Am I the only one who craves all the pretty white tops come springtime? There’s something about white eyelet that’s so…clean.
Do you know what a two and six-year old are? NOT CLEAN.
I imagine I’d have that perfectly clean, pretty white top on for approximately…fiiiive…mayyybe ten minutes before sticky little hands attacked. (And let’s be honest, I’m a bit spill-prone myself.) But there is a way to get that pretty eyelet blouse vibe while still leaving room for snuggling the kids (sticky hands and all).
This Season’s Pretty White Top: Dark Eyelet
That’s a bold statement, I know! But dark eyelet (think: navy & black) still has that crisp, clean, oh-so-pretty vibe of white eyelet tops, but without the fear factor. Plus you can wear these tops exactly as you would a white eyelet one: with distressed denim (me), or white denim (for a preppier vibe), or with super–short cut–offs (my sister), or with a pencil skirt for a very polished-yet-casual J.Crew moment.
top | jeans | cami | sandals | earrings
Which Bra to Wear Under Eyelet?
Even better, the bra situation is actually easier to deal with than the white eyelet. Dark eyelet tops actually look a little sexy with a nude bra or cami (which is what I’m wearing below), but can easily work with a black bra as well (even navy tops will be close enough).
How To Wash Dark Eyelet
Because most eyelet tops are 100% cotton, you can throw these tops in the washing machine. Some can even be put in the dryer, but if the eyelet stitching is on the delicate side, I’ll often lay them flat to dry (and they will air dry pretty quickly).
The stain potential is also so low that you won’t have to try and treat the slightly delicate fabric with stain removers, or rub vigorously (which can sometimes pull the eyelet out of shape) like you may have to with white eyelet.
Dark Eyelet Top Style 1: Statement Sleeves
top | jeans | cami | sandals | earrings
I love all the statement sleeves trends right now! This one is perfect because the puff sleeves aren’t overly dramatic (and therefore don’t make me look like I’m playing dress-up). You can wear it left out or tucked in like I did here and both ways look cute. I’m wearing it over my favorite Hanro built-in bra cami from Nordstrom (love), but you could wear it with a cami, bra, bralette…whatever you’re comfortable with! (The eyelet is pretty small so only a hint of skin shows.)
Outfit Details
top: GAP Eyelet Puff Sleeve Top (s) – I had a seriously hard time deciding which color — the orange and light blue are both gorgeous. (It comes in white too if you’re not afraid!)
cami: HANRO Allure Built-In Bra Camisole (34C) – This has been such a workhorse in my wardrobe since I got it — I have both the black and nude because they solve so many problems!
jeans: Levi’s 501 Crop (28, more washes and sizes here) – I ordered a bunch of sizes to try, but my typical 28s worked best. I had to wear them around the house for a while to break them in, but I’m glad I didn’t size up because they do stretch out. (They don’t come with a belt but I added one from another pair of jeans I own — this belt is similar.)
shoes: J.Crew Alyssa Sandal (only available in black) – These strappy sandals are similar (without the heel) and come in a ton of colors.
earrings: Bar Earrings – These are no longer available in gold, but these earrings are similar and under $15.
Dark Eyelet Top Style 2: Sexy Off-Shoulder
Dare I say this one is even nursing-friendly? I mean, depending on your level of comfort it could totally work. I wore tops like this when nursing and just flipped the top of the strapless bra (this one’s my favorite) down to feed the babies (I used a nursing cover like this). Regardless of whether or not you’re nursing though, this one is just so striking in black and it’s perfect to pair with statement earrings. I’ve dressed it down with jeans here but it would be pretty with a pair of shorts. These scalloped hemmed shorts are perfect for a bit of a dressier look!
Outfit Details
top: GAP Off-Shoulder Eyelet Top (s) – I love that this top actually stays put instead of popping back up onto the top of my shoulder! It also comes in white and blue.
jeans: Levi’s 501 Crop (28, more washes and sizes here) – I ordered a bunch of sizes to try, but my typical 28s worked best. I had to wear them around the house for a while to break them in, but I’m glad I didn’t size up because they do stretch out.
earrings: Stella + Ruby Chiffon Petal Hoop Earrings – These come in ivory and a pretty coral but if you really love the black these hoop earrings are similar and on sale right now!
More Dark Eyelet Tops
XOXO,
Scotti
