything that needs ironed I just line up on my shower curtain rod, spray and leave to dry. When I come back they are ready for my closet and don't need ironed at all. I do this all the time with my 100% cotton skirts and tops and it works great. They won't be "crisp" (you need starch and an iron for crisp) but they'll be wrinkle free, soft and flowing --which I prefer. 
L.L. Bean has some tops that look good for spring and summer:
Lightweight Washable Linen 3/4 sleeve shirt
seersucker shirts
TropicwearŽ Short sleeve shirt
floral print tees
short sleeve linen shirts
Their prices are higher than other places but I think their quality is better and the clothes last longer. Plus you can't beat their guarantee. Oh and they have free shipping.
I just ordered the Indispensable Knit Dress as a wardrobe staple.
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: Feb 06 2012 at 4:49pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
Hmm.... a little fabric insert across the neckline is not something I had thought of, Jodie. That might work. Is that something you can buy or would you make your own?
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You can buy them! I got a 3 pack at Walgreens. $10.
Here it is on amazon: fabric panels
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 06 2012 at 4:56pm | IP Logged
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At the end of last summer I bought three of these t-shirts on super sale from
Lands End: t-shirts
I think I only paid about $6 per shirt at the time... good thing because they are so thin and they wrinkle like crazy. I put them in the dryer for maybe 20 minutes and then hang to dry all the way- wrinkled. Let them dry all the way in the dryer... wrinkled. Just look at them....wrinkled 
Soo... won't be buying those again.
I like LL Bean- I was just looking at their summer dresses for my dd.
Michele, do you think that overall their quality is pretty consistent?
LE is so up and down, but LE has the overstock dept and good sales.
Thanks for the tip about Walgreens, Ellie. There is one near my house!
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SeaStar
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knowloveserve wrote:
SeaStar wrote:
Hmm.... a little fabric insert across the neckline is not something I had thought of, Jodie. That might work. Is that something you can buy or would you make your own?
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You can buy them! I got a 3 pack at Walgreens. $10.
Here it is on amazon: fabric panels |
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Looking at these fabric inserts reminds me of a question I have about camisoles in general. I wear them all the time in the winter under my shirts just to keep warm.
But as far as wearing them under a low cut shirt, I find that:
a. the camisoles also tend to be low cut also and don't seem to offer much in the way of increasing coverage. Am I wearing them wrong? Wrong brand?
I've tried hiking the straps up.
b. A lot of camis have lace edges. To me, if the lace shows, it looks like that might be a mistake... as if part of your underwear is showing (as in, I wouldn't want the lace on my bra peeping out, either  )
Is it silly to feel that way? Is it PC to have camisole lace show?
I know... as if I don't have better things to worry about.
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MicheleQ
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SeaStar wrote:
But as far as wearing them under a low cut shirt, I find that:
a. the camisoles also tend to be low cut also and don't seem to offer much in the way of increasing coverage. Am I wearing them wrong? Wrong brand?
I've tried hiking the straps up.
b. A lot of camis have lace edges. To me, if the lace shows, it looks like that might be a mistake... as if part of your underwear is showing (as in, I wouldn't want the lace on my bra peeping out, either )
Is it silly to feel that way? Is it PC to have camisole lace show? |
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I know what you mean. I have at time seen the cami under a shirt thing and wondered "how is that modest?" because both tops are quite snug and very clearly show ones figure (pronounced figger --I am still in Downton mode here ).
Like you though I find most camis are too low anyway so it doesn't work for me. I've had to make my own for them to be useful at raising a neckline.
The cami panels (I have a set) definitely look like underwear to me. But they would be super easy to make. I have noticed that on ladies I have seen them on that they tend to ride up at the bottom. I'd pin the bottom to stop that.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Feb 06 2012 at 7:35pm | IP Logged
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a lace inset in a top is what I think of when I see lace on a camisole.. it's supposed to show.. just like the lace edging on petticoats on little girls dresses is designed to show under a skirt because it's pretty.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
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JodieLyn
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oh but speaking of finds.. there's a lady giving a bunch of clothing to my mom and sister (I forget how she got it) but I get to go through it too. And today I found a nice lounging sorta outfit that's relatively lightweight pants and short sleeved top. so will be good for summer evenings. And a knit top and pants set.. it's just khaki colored but the top has pretty white embroidery around the neck and sleeves.. knit pants are almost always just slightly short on me and my mom is going to cut them into capri length for me so I have a cute summer outfit and the pants are plain and will go with other tops (if I have any.. I still need to check into that) and the top will be cute with denim too.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
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MicheleQ
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JodieLyn wrote:
| a lace inset in a top is what I think of when I see lace on a camisole.. it's supposed to show.. just like the lace edging on petticoats on little girls dresses is designed to show under a skirt because it's pretty. |
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It depends on the lace to me. Some lace yes is meant to be seen but other types just say "underwear" to me. Also on those cami inserts the material is that shiny slip like stuff so that just makes it worse.
But that's me.
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Michele Quigley
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SaraP
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| Posted: Feb 06 2012 at 10:23pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
But as far as wearing them under a low cut shirt, I find that:
a. the camisoles also tend to be low cut also and don't seem to offer much in the way of increasing coverage. Am I wearing them wrong? Wrong brand?
I've tried hiking the straps up. |
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Yes! And this drives me nuts, but it's just how most camis are cut.
HOWEVER, the t-lets I linked above are cut considerably higher than a regular cami. I've also found that the camis from Downeast Basics are cut high enough that they don't gap or get pulled down too far even when I am holding a grabby baby or toddler. They're also long enough that they don't ride up and show my belly even though I am tall.
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Claire F
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Shade Clothing has some simple t-shirt type tops with slightly longer sleeves -
Scoop neck elbow sleeve T
Scoop neck T
And this V-neck T looks like it has sleeves that are a bit longer too.
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Claire
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SeaStar
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| Posted: Feb 07 2012 at 6:17am | IP Logged
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SaraP wrote:
I've been seeing blouses like these and these in all sorts of pretty prints and different fabrics. I think they would look super-cute with capris or bermudas.
I'm in the south, too, and have found t-lets to be invaluable for summertime layering. |
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I really like the t-let with the sparkles... fun! I could not see a picture of one by itself. does it attach to your bra or does it go over your shoulders?
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Pretty summer tops: post your finds here!
