How to style a peplum top: five outfits for work and weekends
To style a peplum top, keep everything below the flare slim and simple: straight jeans, slim trousers or a skirt that skims the hips. The peplum already gives you a waist and a bit of movement, so the rest of the outfit only has to stay out of its way. Here is how we wear ours, from a Monday meeting to a Sunday brunch.
What a peplum top is
A peplum top is fitted to the waist and then flares out into a short frill or skirt at the hem. The flare sits over the hips, which is why it marks your waist without a belt. You will find peplum tops for women in every fabric, but cotton makes the most sense for most of the year in India. It breathes, and it holds the shape of the flare without clinging.
The one rule: slim below, flare above
The peplum is the volume. Pair it with more volume, like a very full skirt or baggy cargo pants, and the shape gets lost. Pair it with something straight and close, and the waist does the talking. Wear it out over the waistband. Tuck it in and you lose the whole point of the cut.
Five ways to wear a peplum top
With dark jeans, for the weekend. The easiest one. Straight or slim jeans in charcoal or indigo, flat sandals or white sneakers, done. This is how we shot the Bluebell Breeze Tie-Top, and it is still our favourite.
With slim trousers, for the office. Beige, white or navy cigarette trousers and a pair of loafers turn a peplum into a work top. A small check or a stripe looks neat at a desk without feeling stiff. Keep the jewellery small.
With a pencil or straight midi skirt, for dinner. A plain skirt that skims the hips keeps the line long. Add a block heel and a small bag. Skip skirts that flare out again at the hip, or you end up with two frills fighting.
With tailored shorts, for a trip. A peplum and a pair of white or denim shorts look put together in holiday photos and feel easy in the heat. Sandals, sunglasses, one tote.
Layered, for a cold office. A sleeveless peplum sits well under an open shirt or a cropped denim jacket. Leave the layer unbuttoned so the flare still shows at the hem.
Peplum tops for women: western wear that handles Indian weather
Synthetic peplum tops look crisp in the photo and feel hot by lunch. In an Indian summer, cotton is the better call. A light plain weave lets air through, a busy check hides small creases on a long day, and a sleeveless cut keeps you cool on the commute. If you want one western top that copes with the heat, look for cotton with a waist that holds its shape on its own.
Our peplum: the Bluebell Breeze Tie-Top
The Bluebell Breeze Tie-Top is a cotton peplum top for women in blue and white gingham. It has a square neck, shoulders that tie, a smocked bodice and an elasticated waist that pulls the peplum in for you. It is sleeveless and sits at a medium length, so it works well over high-rise jeans. Rs. 1,450.
It is cut from handloom Madras cotton, woven in Tamil Nadu, the same cloth as the rest of The Madras Theory. Want to know more about the fabric? Read what Madras check is and why it suits warm days.
What to skip
Skip very wide, flowy bottoms. A peplum over palazzos or a tiered skirt is a lot of fabric in one place. Skip a belt over the flare, since the waist is already there. And skip a top that is too long: the flare should end around the hip, not halfway down your thigh.
Getting the size right
A peplum should sit at your natural waist, so the flare starts in the right place. The Bluebell fabric has no stretch, but the elasticated waist gives a little, and it fits true to size. Our model is 162 cm and wears S. Every product page has a size guide with measurements in cm and inches, sizes run XS to XL, and if the fit is off you have 7 days to exchange it.
Questions people ask
What to wear with a peplum top?
Anything slim below the flare. Straight or slim jeans, cigarette trousers, a pencil skirt or tailored shorts all work, because the peplum already adds the volume. Flats, loafers or a block heel finish it.
What pants to wear with a peplum top?
Straight or slim fit pants that sit at the waist: dark jeans for the weekend, beige, white or navy cigarette trousers for work. High rise is best, so the flare sits over the waistband. Very wide pants and palazzos fight the flare, so keep those for another top.
Should you tuck in a peplum top?
No. Wear it out over the waistband. The flare is the point of the cut, and tucking it in hides it.
Can you wear a peplum top to the office?
Yes. Pair it with slim trousers and closed shoes, and pick a quiet pattern like a check or a stripe. Add a light jacket if your office runs the air conditioning cold.
What shoes go with a peplum top?
Flats, loafers, block heels and white sneakers all work. Keep the shoe simple so the top stays the focus.
Do peplum tops suit petite women?
Yes, with high-rise bottoms. They keep your legs looking long, and the flare sits at your waist instead of cutting you in half.
How do you wash a cotton peplum top?
Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, do not tumble dry, dry in the shade and iron on low heat. Press the flare flat while the cotton is still a little damp and it keeps its shape.
See all our cotton tops for women, or read our guide to office wear tops for women.