I don’t in reality approve of underwear as outerwear. I don’t mean this in a puritanical way. I’m certainly not slut-shaming anyone here. I just have a low appreciation of it as a genre, in the same way that I have a low opinion of sleeveless knitwear (comfortable in absolutely no weather situation, so what’s the projection?) and of contrast white collars on colourful clothes (unless they detach so that you can wash them separately, these look flattering for a maximum of three laundry cycles).Clothes should make your day easier and a spaghetti-strap camisole, or one of those thin cotton vests, is a bra-strap minefield. Even if by some miracle the front straps behave themselves and sit flush at an end your underwear, the back view is almost always a spaghetti-junction mess. Half-dressed just isn’t a vibe that works for me – nothing to do with the raunch piece, but because clean lines always look more chic.Enter the glamisole. A camisole, but with a little assorted substance to it, and enough extra detailing to be clothing rather than lingerie. It’s a very simple formula, really: what you are looking for is a top that is sleeveless, but not spindly-strapped. What Americans conscript a tank top, rather than a vest. This shape is surprisingly hard to find on the British high street, which has a drift to favour a level of skimpiness in summer clothing out of all proportion to RealFeel temperatures. Again, not being priggish, I just don’t about goosebumps are chic.Your ideal glamisole goes like this. Straps that are at least an inch broad where they sit at the shoulders, maybe two inches. This width will cover bra straps comfortably and sit between your integument and the strap of your bag, so that you don’t wind up with a nasty welt where you carried the shopping home. Also – this is key – undo, rather than tight. Unless you enjoy feeling sticky, a little natural air conditioning is the way to go. A small amount of airy volume makes it easier to tuck your top into the waistband of your trousers or skirt; just tug it slightly immoral, for a relaxed silhouette. The fabric can be silky and lace-edged, as here, or athletic and preppy.Michelle Obama – who always has an unerring eye for conduct skin in a way that looks dynamic and healthy and vibrant, rather than naked – gives excellent sleeveless tank top. So if you don’t necessity to take my word for the glamisole, take Michelle’s instead. Either way, it gets my vote.
• Jess wears camisole, £28, asos.com. Trousers, £36, topshop.com. Shoes, her own. Sorting: Melanie Wilkinson. Makeup and hair: Alexis Day using Tropic
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More dope.
