I fear it's an age thing.
I'm talking tee shirts now. Those tops that you buy in the Spring to wear every day. Over jeans, shorts, loose drawstring trousers - easy, throw them on tops that are your wardrobe staple.
Except they are ridiculously difficult to buy. Now I thought this was just me but on speaking to other people, no, apparently it's a problem that other people are burdened with too (middle class problems here clearly....)
And I wonder if it is in fact an age thing. Or is the fabric they make tee shirts out of, getting thinner? As it seems to me that the majority of them are paper thin, shapeless, go out of shape after three washes or you end up with tiny holes in them. I actually don't want to have to layer a tee shirt with a vest so that you can't see my bra. This sort of defeats the object in warmer weather. I also don't want them to be so shapeless that I look like I'm wearing a sack on my top half. Or one that manages to cling just in the wrong places ie highlighting my muffin or mum tum for all the world to see.
Don't get me started on straight hem ones. They may work for a lot of people and yes, they're fine if you're going to tuck them in with boyfriend jeans (and I clearly never tuck the whole lot in now - but a tuck in at the front or one side which sounds totally random and naff, does actually work) .
Basically it's a minefield. And I'm not even sure that throwing money at the situation helps. I will explore this in more detail but certainly some of the ones I've tried that are more expensive, yes the fabric is definitely more flattering in its drape but still thin enough to see my underwear. Which at 41 is frankly a massive no.
So the other option is to look at an alternative. Essentially what I need is a casual top that I can wear every day as previously mentioned
Ground rules are
- It can't be too baggy or oversized - I want to be able to wear a blazer/jacket over it without looking like the Michelin woman.
- It can't be too fitted - I have finally faced the reality that me and the gym are casual lovers and I will never have a torso like Elle McPherson. Whilst I appreciate I am very much on the slim side, I collect my fat around my stomach and there are rolls a plenty which do NOT need to be accentuated.
- It can't be too long
- It can't be too short
- It has to go in the washing machine
- It can't be too thick
- It can't be too thin
But my preference would definitely be the grey. For me the most versatile colour and the easiest to match other colours do - certainly in the Spring/Summer.
Another grey top from Jaeger - this is lovely but personally I prefer the more capped shape sleeves of the Hobbs one.
Jaeger Fine Gauge Merino Under Piece Jumper £99
Some other versions out there.
Cashmere from M&S
Pure Cashmere Knitted T-shirt £69 in Apple - lovely pastel shade of green, would look lovely with whites or greys, alongside navy.
More Cashmere from M&S, this time in lilac. I'd say this one is more of a shell shape with less of a nipped in bottom. Still exceptionally useful.
Pure Cashmere Raglan Sleeve Jumper £69
Not not a silk front but another "print" one if you like. I love this - would look amazing with jeans and a black blazer. Gorgeous with a leather skirt too - or culottes. Cream or black full midi skirt? I've got my eye on this for underneath my leopard print coat. Or my green Zara coat..... Let alone the navy H&M coat..... Or how about with grey cargo pants and a biker jacket, black skater shoes and I'm sold.
Grid Checked Jumper from Autograph at M&S now only £22, was £35 Viscose and cotton mix.
Ice Blue Light Denim tee £59 from Mint Velvet
And by the way, this is why I'm not playing the cropped top game. This pic does not truly do justice to how ghastly it looked (although it's going a fair bit of the way)
Just voted for you - good luck! I was just musing over t-shirts this morning and have actually gone the cheap option and ordered three (white, coral and cobalt) New Look structured tee shirt Whistles rip offs - they're on the cropped side but because I'm tiny, they should still be well below my waist hopefully. I'm fully expecting at 8 quid each to have to send them back but we'll see! Love the chambray MV and the grey Hobbs ones from above.
ReplyDeleteNice t-shirts! Abigail from Hobbs... Abigail Hobbs! Have you seen the 1st season of Hannibal? What a scary thought...
ReplyDeleteI'm struggling with t-shirts as well. Thank you for the ideas!
Just voted! Count me in
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. I have struggled to find the perfect tee the last few summers. Just got two I love from boden. Think they are linen tee and they have a pocket
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love the first grey Hobbs one. Have you bought it? Or are you buying the MV chambray one? I think you're right about cheap tee shirts. I gave up on them a few years ago and in terms of cheap tops, the best alternative I found was the Tesco shell tops. But I do think I'll be taking a trip to Hobbs after reading this xx
ReplyDeleteVoted :-)
ReplyDeleteHa ha...I am the opposite...expensive tops look nothing on me, I am tiny though size 6-8 with no boobage (34AA) so maybe that has something to do with it. Primark, tesco etc all the way for me x
ReplyDeleteOh, and I am 45!
DeleteLove the look of the Hobbs sweater on you, and the Mint Velvet one would be so useful
ReplyDeleteAbbi x
...love the t shirt blog...zara has a t shirt exactly like the MV one in khaki linen with leopard print on the front....its 19.95 as opposed to 50! got one the other day...its on their site under t shirts, you have my vote, fab blog!
ReplyDeleteI've just bought a similar style short sleeve knit top from Next in Navy for £15 (666-955). It has a bow on the back of the neck which I'm not keen on but as I have long hair you can't see it and for that price I don't can live with it! It's very flattering. Love the sweaters shown on your blog but out of my price range while we renovate the house.
ReplyDeleteEstelle.
You should get the MV chambray, it looks really lovely on you.
ReplyDeleteTrust me the best t-shirts are these vintage cotton ones from J Crew https://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/knitstees/shortsleevetees/PRDOVR~36183/36183.jsp
ReplyDeleteVoted for you, of course
ReplyDeleteRegards
Roni
Voted for you!
ReplyDeleteLove the first T, and also the black leopard print one.
Totally agree the hardest thing to buy. I am more of an hourglass shape but can get slight "muffin" top when jeans slip down a little and t-shirts can be damn unflattering. If I was in the UK I would totally be getting a couple of these but as we are heading into winter here and I have spent my budget I will just look and admire.
voted!
ReplyDeleteAnd claims of muffin tops or flabby bellies are unfounded. You house an enviable figure.
Just voted. Love your blog missus!
ReplyDeleteHave voted. Always really enjoy your posts. Good luck. Jackie.
ReplyDeleteJust voted, good luck.
ReplyDeleteI think you have read my mind on this post! Been looking for the same thing for ages and definitely agree it is worth paying more as I have had some terrible quality t-shirts recently. Look forward to going to try these on, especially like the look of the Hobbs one.
ReplyDeleteJust came across your blog not long ago and I am so happy I did! I'm in my early thirties with 3 kiddies under 5, so having spent most of the last few years in maternity clothes it's so nice to properly focus on fashion once again. Having looked through many blogs I was ridiculously happy to find yours, as we are a similar height and build (I am thin but with a slight mummy tum) and have very similar tastes. I was delighted to see I already have a lot of the same clothes as you (spooky how much is identical!!) so it's been nice to get some inspiration on how to put outfits together. I think that's what I have lost a bit over the past few years. So thank you for reigniting my interest in fashion and I look forward to continuing to follow the blog :)
Oh and I'll vote for the award thingamy too - appreciate all the research that goes into your posts.
You got my vote. Good luck x
ReplyDeleteYou should have tried the crop top with something high-waisted....probably would have looked a hundred times better x
ReplyDeleteHave voted - fingers crossed your ace blog wins this year.
ReplyDeleteBeen reading your blog a while but never really commented. Have voted - love your style advice, frank photos and your wit!
ReplyDelete