Considering how important it is, it’s surprising how rarely we stop to think about our Above The Waist Impact (ATWI for short).
Obviously people thought about it a lot while on Zoom during lockdown and I have some friends who, when we were all single, were conscious of ATWI on a date (save on shoes, spend on earrings!). But the fact is that most of us look in a full-length mirror, check the overall impression and move on.
Well, we’re missing a trick. I’m not just talking about how much more people see you above the waist (in the office, across the restaurant table), I’m talking about the potential of a great top to steal the show, so all you need to do is slide in your simple midi skirt, your favorite pants or your elegant jeans and bob is your uncle.
A fabulous fabric blouse, with soft, wide sleeves is a great look for this summer, as Emily Blunt demonstrates. You can easily dress it up or down and look stylish either way.
This top may not get you to a summer wedding, but most of us are clamoring for solutions for all those in-between occasions, something special to turn up the dial without us having to do much.
You can look as wavy, puffy, and ruffled as you want this season (there are big sleeves, pleated bodices, lace cuffs, and pleated-trimmed collars), but I’d recommend taking the less-is-more approach for people over 50.
Still, it pays to be bold and something in this top should make an impact; A little shirt with a floral print will not achieve the transformation we are looking for.
Here are four styles that will instantly upgrade your ATWI.
1. Fabulous fabric blouse
As the name suggests, this blouse gets its impact from the glorious, expensive-looking print it’s made from (it costs a bit more as a result), so it doesn’t need much embellishment.
The style should be soft and with full sleeves (all blouse sleeves will be full until further notice), with a small, possibly high collar, with or without a narrow ruffle.
Part of the charm of this top is that you can dress it down (tuck it into jeans) or dress it up with a sparkly, tailored midi skirt, heels, and big gold earrings.
Me+Em is the leader in fabulous fabric blouses and has a big rotation, so you can move quickly if you see one you like – my current favorite is a bold coral and purple floral print in a silk blend (£165, meandem.com). This one has delicate white lace trim and elbow-length sleeves, but the finished product is neither sweet nor girlish and pairs with black pants or dark denim.
Note: A cotton-silk blend works better than pure silk, which does not breathe heat.
A thin ruffle on the front of a crew-neck blouse turns an everyday shirt into something more eye-catching, as seen on Cat Deeley while presenting This Morning.
2. Blouse with ruffles in front
A thin ruffle on the front of a crew-neck blouse turns an everyday shirt into something more eye-catching.
Zara has several in store, including one in bright blue (£35.99, zara.com) and another silky one with white spots on navy blue (£32.99).
The alternative is a slim blouse with a tie: a pussy bow looks scruffy on people over 50, but a short tie over a silky blouse, gently knotted at the base of the neck, is more elegant than a plain collar.
I like Zara’s black and white graphic print style (£49.99), a simpler version of Prada’s black and white print cape tops, to wear with black or colour-blocked trousers.
3. Knit with puffed sleeves
I love structured knit tops with puff sleeves (in a cotton blend). They’re cute in an old-school style and a great way to spruce up casual clothing like wide-leg khaki pants, a denim skirt, or jeans.
They also weigh like a light cardigan which, let’s face it, comes in handy in an English summer. A navy and white pattern is a classic, but my current favorite is a black lace knit knit with what the brand calls “poof sleeves”, again it’s from Me+Em (£125) which has, as they say, a great desk. -Potential for dinner. You can also try Boden for a great selection of beautiful cotton and wool fabrics.
4. Dress shirt
Not pretty but certainly stylish, the traditional men’s fitted bib dress shirt for women by brand WNU (£150, withnothingunderneath.com) is the white shirt I’d make an exception for, because it’s so flattering (something about the court). and makes your black pants look like they just came off the runway.
Come summer, paired with a chunky gold bracelet and rolled-up sleeves, this shirt will have you looking and feeling sophisticated from Saint Laurent, and of course, it will work just as well in winter.
The last batch sold out within 24 hours. It will be restocked this week, so don’t delay.