When I go through a client's wardrobe, the tops bought a few summers ago are where the most money is sitting unworn. Summer 2023 mixed clean '90s minimalism and quiet, expensive-looking basics with louder pieces: halters, corsets, crochet and big florals. Many of those most wearable trends still hold up, provided they're styled with the right bottoms. Below are twenty of those tops built into full outfits for weekends, work and holidays, with the shoes, bags and small fit fixes I'd suggest for different shapes. If you own any of them, this is a chance to wear them again rather than buy new.
Sorting 2023 Tops Into Keep, Fix and Let Go
Before you style anything from this list, pull your summer tops out and put them on, one by one. I sort them into three piles, and it takes less time than people expect.
- Keep: it fits now, the fabric is still smooth, and you can name two bottoms you own that go with it.
- Fix: a strap that needs shortening, a loose button, a hem a tailor could take up, or a blouse that only needs the right cami under it.
- Let go: stretched necklines, pilled knit across the bust and underarms, yellow marks under the arms on white cotton, or anything you've never once worn out of the house.
Trend pieces like corsets, tube tops and big puff sleeves deserve one honest try with the outfits below. If they still feel like work to wear, they belong in the third pile.
For the keep pile, check the care label before summer starts. Linen and cotton can go in a cool wash, crochet and eyelet do better in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle, and satin or anything with boning in it should be hand washed and dried flat. A hot dryer shrinks and pills summer tops faster than wearing them does.
1. Linen Button-Down Top With Tailored Shorts
A linen button-down is the 2023 piece I'd keep without a second thought. White, cream, pale blue or a stripe in a relaxed fit, half-tucked into high-waisted tailored shorts so the waist shows but the shirt stays airy. Roll the sleeves twice and leave two buttons open. Leather sandals, a woven tote and gold hoops. On a petite frame, a slightly shorter shirt and short helps; for more coverage, Bermuda shorts with the shirt worn loose.
2. White Ribbed Tank Top With Wide-Leg Pants
The white ribbed tank is usually the most worn top in any wardrobe I edit, and also the one most in need of replacing. Check the neckline and armholes; once the rib has stretched and waved, it looks tired next to good trousers. Tucked fully into linen-blend wide-legs in beige, olive, navy or chocolate, it gives a long, clean line. Slides for day, low block heels for evening. Choose wider straps if you want your bra covered, and a gently shaped tank rather than a skin-tight bodysuit if you'd like less cling over the stomach.
3. Halter Top With Maxi Skirt
Halters were everywhere in 2023, and they're still one of the most flattering summer necklines on strong shoulders. A solid halter keeps the attention on the cut, with a printed, pleated or gathered maxi skirt that sits firmly at the natural waist. Strappy flats and a small woven bag for daytime. Leave the necklace off; the neckline is the jewellery. Fuller busts need wide neck straps, because a thin tie pulls on the neck all day.
4. Tube Top With Relaxed Trousers
Tube tops are the 2023 buy I see sitting in drawers most often, usually because they won't stay up. Start with a structured bandeau or strapless knit top in black, white, grey or muted green and look inside for silicone edging or a firm inner band. Wear it with high-waisted, loose-leg trousers with a flat front; the covered leg balances the bare shoulders. Carry a light blazer for air-conditioned rooms. A longer strapless top covers more of the torso, while a cropped one only works with a very high waist.
5. Crochet Top With Denim Shorts
Crochet tops come back every summer, so this one is worth keeping. Choose cotton crochet with a close stitch and put a thin cami under it if the gaps are wide. High-rise denim shorts are the simplest partner. Cream crochet with medium-wash denim is soft; a bright colour with white shorts is livelier. A crochet top with a scalloped hem can be left untucked, but longer designs look more balanced with a small front tuck. Keep sandals and bag plain so it doesn't tip into costume.
