15 of the Best Summer Tops to Buy and Love This Season |Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK

last updated 21 June 2021

What a merino-wool jumper is to winter, a flowing spaghetti-strap top is to summer. And when the weather signals that it’s time to embrace an unapologetically sunshine-appropriate number, you know that the magical season has arrived.

But a summer top needn’t equal skimpy; if you haven’t owned a crop top since 2009 and aren’t sure what’s appropriate, there are lots of chic alternatives, such as an effortless linen shirt or a tie-front blouse. That said, don’t think of a crop top as suitable only for the beach: It’s the perfect partner to a high-waisted midi skirt and pretty edgy when styled over a crisp cotton shirt.

Have an arsenal of summer tops to hand and you’ll never be stuck for what to wear with cropped jeans and summer skirts again—trust us. So give your dresses a (brief) break and get inspired by clicking through our edit below.

1. The Linen Shirt

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Everyone needs a lightweight linen blouse in their summer-top drawer. A must for protecting yourself from the sun’s rays while out and about, it also looks super elegant thrown over a silky camisole.

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Theory

Menswear Shirt in Spring Linen

Massimo Dutti

Linen Shirt

Arket

Linen Shirt

2. Minimalistic Crop Tops

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Crop tops and high waists are the best of wardrobe friends, whether that’s a statement midi skirt or belly-grazing shorts. Right now, the shopping sphere seems to be dominated by pared-back crops, which feel grown-up and sleek.

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Mara Hoffman

Aisha Crop Top

Paloma Wool

Perty Elastic Strap Linen-Mix Top

Zara

Linen Crop Top

3. Crochet

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One of the most joyful trends of the season, colourful crochet is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Pair your top with classic denim and a shoulder bag like Grece Ghanem for a polished and very summer 2021 look.

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Rose Carmine

Crochet Top

Batsheva

Daisy Crochet Top

Warehouse

Square Crochet V Neck Vest

4. Tie-Front

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It's a small detail that makes a big difference. We find ourselves being continuously drawn to tie-front tops at the moment. With cropped and full-coverage styles on offer, this is a trend anyone and everyone can get in on.

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NastyGal

Puff Sleeve Bow Tie Cropped Blouse

5. Milkmaid

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Having started out life as a trend a few seasons back, milkmaid tops have proven themselves to have staying power, as fashion types continue to wear them summer after summer. White styles are a no-brainer; look for ruffles, puff-sleeves and drawstring necklines to achieve the maximum milkmaid aesthetic.

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Mango

Violeta Boat Neckline Blouse

Reformation

Isadora Top

Other Stories

Puff Sleeve Corset Blouse

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Maxine Eggenberger isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her ownBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior toBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.