The item I chose is a ‘Tie-Front Cami top’. It is a size ‘XS-TP’ (it says this on the label) yet has a more loose, organic fit. The color is a dark sort of rich forest green, a slight gloss to the fabric of the top makes this dark color striking and bold. Specific features of this piece include button details on the front and two long lengths of fabric which extend down on the front (that I’ve tied into a fashionable knot). It has a plunging ‘v-neckline’ and adjustable spaghetti straps.
I bought this garment ahead of a trip that I took to South America in 2017. I purchased it from Urban Outfitters, specifically the Urban Outfitters on Southampton high street (I’m sure I can even remember the exact day) I remember trying it on and loving it instantly, its one of those pieces that you put on snd it immediately feels like ‘you’. Since then it has traveled the world with me, it’s lightweight and condensable nature making it an easy traveling staple, and as someone who loves to travel it is a top that suits me in every way.
Looking at it now, I think that this might be one of my favorite tops of all time. Every vacation I take I always pack it, even when I know it’s not appropriate for the climate or style of the trip (think skiing in Whistler). But I always take it, I find that it gives me a lot of confidence, even when I feel particularly insecure. There’s this tie detail on the front hem of the garment which hangs across the stomach of the wearer when it’s tied up, I think this makes it very flattering, especially when it’s so hot all you want to wear is a crop top, but maybe that’s a little too far out of your comfort zone.
The garment is made from 100% Viscose. Viscose is a type of rayon, (which is also known as artificial silk) and was originally made as a cheap alternative to silk. The fact that this item is not ‘real’ silk does not matter to me, I love it not for its physical value, but for its sentimental. When you touch it, the fabric has a satin sort of texture with a less weighty feel that reminds me that it is cheap and not authentic satin.
There are 6 buttons along the center of the front. They are all completely functional but I don’t think I’ve ever unbuttoned them (probably because the top would become entirely vulgar if I did!). They exist, therefore, as entirely ornamental additions. They are fabric covered shank buttons and the same color as the rest of the garment that makes it completely monochrome, which adds a nice fluidity and minimalistic style to it.
The fabric is lightweight enough that I can screw it up and fit it just about into the palm of my hand, but the quality is actually rather good and despite being well worn and one of my older pieces is almost as good as new in terms of quality and construction. It is, however, a very much-loved piece and that shows in the worn surface appearance of the fabric. This is partly because of how much it has been worn, and also due to slight neglect on my account. I could have carefully pressed or hung the top in my wardrobe, preserving the shine and sheen of the fabric. Instead, I screwed it up and crammed it into the corner of my drawer in a desperate attempt to fit in the multitude of forgotten clothes (which I obviously ‘had’ to pack with me). As a result, the top has been left with an accumulation of creases and folds, it doesn’t look very presentable. If you saw it like this in a store you would probably discard it or judge it considerably. But I love it, this little piece of fake satin.