6. Corset Top With Midi Skirt
A rigid corset is hard to wear for a whole afternoon, so the ones I'd keep are the softer versions with stretch, wide straps and flexible seams. Pair it with a high-waisted A-line or bias-cut midi to soften the structure. Solid colours look smarter; a floral skirt makes it more playful. If the top feels too bare for the occasion, an open linen shirt over it fixes that. Fuller busts need adjustable straps and proper cups, or the top edge will dig in.
7. Eyelet Blouse With Linen Pants
Eyelet is cotton with embroidered holes, so the first thing to check is what shows through. A white or pastel blouse with a cotton lining is easiest; otherwise a skin-tone cami goes underneath. Tuck it into drawstring or tailored linen trousers in beige, tan or soft grey. Big sleeves need a straight, clean trouser. A V-neck lengthens the upper body, a square neck shows the collarbone. This is one of the few summer outfits I'd send someone to a casual office in without changes.
8. Sheer Top With Camisole And Jeans
Sheer tops look cheap when the layer underneath is an afterthought. Choose the cami first, in a matching or deliberate contrasting colour, and make sure its straps line up with the blouse seams. Mesh, chiffon or organza over a fitted cami, with straight-leg jeans to ground it: light wash for day, dark for evening. Pointed flats or slingbacks sharpen it. A loose sheer shirt worn open over a tank is the easier route if you're unsure about sheer.
9. One-Shoulder Top With Satin Skirt
A one-shoulder top and a satin skirt is how I'd dress a 2023 piece for a summer wedding or party now. The top must stay put around the neck when you raise your arm, so a fitted knit or a drape with some grip. Bias-cut satin in a complementary shade, like black and champagne, ivory and green, or navy and pale blue. Satin marks with water and creases at the hip, so sit carefully and keep a light wrap rather than a stiff jacket. Earrings or a bracelet, never a necklace.
10. Graphic T-Shirt With Cargo Pants
Graphic tees and cargos were the casual uniform of that summer, and they still are for many people. A cotton tee with a simple vintage-style print, tucked into high or mid-rise cargos in olive, tan, stone or black. Roll the sleeves once if the tee is oversized; it stops it looking borrowed. On hot days, cropped cargos in cotton or a linen blend are cooler. Curvy women should look for flat side pockets, as bulky ones widen the hip.
11. Puff-Sleeve Blouse With Denim Skirt
Puff sleeves can swamp a frame quickly, so I look for controlled volume at the shoulder and a fitted bodice. Wear the blouse with an A-line, straight or midi denim skirt and a front tuck. A floral blouse needs plain denim and simple accessories. Women with broader shoulders may prefer soft flutter sleeves instead of sharply gathered puffs. A V-neck or open square neck also offsets the sleeve volume.
12. Square-Neck Top With Tailored Shorts
A square neck holds its shape only if the top has some structure, so look for wide straps or short sleeves and a fabric that doesn't collapse. Wear it with high-waisted shorts in linen, cotton twill or light suiting rather than cutoffs. Loafers, sandals or low block heels set the occasion. Matching the top and shorts in similar colours gives a longer line. Fuller-busted women should look for a neckline that sits above the bra cups and does not pull across the chest; if it gapes or strains, the size is wrong.
13. Floral Crop Top With High-Waisted Jeans
Floral crops date faster than plain ones, but high-waisted jeans keep them wearable. Choose a top that ends near the waistband so you decide how much skin shows. Straight, cropped or relaxed jeans in light wash for day, or white for a brighter palette. A plain shoulder bag and small jewellery let the print lead. If cropped tops aren't for you, a floral top with a smocked waist or longer hem gives the same feel. Adjustable straps make the neckline sit properly.
14. Asymmetrical Top With Maxi Skirt
Asymmetric tops are where I'm strict about security: an angled neckline or single strap should stay put without any tugging. Pair it with a plain column skirt or a soft A-line maxi. Keeping both pieces in one colour family looks the most polished; a bright top over a neutral skirt is the bolder version. Flat strappy sandals lengthen the leg. If you need support, choose a single wide strap over a thin one.
