Vest Tops

A vest top is the quietest hard worker in a wardrobe, and ours are cut to be seen rather than hidden. The Maya Rib Jersey Vest is the everyday one, fitted close to the body with clean lines through the shoulder and straps wide enough to cover a bra. The Lucy and Lina lace trim vests add a little detail at the neckline, and the Cleo satin cami is the evening option.

On fabric, the Maya is 97 percent organic cotton with 3 percent elastane, so the rib holds its shape and sits softly against the skin rather than clinging. Lucy is a soft viscose elastane that gives a fitted shape without pulling, Lina is a sustainably sourced modal blend, and Cleo is a satin with the handfeel of silk. All of them wash and wear well, which is what a layering piece has to do.

On fit, the Maya runs close to the body and our model wears an extra small at a UK size 8, so size up if you want a looser line over the waist. The wider strap is the detail worth knowing: it covers a bra strap properly, which is what makes a ribbed vest top wearable on its own rather than only as a layer. The lace trim styles sit a little softer through the body.

For styling, wear a ribbed vest with joggers and trainers at the weekend, or tuck one into barrel leg trousers with a loafer. Under a blazer a plain vest reads sharper than a T Shirt. For evening, the satin and lace styles work with a tulle skirt or tailored trousers, and they are the easiest way to make a simple outfit look finished.

The Maya comes in ten colours, from black, navy and ecru through to burgundy, chocolate, olive, cobalt and red, so there is one to sit quietly under everything and one to be the colour in the outfit.