I know how to get dressed except for when it comes to “going out.” My "going out look" will consist of something like a pair of tiny shorts (because, of course it does), an oversized button-down with the top buttons left unbuttoned, some kitten heels, and accessories. I basically look like I'm dressed as a woman who's going to the office and forgot her pants. In my "fun" years, I would stand in front of my closet frozen, completely lost with how to put together a club-worthy look.
So I've never been one who shops for sexy clothing for myself. It's not one of the things I envision when I consider what might be missing from my wardrobe. I would probably buy another pair of loafers before looking for something that might fill that void in my closet. But this summer, I've been really into sexy, barely-there tops. It might be that it is 10000 degrees and less clothing is more. It could also be a result of my widening experimentation with the Silhouettes (I'm enjoying dressing with more volume on my bottom half, per the Evergreen). But it also has to do with dressing the part.
I don't mean dressing to attract a partner. My dressing in a low-V top or scarf wrapped around my bust isn't to be perceived as sexy. Some of the tops (and I emphasize SOME because the market is saturated by poor-quality polyester pieces targeted at girls who just wanna have fun—not what I'm talking about here) we would note as "going-out" or "sexy" tops have a femininity about them that gives a woman confidence. The details—the delicate straps, the incorporation of a cutout, or a little ties—rely on your own body's curves and movement to exist. It's why a silk halter top hanging on a hanger looks like underwear. These sexy tops are entirely dependent on the person wearing them to exist. You wear the item.
We all have different definitions of sexy. What I am describing is what is sexy to me. Below, I styled some top styles to achieve this in different Silhouettes from Silhouette System™. But to be clear, you can wear any of these with any of the three Silhouettes.
1. The Lingerie-Style Tank
I love a lace-trimmed cami, but good ones are hard to find unless you want to spend $200+. This one from COS ($99) and the brand Nicholas (on sale at The Outnet, $128, and FWRD, $108) feel like a steal given that this similar one is almost $500. A lace-trimmed silk cami is fully covered but very feminine and sexy. It's also a great neutral piece to pair with whatever bottoms you wish! I styled mine with a pair of cotton shorts (Palm) to contrast the lace details of the top.
2. The Strapless Top
When I cut my hair, I started to wear strapless tops more. For one, it was summer, but I also liked leaning into my short hair and going strapless. A collarbone moment! If you want to go the tube top route, I highly recommend the “Carrie” from Free People. Above, I styled my strapless top above in a Cypress look, leaning into the straight Silhouette of my top.
Brought to you by The RealReal! Just kidding, but I did find all but one of the above tops on TRR! Their pricing for designer strapless tops is not to be missed. The majority of these are under—and some well under—$200.
3. The Halter Top
I also referenced halters when I wrote about my drastic haircut and how a top can accentuate a new 'do. I love these paired with short haircuts because they are all about the neckline, one of the sexiest parts of the body, IMO. But these tops are pretty sexy regardless of how long your hair is. I styled the halter with mini shorts because of my specific halter's shape. I liked how its longer hem flared out and was met by the tiny bottoms.
4. The Scarf-as-Top
I wrote about this at length last week, but, ICYMI, this top is a simple DIY style that's slightly different every time you wear it. The magic of this top is that it only exists while on the wearer. The styling is entirely in your control, and the beauty of the top is dependent on you (though I did include a couple of scarf-style tops—including my favorite Dries top that's scarf-style—because they're perfect).
5. The Swimsuit (or Bodysuit)
I'm sorry to remind you of your days wearing bodysuits and having to take off your entire outfit when going to pee in a dive bar. We're going to cocktail bars now. And we're still taking our tops down to pee. Instead of a bodysuit, I love a one-piece swimsuit. When wearing a swimsuit-as-top, choose one that doesn't scream "swimwear" but is sexy enough to suggest the easy, breezy vibe of a day at the beach. They're suited for any moment you want to feel your best self (and they're waterproof and therefore sweat-proof). I styled mine—a textured crochet one—with an Evergreen Silhouette skirt for balance. An Evergreen would also be really good with a printed one-piece. I do also love straight-leg trousers with a swimsuit to create a super lean (and very sexy) overall look.
You wear your clothes, so get dressed for yourself and wear that sexy top. You can even try wearing it for your living room selfie set-up (lol).
xo
Eliz