15. Peplum Top With Straight-Leg Pants
Peplums are back in rotation, and they do one thing well: they mark the waist for you. The seam has to sit at your natural waist; if it lands above or below, the flare looks wrong. Keep the trousers straight and sleek, with no bulky pockets. White, navy, tan and black let a printed or bright peplum lead. On a short torso, a small peplum flatters far more than a long dramatic one. This is a reliable summer office outfit with pointed flats or a low heel.
16. Striped Knit Tank With White Jeans
Striped knit tanks with white jeans is a combination I'd never tell anyone to give away. Navy, black, green or red stripes, and a neckline that works with the bra you actually own. Straight or wide-leg white denim keeps it crisp; ecru or cream is softer if bright white feels stark. Tan sandals, a brown belt and a structured tote. Petite women can show the ankle with a cropped jean, while tall women carry a full-length wide leg well.
17. Off-Shoulder Blouse With Wide-Leg Pants
Off-shoulder blouses fail on the elastic. If it rolls or creeps up, you'll spend the evening fixing it, so check it's firm and the fabric breathes. Pair with high-waisted linen or cotton wide-legs. Statement earrings, no necklace when there are ruffles. A good strapless bra or a design with hidden straps is essential; a partly off-shoulder cut gives the look with more coverage and less fuss.
18. Satin Camisole With Blazer And Shorts
A satin cami from a night out becomes a daytime piece under a linen or cotton-blend blazer. Choose adjustable straps and a straight or softly draped neckline, then high-waisted tailored shorts. Loafers, slingbacks or plain sandals, a structured tote and a fine chain. Satin shows sweat quickly, which is another reason the blazer helps in heat. Left open, the jacket draws a vertical line down the centre that lengthens the body.
19. Polo Top With Pleated Skirt
Fitted polos were part of the sporty, preppy side of 2023. White, navy, pastel blue or one bright shade, tucked into a light pleated midi; heavy pleats feel wintery. Sneakers for casual, loafers or flat sandals for smarter. If a fitted polo feels tight across the chest, a relaxed one with an open collar is easier. On a short waist, leave it slightly untucked or pick a cropped polo that meets the waistband.
20. Wrap Top With Midi Skirt
Wrap tops adjust to the body more than almost any other cut, which is why they suit so many shapes. Cotton, linen or light jersey, with a tie that sits at your natural waist. A straight, A-line or softly pleated midi skirt. If the V opens too low, a cami underneath or a small hidden fastener solves it; I'd check this sitting down, not just standing. One colour head to toe looks longer, and contrasting prints are the bolder option.
Bras Under Halters, Tubes and Off-Shoulder Cuts
Several of these tops only work with the right underwear, and that's usually why they go unworn. These are the matches I give clients.
- Halter tops: a halter-neck bra or a multiway bra with straps crossed behind the neck. Built-in cups are easiest of all.
- Tube and off-shoulder tops: a strapless bra with a wide silicone-lined band, bought firm on the loosest hook so it can be tightened as it stretches.
- One-shoulder tops: a multiway bra with a single strap, or a strapless one.
- Sheer and eyelet blouses: a cami or a bra close to your skin tone, rather than white, which shows through most clearly.
- Wide-strap tanks and square necks: your everyday T-shirt bra is usually fine, as long as the straps sit inside the top's straps.
Try the top and bra together and lift both arms in the mirror. If anything shows or slips, fix that before styling the rest of the outfit.
Worth Wearing Again This Summer
Most of the tops from summer 2023 still have plenty of wear left. Linen shirts, ribbed tanks, halters, crochet, eyelet blouses and fitted polos all look current when the proportions are balanced and the accessories are practical. Start with the outfits that fit the life you actually lead, then adjust colours, hems and shoes to your shape. Breathable fabric and a secure fit matter more than any trend. Think in whole outfits, and even a plain summer top will look finished.
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