You’ve Heard It Here First—The Chicest Summer Tops Have This One Thing in Common

It doesn’t matter if I’m on my morning walk to Pilates in London’s North West or strolling through the canals and graffiti-lined streets of the city’s East to head to a fashionable restaurant after work, there’s one thing I can count on noticing— sleeveless top trends.

Despite the distinctions between these vastly different neighbourhoods, these suburbs have one thing in common, and it’s the constant amount of shoulders, biceps and exposed arms that I see per capita. I know what you’re thinking: “It’s summer, the season for letting your limbs out!” I hear you.

I am in no way complaining. I, too, am loving the array of tank tops and fine-knit vests that are about and their ability to showcase a part of our anatomy that regularly gets hidden away due to Britain’s grey skies. In saying that, as a seasoned fashion writer, I find it my responsibility to share something that I’ve observed bubbling up on the streets.

However, the thing that piqued my interest most is that it’s not just that Londoners have been early adopters of the sleeveless top trend in their daily lives, but that the style has emerged simultaneously to the rise of the silhouette on the runways and high-street set.

Take the recent autumn/winter 2025 Haute Couture collection presentations, for instance. At Schiaparelli, Daniell Rosberry presented a tuxedo-inspired jacket that looks like it’s been sliced right at the seam where the sleeve meets the bodice.

At Chanel, the French maison achieved a similar effect using their signature tweed; however, it was the feather and silk halter neck top with a peplum detail that reminded me the most of the styles I see when plodding through the English capital.

It’s easy to blame the sun’s arrival on this trend, but I don’t believe that’s all there is to it, especially when expensive-looking high-street staples like COS are pushing the boundaries of the sleeveless top trend through sheer tunic-style tops with built-in hoods. Georgie Dorfman, the founder of Los Angeles-based ready-to-wear brand All My Love, points out that the appeal of the sleeveless top trend comes down to its fuss-free simplicity. “It is the easiest piece to style,” she argues

The designer also adds that our shared penchant for a minimalist aesthetic has shifted our priorities. So instead of styles defined by print or colour, we’re resonating with pieces that embrace shape or fabric, which is really what the sleeveless top trend is about, she notes. “There has been a huge rise in quiet luxury over the past few years,” she acknowledges before adding that sleeveless tops are the culmination of this mode. “The undone, effortless look is incredibly popular at the moment and sleeveless tops have that lived-in look that’s so desirable.”

Personally, the thing about the sleeveless top trend that I gravitate to the most is the fact that no style is off limits. As long as the piece cuts off at your collarbone, it counts. This means that anything from a scarf blouse like the knitted ones St. Agni has recently brought out to the pretty lace-trimmed camisoles designed by Dôen and the viral shirred tops that rear their heads this time of year fall within this category.

So, with so many styles to choose from, what should you look out for? “Sleeveless tops should have a low enough armhole to avoid underarm bulge, hold their shape and should sit right at the hips,” Dorfman acknowledges. She also recommends looking for styles made with premium materials like silk or wool blends, as “they are a little more elevated compared to cotton styles.” Given that this “trend” is all about individuality and the styles that suit your personal tastes, the shopping potential is endless.

Ahead, I’ve compiled a select edit of my favourite styles currently available and broken them down into specific groups to help you choose the ones you love best.

The 4 Biggest Sleeveless Top Trends of 2025

1. Knitted Vests

Style Notes: While sleeveless tops may only be applicable during warm climates, knits like cashmere and wool aren't just for cold ones, either. This season, cotton tanks have been swapped out for premium yarns, giving classic tank shapes a textural update that makes the silhouette look far more luxe.

Shop the Trend:

2. Polka Dots

Style Notes: Ripped right from the last decades of the 19th Century, polka dots have made a ferocious comeback unlike anything we've seen in years. In a season where less is more is encouraged, it's plain why polka dot sleeveless tops have become popular. When we're wearing streamlined ensembles, the two-toned polka dot allows us to play with colour without overcompensating with accessories or adding more layers.

Shop the Trend:

3. Sheer Bodices

Style Notes: Another sleeveless top trend seen on the Haute Couture runways, sheer bodices saturated the first half of Glenn Martin's debut for Maison Margiela. And in a season that embraces wearing very little fabric, it's clear to that classic silhouettes rendered in mesh fabrics is a trend that resonates both on and off the runway.

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4. Lace Accents

Style Notes: From Free People to Rixo, nearly every new-season collection brought out this summer featured some kind of lace accent. Whether that's in the form of an embroidered trim or ornamental flourish, breezy and wispy sleeveless tops have been given the added benefit of enjoying the romantic flair a touch of lace brings.

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