How to Wear a Smocked Top and Not Look Junior!

Smocked tops are cute. But are they too puffy, pretty, and cute to wear at 40+? Does no one want to look like an aging  Disney princess? Many smocked tops are too cropped, tight, and a little girly for grown-up gals. 

That being said, you can still wear a smocked top. Just be sure it is more sophisticated than sweet. Here’s what to look for and how to wear a smocked top without looking junior.

1. Seek Out Sophisticated Colors and Prints

Color can also make a big difference between looking sweet or sophisticated. You can’t go wrong wearing neutral colors, especially black and white. This high-contrast combo is dramatic and mature. The right prints can elevate smocking too. This bold, painterly print has a modern, classy feel.

2. Choose an Elegant Cut

A chic boatneck blouse with a touch of smocking at the waist and cuffs is a great example. 

3. Go for a Smocked -Lite Look

.

4. Smocked Tops with Long Sleeves are Easier to Wear

Smocked tops and blouses are naturally sweet and romantic looking, and when they have short puffy sleeves, they can look relatively junior. They are much harder to pull off after a certain age because they look a little girly, and they don’t do any favors for aging arms, either!

One way to avoid this cutesy look is to wear a smocked top with long sleeves. This pretty blue tiered sleeve blouse is an excellent alternative to a short-sleeved smocked top. It’s romantic and feminine – almost storybook-like, but it walks the fine line between too young and too old. I would easily wear this top with pair of crisp, tailored white pants and some sleek summer slides to balance the sweetness.

5. Add Sophisticated Accessories

Avoid too much jewelry, cheap jewelry, and plastic jewelry which are junior and only make your smocked top look more junior!<