I'm Crowning This the New It Piece for 2018

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(Image credit: @oliviarosethelabel)

Recently, I was chatting with Who What Wear’s editorial director, Kat Collings, about some tops I’ve been seeing everywhere. You know, those blouses with details like puffy sleeves, floral voile prints, and covered buttons—and she referred to them as “nouveau milkmaid tops.” Of course, I thought. The delicate tops—with their pretty frills and sweetheart necklines—seem to be lifted right out of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. Specifically, the scenes where the young queen set off to Le Petit Trianon, not far from the palace of Versailles, to escape court life. She would spend entire days at the hamlet playing the part of a milkmaid, wearing airy pieces just like these ones.

To me, they’re a natural evolution of the off-the-shoulder tops and corset pieces that have been hugely popular over the last few years. But now, it’s the “nouveau milkmaid tops” that I’m crowning as the It piece of 2018. So this summer, as we slip into them, we can all play dress up just like Marie Antoinette.

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

I decided to try out the “nouveau milkmaid” trend by wearing a top for myself. And let me tell you, I’m a huge fan. I actually wore this one for a recent date night.

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(Image credit: @alyssainthecity)

I’ve also noticed a micro trend within the category of these crop top versions with ruching.

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(Image credit: @pernilleteisbaek)

To me, the tops are a natural evolution of the off-the-shoulder top and corset versions that were popular over the last few years.

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(Image credit: @oliviarosethelabel)

One of my favorite new labels that specializes in creating these tops is Olivia Rose. An independent British brand, every piece is handmade to order.

Shop more nouveau milkmaid tops

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to wear these tops all summer long.

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury and runway content as well as wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and MyTheresa, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.