Smart Black Tops For Work | Black Blouses and Tops By Paul Brown

Smart Black Tops For Work

There are currently thousands of women’s black tops, shirts and blouses available to buy online. However very few are actually smart enough for work shirts. This blog breaks down the key features which separates black ladies smart tops suitable for work against your run of the mill black tops. Further once you find the right smart black top you will be surprised how easy this shirt can be transitioned from work wear to evening or even weekend wear. The right top is a really great investment for your wardrobe.

Neiman Marcus

"Women who wear black live colourful lives."

Smart Black Work Tops Vs Standard Black Tops

If you are going to work and want to look smart and no doubt stylish (who doesn’t?) then you need to understand what makes a smart top compared to a standard top. If you want to make a good impression, stand out for the right reasons and show you are serious about your work attire then follows the key steps below.

1. Fit, size and cut is everything

The most important aspect to a smart black top is selecting the right size that fits properly. This may seem obvious but a poorly fitted top will never look smart and worse will make you feel uncomfortable.

Our ladies tops have a cut that has been perfected over a decade and is both fitted and comfortable. If you prefer a little more room then go up one size. We offer our tops from a size 6 up to 20.

2. The Right Cloth

A critical part to any blouse or top is the quality of the fabric. Cheap fabrics are a no go, especially polyester as this does not allow your skin to perspire making you feel clammy and sweaty. This is the last thing you want during a day at work when you want to always look your best.

We stick with the basics and use a luxurious long staple cotton from one of Europe’s finest shirting mills. You will be familiar with long staple cotton as it is used in the finest bed linen. You will not find cloths more comfortable and soft to wear than long staple cotton.

When it comes to selecting shirting fabrics we also take a modern approach and use a black cotton cloth with 3% elastane in it. This enables the shirt to stretch in just the right places, offering excellent daily movement without compromising on the fit or style. A win all round and without doubt the future of luxury ladies blouses.

If you are in a hot country then you may consider swapping cotton for linen. This is understandable but we won’t lie; it is hard to create a smart outfit from a black linen top. It is naturally more casual. Best advice we can offer is pairing with cream or white jeans to elevate smartness and formality of your outfit.

Black Linen Blouse

3. Finished to a high Standard and made to last

At this stage you have got a nice fitted top with a first class fabric. You look and feel great and most importantly with that 3% elastane the tops are really comfortable to wear during your work day.

The next key stage is the quality of the manufacturing aspect which has two parts; the finish and longevity of the tops.

A cheap black top rarely looks smart. Often finished with big stitches and lots of over locking they are easy to spot and no matter how hard you try and dress one up, you are frankly wasting you r time. Further such cheap tops shoe their age very quickly, sometimes after just one wash. The black dye starts to fade and the stitches already start coming apart.

When it comes to manufacturing ladies tops, shirts and blouses we refer to our decade long history of fine British tailoring and shirt making. All our ladies and men’s tops are hand cut and made at our Suffolk factory in England. All our shirts and blouses are constructed using only small single needle stitching which makes a big difference not only to the final finish but ensures the shirts will last wash after wash. A Black top from us is a long term investment that will pay dividends.

4. Selecting the right blouse design

Selecting the right black top is really down to your own personal style and preferences. Ask yourself what do you want to achieve from wearing this black top? Different styles will create very different impressions. We have outlined four key styles below.

Black Pussy Bow Blouse

Black Pussy Bow Blouse

Our black pussy bow blouse is very much a power shirt. Made popular in the seventies by former prime minister Margret Thatcher, wear this style to work if you want to make a statement to your work colleagues.

Black Tulip Collar Top

Black Tulip Blouse

Elegant and understated, this is the top for you if you want to ooze real style with a touch of extra formality. Pair with cream jeans .

Black Ruffle Top

Black Ruffle Blouse

A very feminine top, the black ruffle blouse has its roots in country living and is a really smart work shirt. We have kept the ruffle to just the front of the shirt so the top makes an immediate impression without being garish. There are unfortunately too many ruffle blouses these days that go way over the top with regards to the number or size of ruffles. The result is a messy and ultimately poor designed blouse. We have always believed that less is more.

The Classic Black Tailored Shirt

Black Tulip Blouse

Sometimes the most simple design is actually the best. Our tailored ladies black shirt follows a classic and timeless design that has never gone out of style. Pair with cream jeans and you have a great outfit that will always serve you well for both work and the weekend.

5. Pairing with the right clothes to create a stylish outfit.

There is no point having a smart black top and then wearing it with cheap trousers or ripped jeans. If it is to work the whole outfit has to look top notch. We always recommend a contrast bottom half to the top. In this case cream or white jeans always look great. If you need to layer up then consider our flagship ladies trench coats. We would recommend stone or black.

More than just a work top

One of the benefits with buying our black tops is that many of the designs can easily be dressed up or down. They are really versatile which is great as you are not only investing in a work shirt, but also a top that can be used to create a smart weekend outfit or the perfect option to transition to the evening. Two perfect styles of this are our classic black tailored shirt and ruffle blouse. Both look really nice with your favourite blue denim jeans.

Looking After Your Black Top

We recommend you put the top through a 30 degree wash and iron on a medium heat on the inside. Do not tumble dry and for best results hang the top straight out from the washing machine.

Other blouses and tops

White Pussy Bow Blouse

Blue Tulip Collar Blouse

In addition to our black tops, we also offer a fantastic selection of other colours to choose from, many in the same design styles as our black tops. This includes our elegant white shirt collection along with popular work colours such as light blue and pink.

Stone Trench Coat

Black Trench Coat

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Conclusion

By following our five key rules you will be able to buy smart black tops for work that look fantastic, are comfortable to wear and will last a lifetime. Create stylish outfits that will not only wow your work colleagues and superiors but also effortlessly transition from work to evening or weekend wear.