Layering Basics
Base layers, neck covers and inner tops — coverage essentials worn under everything else.
What is a modesty layering piece?
A layering piece is designed to be worn under another garment rather than as an outfit on its own — its job is to add coverage a main piece leaves out, not to be seen in full. A neck cover, sometimes called a dickey, is cut to sit at the collar and shoulders only, closing the gap left by a scoop or V-neck top without the bulk of a full undershirt. A base-layer or 'body' top goes further, covering the arms and torso under a sheer blouse or a three-quarter-sleeve dress so nothing shows through. Sleeveless versions, often labelled a singlet or inner top, sit under short-sleeve pieces without adding warmth under the arms, while a long-sleeve base layer solves the opposite problem: extending coverage past a garment's own hemline or cuff. Because they're worn hidden, most are cut in a slim, second-skin fit from stretch jersey or modal that won't add bulk under whatever goes over it.