Peplum

So apparently the peplum trend, that started in spring 2012, is here to stay or at least is still going strong this season. I really enjoyed wearing my cheap peplum Zara evening top last winter so I thought that I would look for a summer one. Even if every other retailer put out a version of the peplum top for spring, to find one that fits really well is no easy task: sometimes the peplum is too overwhelming, too high-wasted or the top itself is too oversized (or the materials used are cheap). Personally I don't understan tops with a peplum at hips level: the peplum is supposed to enhance waist definition but if it starts at the hips you will look like a tube with a ruffle. There are quite a few higher-end versions that look nice, like this one at Rebecca Taylor (I am in love with the whole Collection BTW), but who wants to spend $350 on a top and one that could go quickly out of fashion? A little bit out of desperation two weeks ago, thinking that I wouldn't find anything better without spending much more money, I bought a Joe Fresh peplum tee that fit quite nicely but didn't convince me 100% because it looked a bit sloppy (basically it was a regular tee in a thin cotton with a peplum attached to it).

I didn't think I would find the perfect peplum top at JCrew, as they usually don't do this style well, but I did. I went in last Saturday to check out if there was something worth buying with the 20% promo and my eye caught a top that I had never seen before. It was a sleeveless peplum top offered in navy and a off-white. It looked nice on the hanger, but with peplum tops you never know, you have to try on to see if the peplum starts at the right spot, etc. Well, I am happy to report that this top is perfection, the really nailed it. The great thing about it is that it is a knit, made in a very sturdy cotton (with a 7% of spandex), that is structured enough to look like a woven linen top, but has all the easiness and comforts of a knit.
It is priced at $78 and the style number is 84643. The color is called Ivory but is almost white (no yellow undertones in it, just not an optic white). I went with my regular size, a XS, that fits perfectly without being too tight in the chest:






Side view:



It has a zipper all the way down in the back that is covered by a flap of fabric. I don't understand zippers in the back (impossible to zip up without help) but at least it is nice that they covered the otherwise exposed zipper:





I plan to wear it just like above or with a big statement necklace, like the rose beaded one. BTW, a reader asked me if I am enjoying the necklace but to be honest I wore it only once as the weather has been disgustingly cold and I didn't have many occasions to accessorize (except for the two last nights out):



If you don't open the zipper completely, you can pass it through your head like a regular top (which defeats the purpose of the zipper but, hey, I don't have live-in help and husband is rarely around when I get dressed).
I am not sure that it can be layered, the peplum doesn't lend itself to be topped by a cardigan (simply because you can't tuck it in and the peplum outline will show and create bulk under the cardigan) and it is a touch too long to wear under a blazer like the schoolboy. I tried it with my tweed boucle peplum jacket and the hem is slightly longer than the hem of the jacket. I can still wear it if I really want it but I prefer my jacket hems to cover my tops entirely:



This top should be included in the knits and tees promo until tonight (I didn't check so call ahead if you want to make the trip to your B&M only to get this), which brings it down to $62. For this price is a great top, especially if you are in the market for a peplum that is "barely there".

What do you think of the JCrew peplum top? Are you in the market for a peplum this season? Please share!