Reading · Desk of Maddison Sullivan-Thorpe

“Just jeans and a nice top”

The most cursed phrase to ever grace a group-chat. A response that, when offered after the question ‘what are you wearing?’, previously sent me straight to the gates of hell. It’s broad, ambiguous, and usually induces a very specific kind of outfit panic (okay dramatic, but whatever, this is my Substack and I’ll be as dramatic as I please!)

This week on our fortnightly Style-ish episode, Rhi and I spoke about ‘sexy tops’ specifically, the kind that involve your back being on display (my personal favourite). It got me thinking, of my recent commitment to curating a serious collection of tops.

Why? To limit said panic. Because in jeans, a great top, and a good blow-out, I genuinely feel like I could take on the world (read: my local wine bar).

So, in the spirit of reducing outfit-related anxiety and with warm weather on the horizon, I’ve done the honourable thing and compiled my favourite tops for you below. All linked, all panic-proof.