What do your clothes say about you? Do they simply supply covering and warmth or something more in the lines of decorating your body type? Though no two persons are alike and preferences abound, forethought should be given to what you wear and how you wear it, as clothes reveal much about us and about our feelings toward others. Before we even say a word, our clothes have said something about us. So why not go beyond the basic function of providing covering and employ some fun into your wardrobe with dressy tops and playful accessories?

 When it comes to dressy tops, the variety is endless. For instance, the Indian sari, Japanese kimono, the Hawaiian muumuu and the Middle Eastern aba all cover the body but in totally different ways. That also goes for the German homburg, the French beret, and the Arabic kaffiyah which all cover the male head but all make different fashion statements. And who is to say which is more suitable or comfortable – the Scottish kilt or American slacks?

Whether we like it or not, people judge us and put us into a mental file based on what we wear and how we wear it. Today, more often than not, dressy tops can be used as a means of expressing your lifestyle choice, political views, nationalistic identity and so much more. Even more on a personal level, decisions must be made as to when and where to wear certain clothing items. Obviously a lacy blouse would not be appropriate when farming or gardening but just might work at a cocktail party or business meeting. What we put on when going shopping would not be right for an evening with friends. So care must be exercised in choosing trends which are heavily influenced by lifestyles that we may not subscribe to.

Barbaralee Diamonstein in Vogue magazine admits, ““What once was a concern for quality had become an obsession with the designer label”. Indeed, our wardrobe is no longer simply a matter of function and need and because we are bombarded with advertising that promises beauty, status and popularity, many lean towards dressy tops endorsed with the signatures or emblems of one designer or another.

Resisting these advertising ploys can be done but only by controlling your impulse to buy. Wise advice, especially if on a budget. Dressing beautifully doesn’t have to be so difficult. Steer away from aggressive salespeople and pressure to buy an item that you cannot afford. Dressy tops can be as simple in design and cost as you choose. You can even make your own if you have the time and skill.

Remember, style, as the dictionary puts it, is the WAY in which something is done rather than the thing itself. In dressy tops, it’s the overall presentation of fit, taste and quality that says far more than endlessly pursuing the latest in fashion and design.

 

 

 

Dressy tops are versatile garments that come in various styles to meet the fashion needs of every woman. From flowing pleats to glamorous silk fabrics, there is something for anyone looking to appear ultra-feminine without getting too dressed up. Dressy shirts are idea for both daytime and evening wear, and can be easily transformed to the style of any event. Learn more about what to wear with a dressy top.

Jeans

Team a dressy top with a fitting pair of designer jeans. Keep the jeans simple if paired with a top with heavy embellishments, such as sequins or embroidery. Consider wearing boot-cut style jeans with a pair of comfortable heels, knee-high boots, or slouchy boots.

Skirts

Depending on the style, dressy tops can be easily pulled off with the right skirt. Opt for the length and embellishment-type according to body shape. For example, women with pair-shaped bodies should avoid embellishments on the hips that can call unnecessary attention to the area. Apple-body shapes should stay away from plunging necklaces and consider tops that end above the hips.

Pants

Dress pants of various colors and styles can be easily paired with a ruffled blouse or cute-trimmed top. For tops that are light or vibrantly-colored, stick with a light-colored pair of dress slacks. Leave darker-colored dress pants for the colder months. Pair with ankle boots, flats, pumps, or a nice open-toe shoe.

Basics

When searching for the right ensemble, consider basic tops that are solid neutrals or contain classic details, such as lace or kimono sleeves. The beauty of choosing a top in a neutral color is the ability to transform it into many looks. Both navy blue and black are must-have pieces in any closet. Remember that you can also glitz up plainer dressy tops with a few key accessories.

Extras

Keep accessories at a minimum if the top is very dressy. This doesn’t mean that you need to stick with pearl-stud earrings or other basic jewelry-essentials. Try a piece or two of solid jewelry or two-toned neutral accessories. Scarves, handbags, and belts are other ways to dress up a casual outfit.

No matter the style, color, or texture of the top, ensure that the bottoms are kept simple. The top should be the main focus of the outfit, but can be embellished with subtle jewelry and accessories. Dressy tops are the answer to nearly any slightly more than casual event.

 The shrewd shopper will shop carefully as a good wardrobe is not a matter of having many clothes or being up to the latest in fashion. So before you go shopping for different styles of dressy tops or anything else for that matter, take a good look at the clothes you currently own.

When you shop, give thought to how a new top will blend with outfits you already have and then select those items that will harmonize with the color and style of your current clothes. Classic simple lines are good investments as they are flexible and long-wearing. Shopping at the right time and right place can also make a big difference in your budget and comfort level.

But remember that something on sale isn’t necessarily a good buy. Try to develop a good eye for dressy tops of good quality which you can find in the high-end department stores and even the discount outlets when they both have drastic reductions at various times during the year.

Styles of dressy tops vary almost as much as the stores offering them. For starters, there are raglan sleeve tops with or without sequins, draped neck tops, rhinestone and taffeta/chiffon combinations, crochet dolman sleeve blouses, Paisley corset tops with beaded hems, Deco rose hologram tops, pleated taffeta rosette tops, pleated metallic cold shoulder tops, sequin rose tie blouses, swirl mesh dropwaist blouses, embroidered flutter sleeve tops, v-neck, square-neck or mandarin collar blouson styles, asymmetrical styles, animal prints, stretch silks, and even the humble polka-dot tops.

