Tops

How do modest tops differ from regular tops?

The main differences are length, fit and sleeve. A modest top is cut to sit at or below the hip rather than at the waist, since a shorter top gapes or rides up when paired with trousers or a skirt. Sleeves run to the wrist rather than stopping at the elbow, and necklines sit higher, at the collarbone rather than open. Tunic-length tops — long enough to wear over trousers without anything showing at the hip — are especially common, because they double as a layering piece over a co-ord or under an abaya. Looser, less fitted cuts through the torso are the norm, though the degree of fit varies brand to brand. Lighter cotton and viscose blends dominate warm-weather ranges, while heavier crepe and ponte tops carry into autumn and winter.