Shirts & Tops

Shirt, top, tunic, tee or blouse: what each word tells you

The words overlap, so use them as hints and confirm with the listed length. A top or blouse is usually shorter and meant for jeans, trousers or a skirt. A tunic runs longer, often to mid-thigh. A tee is a casual knit shirt. A shirt may have a collar and buttons.

Some brands also sell the kameez of a suit on its own under the name shirt. That piece is long and cut to go with a shalwar, so it behaves like a kurta rather than a top. Look at where the model's hem falls before you buy.

This page lists titles that say shirt, top, tunic, tee or blouse and leaves out titles that also name a suit, set or trouser. Everything is stitched, so you can wear it on arrival.

Which top for which bottom and which day

Let the bottom decide the shape of the top.

• Boxy or straight tops hang loosely and suit jeans and wide-leg trousers.
• Fitted tops look sharp with flared bottoms or high-waist trousers.
• Peplum and flared tops balance slim trousers and cigarette pants.
• Shirt-style tops with a collar suit work and university.
• Printed or embroidered tops carry the interest, so keep the bottom plain.

For a day that includes a dupatta or scarf, a round or boat neckline sits more easily under it than a high collar. Full sleeves cover more and suit cooler months; short sleeves are more comfortable in heat. If you would rather have a bottom already matched, see co-ords.

Woven or knit: what changes in fit and care

A woven top in cotton or lawn does not stretch, so a fitted cut needs exact measurements. A knit top or tee gives with the body, which makes sizing more forgiving, though a knit can also stretch out of shape if it is hung wet.

Read the fibre line. Cotton and lawn-type fabrics suit hot days. Blends with a little stretch keep a close fit. In winter a thicker knit or a heavier woven top layers under a shawl; our winter page covers the warm fabrics.

Tops are washed often, so check the care label. Turn printed and embroidered tops inside out, wash dark colours apart at first and dry in the shade. Cotton can shrink a little in the first wash, so allow some room if you are between sizes.

Measuring for a fitted top

Measure your bust, shoulder and the length you want, then compare them with the brand's chart rather than your usual size, because brands cut differently. For a woven fitted top, choose the larger size if you are between two; for a knit, check how much stretch the fabric has.

Shoulder width is the measurement shoppers skip. A top that fits at the bust but is tight across the shoulder pulls at the sleeve seam. Length matters for the bottom you plan to wear: a hip-length top over low-rise trousers can ride up. The size guide shows how to take each measurement. If you are tall or petite, compare the listed length with a top you already own.

Buying tops for a small wardrobe

Tops tend to be the pieces you reach for most, so start with neutrals. A white, a black and a beige top work with most bottoms and dupattas you own, and the colour pages for white, black and beige let you compare shades across brands.

Then add one printed or embroidered top as the statement piece and keep the rest plain. A student who needs five days of outfits can rotate three tops and two bottoms; a professional can buy two shirt-style tops and two straight trousers. Compare the cost of a top with how many bottoms it will go with, since a top that suits only one bottom is a narrower buy.