The top half of an outfit does most of the work in a photograph, because it sits next to your face. Neckline and sleeve length change the read of a whole outfit more than colour does.
Examples from the blog
Find the shoulder seam before you look in the mirror
Reach up and feel for the bony point at the end of your shoulder. On a fitted top, the seam should sit right on it. Further in and the sleeve pulls every time you move your arm. Further out by an inch or two and the top reads as sloppy instead of relaxed.
Dropped shoulders are a deliberate exception, and they only work when the drop is obvious. Two or three centimetres past the joint looks like a mistake. Five or more looks like a design choice. Check the back too, since horizontal creases between the shoulder blades mean the cut is too narrow there.
Tuck, half tuck or leave it out?
Hem shape answers this for you. Curved shirttail hems, longer at the front and back than at the sides, were drafted to be tucked in and look unfinished hanging loose. Straight hems were drafted to be seen, and they should end somewhere around the middle of your hip.
Half tucking, where only the front goes in, works because it puts a horizontal line at the waist without hiding the whole hem. It needs enough fabric to blouse slightly over the waistband. Very fitted or very short tops have nothing spare, so they either sit out or go fully in.
Build a small stack that covers most days
Four shapes handle nearly everything: a plain crew neck tee, a light button front shirt, a fine knit that goes under a jacket, and one top with some detail for evenings. Everything after that is variation. Buying those four in colours that work together is worth more than owning twenty odd pieces.
Jersey weight is printed as gsm on better product pages. Around 150 gives a soft draping tee that clings a little. Around 180 to 200 holds its shape and hides more. Below about 140, white and pale colours go see through, and no amount of washing changes that.
More tops and shirts to try on
Ebony black bodycon midi dress with sheer panels
Bright yellow Hawaiian shirt with a tropical floral
Floral print sheer shirt with bishop sleeves
Navy blue polo shirt with a red embroidered logo
Classic white button-down shirt with a tailored fit
Burgundy and white striped oxford shirt
Plaid flannel shirt in red and black
Maroon wrap shirt with a peplum hem and V-neckline
Charcoal grey thermal shirt with waffle knit fabric
Pastel pink cotton dress shirt with a spread collar
Pink linen shirt with a mandarin collar and hidden
Long sleeve striped T-shirt in black and white
Tap any look to open it in the app on your own photo.
Related
Crop and Tank Tops · Blouses and Shirts · Color Analysis
Questions people actually ask
How can I tell whether a t-shirt will keep its shape?
Stretch the hem and the neckband sideways and let go. Good ribbing snaps back flat; cheap ribbing stays wavy. Check the fabric weight too, and look for shoulder to shoulder tape inside the neck, which stops the shoulder seam stretching out over time.
Which neckline sits best under a jacket?
V necks and shallow scoops work best, because both leave a clean triangle where the lapels meet and stop the top competing with the jacket’s own line. High crew necks crowd that space, and wide boat necks vanish entirely under anything with structure.
How do I stop a pale top being see through?
Check the weight first, since anything thin will stay thin. Beyond that, a nude toned bra matched to your skin, not to the top, disappears better than white does. Doubling up with a vest underneath is the reliable fix once the top is already bought.