Really, the styles are ever-changing and ever-abundant. You are limited only by your imagination. But remember to maintain balance in creating your wardrobe as sloppiness could convey indifference or a lack of self-esteem, even selfish disregard for the effect one has on others. Conversely, an extremely style-conscious appearance may reveal a self-centered point of view.

Without a doubt, our clothes tell a lot about us. They can tell us if we are modest or conceited, respectful or haughty. They can also testify to our good taste and self-respect. Yes, they can whisper, talk or shout about us.

Clothes are merely an extension of our inner person so they should be pleasing and attractive without being extreme. And when you wear dressy tops in their various styles and fabric patterns in good taste, your clothes will speak well of you.

 

 

Can’t decide what to wear? That’s easy. Dressy tops go with elegant slacks or skirts or even layered over some styles of dresses and you can dress up or dress down with them. The perfect pairing of blouse to any other clothing item just needs a tweak or two to achieve the right look based on occasion. Plus they make a beautiful alternative to dresses.

Common fabrics for dressy blouses include satin, rayon, taffeta, silk, and chiffon. For pear shaped women, it’s best to choose dressy tops with square or wide necklines. Remember to look for dressy blouse styles that reflect your personality and that you love, but don’t be afraid to try something outside your comfort zone, too.

When deciding on which dressy top to choose, take into account your body shape. And if a top would be considered inappropriate for wearing to a casual social event, it’s probably a dressy style, suitable for more dignified or elegant occasions.

 

But where to buy dressy tops?

Truthfully you can find dressy tops at consignment shops nowadays – shops like Goodwill, Dollar Stores, Savers, and local resale shops. But with these types of stores you can’t always locate what you want WHEN you want it. But they are worth a try – especially if you are on a budget.

That said, the larger department stores like Burlington Coat Factory, Sears, Macy’s, Dilliard’s, Elder-Beerman, Nordstrom, J.C. Penney’s, Kohl’s, Dress Barn, Fashion Remix and countless others will provide endless varieties of colors, sizes, and styles to suit your taste.

For plus sized options, the stores mentioned above all have departments of one size or another to help you locate what you need. There are also affordable plus size women online choices such as PlussizeFix which carries the latest junior plus size clothing for all plus size women around the world. Dedicated to providing clothing to fit your unique “curves the way it should.” They also carry sexy jeans, dresses, coats, casual tops and bottoms and other items.

Online stores offer worldwide shipping so if you can’t find what you’re looking for locally there’s always auction sites and online-only shops. Simply use your favorite browser to search for “dressy tops” and you’ll find a plethora of choices which will keep you busy for hours as you shop through all the styles, colors and photos.

For instance, just a quick search yields results for maurices.com, macys.com, whitehouseblackmarket.com, chicos.com, venus.com, jcpenney.com, bedfordfair.com, papayaclothing.com, forever21.com, anntaylor.com, dressbarn.com, charlotterusse.com, wetseal.com, kohls.com, lanebryant.com (plus sized), roamans.com (plus sized), nordstrom.com, lulus.com, victoriassecret.com, target.com plus about 700,000 other online web sites vying for your buying attention.

So when it comes to where to buy dressy tops, the sky’s the limit. And remember, when wondering what is considered a good wardrobe, it’s not a matter of having a lot of clothes but more a matter of careful shopping and selection.

 

When choosing a dressy top for your look, think about your fashion personality and choose one that’s just right for you If you feel self-conscious about fit or appropriateness to the occasion, it’s best to forego wearing that item and choose another. But for the most part, dressy tops can be worn on any number of occasions – and even with jeans as they can make a casual outfit into stunning evening attire.

 But what about the cost of dressy tops? That depends where and when you purchase them. Of course, there’s quite a bit of variety in fabric, print and texture and those factors will affect price. Some are made of pricier fabrics like imported silks and taffetas and the price will reflect such.

 For example, at Chicos, their dressy tops range anywhere from $27 on up to $139. Some are hand-wash recommended while others of polyester georgette fabric can be machine washed in the delicate cycle. Styles range from tank tops to spotted and semi-sheer. Some with bungee styling at the waist to shape the silhouette and others with shimmery shell buttons, nautical stripes, tunic lengths, and button banded cuffs.

 At Ann Taylor you’ll find dressy tops promising to give your wardrobe “clean lines, fine fabrics, and new color”. Their prices run from $49.99 to $118.

 And then we have Macy’s where they offer their online selections of sequined and velvet tops great for evening wear. Pricing around $59 to $109 depending on style. Dress Barm offers Misses, Petites and Plus-Sized chiffon and satin dressy tops ranging from $39 to $70. Some styles include ruffled chiffon with cascade ruffles, flutter cuffs and ribbon belts which are perfect for sophisticated evening wear with dress pants or a skirt.

 There really are unlimited choices in offline and online stores when you want to revamp your wardrobe with a little splash of good taste. While casual tees, polos and other shirts are mainstays in a woman’s closet, dressy tops are also essential for special occasions. They stand out from the rest with their attention to detail.

While discreet and attractive styles of dress vary from country to country you are still able to reach your full potential by feeling confident in your clothing and know that whatever your body type, style preference or occasion, there’s sure to be an eye-catching dressy top to fit your needs and budget.