We imagine getting dressed is easy if you’re a supermodel or if you absolutely love everything about your body. It’s also often easier in the cooler months when you can use layering to disguise what you don’t love and highlight what you do. But how about during the summer when you just want to wear a simple outfit of a summer top and jeans or shorts? This article has all the most flattering summer tops we’ve found, and what to look out for when choosing them.
what to look for in a flattering summer top?
What should you think about when choosing a new summer top?
Be inspired by our tops to hide a belly article
If your belly is part of your body you aren’t super confident about, there are lots of tips and stylish tops in our special article on tops to hide a belly.
Summer weather fabrics
When choosing summer tops, look out for materials that keep you cool like linen and cotton, or for floaty fabrics that won’t cling like chiffon.
Claudia @glamupyourlifestyle above (read her style interview here) opts for a linen shirt with her print pants.
Get her look with this similar shirt (another option here), pants (another option here), sandals, bag and earrings.
Three-quarter or half length sleeves
Tops with three-quarter or half length sleeves are super flattering if you prefer to cover your upper arms. They end closer to your waist which will highlight it. Plus, 3/4 and 2/4 sleeve tops are so much cooler than full-length sleeves for summer. You’ll see we feature lots of three-quarter length tops among our favorites.
Draping, ruching and easy breezy fitting
Don’t choose anything too tight. Rather, look out for tops that feature drapes and ruching to disguise a tummy, and choose tops that won’t cling. Light denim is a non-clingy fabric that’s right on trend right now.
Adaline @sdmomstyles above chooses an on-trend denim shirt with her white skirt and sandals.
Recreate her outfit with this similar top, skirt, sandals and bag.
BEST summer tops
Now, let’s take a look at some of the most stylish, cool and chic tops to choose this summer.
Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher’s linen sleeveless shirt is a great option for summer. The material will keep you cool, and you can tuck it into your waistband or leave it loose. You can decide how many buttons to unfasten at the neckline to create the most flattering look for you, or wear it as a jacket layer over a singlet. It comes in green, white or black.
Eileen Fisher Organic Handkerchief Linen Sleeveless Shirt
The boxy shape of the T-shirt below gives outfits a modern look. It drapes away from the body to create movement and comes in many different colors.
Eileen Fisher Organic Handkerchief Linen Box-Top
Another option for layering during the summer is to choose a top with a fine weave. Wear it over your swimsuit as a cover-up, over a tank top, or layer it over a long white shirt.
Eileen Fisher Organic Linen Délavé Bateau Neck Top
Karen Kane
We love Karen Kane for the flattering layered tops they design. The asymmetrical crossover top camouflages a belly and is a great option for wearing with jeans, shorts, or leggings, and new colors are always released each season.
Karen Kane Asymmetrical Crepe Top
If you don’t want sleeves, the Karen Kane layered tank (below) is a great choice. The asymmetry adds interest while helping to hide a tummy.
Karen Kane V-Neck Layered Asymmetrical Tank
Kimba @kimbalikes above chooses a layered top with her jeans, and adds interest with her metallic shoes.
Recreate her outfit with this similar top (another option here), jeans, sneakers and sunglasses.
Boden
The Boden peasant top (below) draws attention to the neckline rather than to the tummy, so is a greater vacation choice.
For a sleeveless choice, the sheering at the neck of the top below and the cutout also draw the attention upwards to your face and decolletage. It is made from linen so should keep you nice and cool, and there’s a good choice of colors.
Boden Georgia Linen Sleeveless Top
Another flattering choice is the trim-detail top (below), which has a boho feel and, again, places the attention at the neckline. It’s a particularly good choice if you want to create the illusion of width at your shoulders (maybe to balance out pear-shaped hips) because the sleeves flare out a little.
Farm Rio
Farm Rio creates beautiful designs that will make you stand out for all the right reasons. The eyelet detail of the red top (below) will keep you cool and this would go beautifully with your white jeans, skirts or pants, or a denim skirt.
Farm Rio Red Pineapple Eyelet Blouse
For a sleeveless choice, the organic cotton blouse (below) would go well with high-waisted pants, or you could layer over another top.
