The best pull-on-and-go summer tops
Ursula top from Boden, available HERE.
Most of the time I’m in jeans, and having a portfolio career means there’s a sliding scale of smartness. It also means I don’t have a life, but that’s another blog post. On the days when I’m working from home, I’m more thrown-together (half-dressed) but I’ll often have to nip out to a quick meeting or event – and this is where the pull-on-and-go summer top comes in. It’s the hot weather version of the jacket over a t-shirt, smart enough to pass muster with a favourite, old pair of jeans and more grown-up than a tee. Often a shell top or short tunic with pattern, embroidery or print to perk things up a bit. And mainly in blue, because that goes with denim.
I like the retro feel of this top from Jigsaw, available HERE.
Got my eye on this beautiful silk squares top by MiH, available HERE.
One of my friends is a Velvet by Graham & Spencer fan. She turned up for our ‘business coffee’ the other day, in the perfect freelance uniform: pull-on-and-go top, jeans, loafers and a scarf. Neat.
Silk blend Velvet by Graham & Spencer top available HERE. And here’s a small selection of summer tops, with scarves:
Do you have any tips or tricks for a quick upgrade?
Discussion (14 Comments)
I am the opposite, most of the time I am not in jeans but this spring have invested in a pair or two. I feel like I want everything to be super easy this summer. Like you I have things that require me to be out and about. Throwing a dressier top (rather than a t-shirt over a pair of jeans is a great option.
Accidental Icon
http://www.accidentalicon.comdottoressa says:
Nice tops!
During the summer I wear usually white jeans with similar silk or linen tops ( with sleeves :-)), or white tee with linen shirts or jackets in different colours,blue,khaki….rolled sleeves,mostly unbuttoned. I like Business coffee, too
Dottoressai like this approach, and in summer I think it can be made even more polished with the right pair of white jeans. I’m also a big fan of a simple dress for easy one-step Summer Chic (although, honestly, Chic is even further than Aspirational for me…not this lifetime, I suspect)
Lynn N. says:
Here is middle TN the heat and humidity make jeans a hot option. I prefer a simple circle skirt, T and white Keds. Keeps me cool while I’m sipping my latté.
JulietC says:
Oh I like them all – I’d noticed the Jigsaw one vaguely but now I might have to go back and notice it properly….
I love the first two tops. The pull-on-and-go top is also great for those of us who are retired and don’t wear our business/dressy clothes much (or at all:) anymore… but aren’t ready for the “I’ve given up entirely” look. I love a top that is cut close to the body but which falls away from the middle-age middle …thus hiding those parts that require covering up.
Sue..aka not spam:)The easy-to-wear, makes-the-outfit top is required for anyone who wants to make Tomboy, Polished at all;). I’m currently hunting for a new one. I liked this, but the size I ordered didn’t fit:(. http://www.bailey44.com/rione-top-l-6934 I also liked that one because it was cotton, i.e. washing machine…
moi says:
I throw blazers/jackets over everything, because I’m a jeans and T-shirt junkie and rarely wear skirts or dresses during the day. So, if I’m out and about, my uniform is a blazer, T-shirt or silk button down, heels, drop earrings or chunky necklace. It serves me well in just about every kind of meeting/happy hour/evening event situation except the most hot/humid or dressy. So, yeah, great idea—a semi-dressy thrown-on top to take the place of a blazer. A purchase I can actually justify!
TNMA 
Claire Noegel 
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Brilliant post, this is exactly how I dress for working at home too. I love the idea of ‘business coffee’ with a friend, as opposed to ‘friend coffee’ with the same person