I love a good jumper. In fact, knits of any sort are probably my favourite garments to wear, own and admittedly, collect – sometimes just for their coziness. But whilst trawling through my usual ‘new in’ shopping searches online, I came across something I’d not tried before: a sheer knit top.
There’s a reason I’ve not tried these before actually, and that is because they could potentially expose my smallest assets – my boobs.
Both a blessing and a burden, I’ve never been very confident about having a small chest, and it’s caused a fair amount of fashion heartbreak over the years. Deep V necklines can be hazardous to the small-busted woman if not properly secured; and a lot of fitted, darted and corset dresses and tops are simply designed with one figure in mind – the hourglass.
So did I really want to start showing off my mini-cleavage with a transparent top?
But in an effort to get over myself and eschew my bodily hangups, and with an even stronger desire to hit the ‘add to bag’ button (does anybody else get that?) I ordered this lightweight knit bodysuit from ASOS:
Waiting for it to arrive, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to get on with it. Would I feel exposed? Would the yarn look cheap or the dye be uneven? More importantly, would I be cold?
Actually, I felt great in it! It had a good amount of stretch and wasn’t so see-through that I felt naked. Outside, it was windy and admittedly I did pair it with a black leather jacket later for warmth (It’s Scotland, it was December…the sunny background means nothing) but I felt like I was wearing a normal jumper and I think that helped with my confidence wearing it all day – cold boobs and all.
If you’re thinking of trying a sheer knit top, or simply want some style inspiration for ones you already own, have a look at my tips:
1. One sheer item per outfit
This goes without saying but the look is not meant to be about revealing all – just some of your body! If you have a sheer top then everything else can be covered. Remember to wear a solid colour opaque bra – no lace or the pattern will get lost and/or expose more than you’d like.
2. Consider colour blocking, or monochrome
Use block colours rather than prints, and stick to a single colour or monochrome palette underneath. Accessories can be used to add hints of sparkle or colour, but the overall focus should still be on the star of the show. On the other hand, a plain but brightly coloured bra or cami underneath a loose sheer knit can look gorgeous at night-time, and is a subtler way to wear brights.
3. Play around with shapes
In this outfit I’ve chosen a very fitted shape, but there are lots of sheer knit jumpers on the market that are cropped, oversized and so on – see below for some of my favourites. These are perfect for a more casual look, or can be dressed up with heels and skinny trousers for a sophisticated evening look.
4. Use accessories and makeup to change the mood
I tend to dress to the nines for any time of day but, if that’s not your style, you can save the shiny and embellished accessories for night time, along with a darker lip or eye. The transparency of the knit can lend enough detail to the look that you can keep it really simple if you want to. Go for nudes or pastels for a distinct daytime look, or metallic and embellishments for going out. Here I played around mixing hints of gold and silver, but kept it to a minimum – earrings, bag, watch – and voila!
Shop the Look:
Sheer knit body, ASOS
High Waist Coated Jeans, Only @ Asos
Star Cutout Earrings, Misspap
Studded bag, Carvela – now on Sale!
My top picks for sheer knits:
Yellow jumper, ASOS
Cropped balloon-sleeve sweater, Lovers & Friends @ Revolve
Metallic sheer knit top, Maxmara @ Harrods
Do you own a sheer knit top or do you fancy one? Leave me a comment below or get in touch for more styling tips!
Love,