Farm Rio Off-White Sleeveless Organic Cotton Blouse
tunic top
Misook often creates interesting colorblock designs like the tunic top (below), which would work well with your shorts for vacations.
Misook Colorblock Dolman Tunic Top
Suzie @suzie.richetti above looks super stylish in her loose top and pants. She adds glamour with her gold accessories.
Check out this similar top (other options here and here), pants (another option here), sandals, bag and earrings.
three-quarter sleeve top
We love the shape of the striped top (below). The v-neck makes this flattering for most body types and the stirpes are elongating. It would work well with high-waisted wide-leg pants.
La Vie Style House Striped V-Neck Three-Quarter-Sleeve Top
cap sleeve top
Update your closet for the season with an interesting print. The cap sleeves on the Alice + Olivia top (below) mean this is a great choice if you have narrow shoulders and want to balance out your figure.
Alice + Olivia Abstract Silk Ruffle Cap-Sleeve Shirt
Twist t-shirt
Choosing a T-shirt with a twist is a good way to ensure that even a simple outfit of a T-shirt and jeans or shorts isn’t boring. The twist front tee (below) comes in a choice of white, black or green.
Nation LTD Caprice Twist T-Shirt
Twist hem t-shirt
Or, you could opt for a twist at the hem, like the Sanctuary T-shirt (below), which is a linen and rayon blend so should keep you both chic and cool.
Sanctuary Riptide Twist Hem T-shirt
wrap t-shirt
We also love wrap styles because they are so flattering for all body types. The v-neck creates a slimming effect and the tie is a good way to create a nice waistline.
Nation LTD Bianca Wrap T-Shirt
tie waist top
The tunic top (below) also has a stylish tie-waist design and would go well with slimmer pants like capris.
rag & bone Holland Linen-Blend Tunic
Jona @the50plusgirl above tucks her shoulder detail top into her stripe skirt and styles with summer accessories.
Get her look with this similar blouse, skirt (another option here), espadrilles, tote and sunglasses.
ruched top
Ruching adds flattering appeal to tops like the print blouse (below). You could wear it with denim shorts or a skirt, or team with white pants.
Santorelli Ruched Tie-Dyed Crepe Blouse
Graphic print
Bright prints and florals are particularly on trend right now, so the floral T-shirt (below) is a great way to update your favorite jeans.
Johnny Was The Janie Favorite Floral T-Shirt
One shoulder top
Adding asymmetry to your top, whether that is at the hemline or your shoulders is a great way to give your outfit extra interest. The one-shoulder top (below) is perfect if your shoulders are part of your body you are happy to show off.
Nation LTD Randa Draped One-Shoulder Cotton Top
halter top
Halterneck tops are particularly good for you if you have a rectangle or inverted triangle body type. Wear the halter top (below) tucked into wide leg pants for instant glamour.
Drawcord shirt
We love the drawcord at the bottom of the MANGO shirt (below). You can alter how tight or how loose you pull it to create different effects. This would go well with high-waisted pants like crop flare jeans.
MANGO Adjustable Hem Cotton Shirt
Brands to look out for when choosing your next summer top
Karen @styledbykaren above opts for a simple, chic look with her linen top and shorts.
Steal her look with this similar top (another option here), shorts (another option here), sandals and sunglasses.
shop the best summer tops here:
- The Best Tops To Hide Your Tummy
- How To Cover Your Upper Arms While Staying Stylish And Cool!
- How To Wear A Long Vest – You Will Love All These Options And Ideas!
Like this article on flattering summer tops? Share it on Pinterest
Feature image by Jona @the50plusgirl
Sylvia is 40+style’s editor-in-chief and has been helping women find their unique style since 2011. An alumni of the School of Color and Design, she is devoted to empowering women of any age to look and feel their best. Read more about Sylvia and 40+style on this page.
Want to get more articles from 40+style in your inbox, subscribe here.
You can also connect with 40+style on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Support 40+style by using the links in our articles to shop. As an associate for Amazon and many other brands, we receive a small commission (at no cost to you) on qualifying purchases which enables us to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!