Pretty and practical Sweet Pea tops
August 19th, 2008If you haven’t heard of the Sweet Pea brand, it’s time you did. Their tops are versatile, comfortable, flattering and fun to wear. A flop-proof option to have in your wardrobe if you don’t mind man-made fibers and bold printed designs.
Sweet Pea tops are made of a 100% polyester knitted mesh and come in a range of styles and printed patterns. They are great dressed up under a jacket for smarter occasions, and just as fab dressed down with clamdiggers and casual sandals. The fabric is wrinkle resistant, which makes them easy to launder and the perfect traveling pieces. There’s no chance of shrinkage and the fabric wears well. Shiny, our YLF cleaning queen, mentioned in the forum that the dye runs when you hand wash these tops. So make sure your laundry batches are colour coordinated!
Usually priced between $60 and $95, Tanya recently pointed out that Bluefly is having a sale and styles are 50-70% off at the moment. Sweet Pea tops are perfect on their own, or layered with cardigans for Autumn. They’re a win if it’s your style. I haven’t had a disappointed sweet pea client yet.
An assortment of sweet pea tops. They don’t seem to cling nearly as much as other knitted tops do. Their all-over-print designs, the nature of the mesh fabric, and clever styling details often make them forgiving around the mid section.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:57 am
Thanks you very much for the mention Angie! I am getting really hooked on these tops. I have just ordered my third one from this sale. It’s the same cut like the left one in the first row but different pattern.
Btw, is there a way I can edit my profile? I have just noticed that I have misspelled a word there.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Please disregard mt final comment. I have just found the edit button
August 19th, 2008 at 7:05 am
I just saw a bunch of very similar tops at NY and Co. Not sure of the fit but I have had success there before. IMO, a top is not worth upwards of $60 if the dye runs!
Shari
August 19th, 2008 at 8:15 am
It’s true! My clients (and I) are always amazed at how flattering these tops are despite the very narrow cut and clingy fabric. They ususally have lots of these at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale so in the upcoming months, check their sale racks and Nordstrom Rack as well.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:33 am
For dyes that run [this is hard to anticipate but if you know dyes run when buying a garment, you can try this] try soaking the garment in white vinegar for 5-15 min, then letting the garment dry, then hand washing [so you don’t smell like an Easter egg]. The vinegar should set the color.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Thanks for the bargain tip! I have just placed an order. I found a couple that were
August 19th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I already own four, and this blog encouraged me to snap up two more. Can’t beat the price!!! Tanya, I bought the same style as you - in solid navy and the pink patterned one. Not sure the pink will work for me, but we’ll see…
August 19th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Yay Shiny, I hope that pink will work for you! I got the black/teal floral, and was considering getting the solid navy as well, but decided not too since I already have this particular style in another color combo (cream/grey chain link), so three would have been to many.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am
I adore the one I have, and if I could afford them I would buy several more. As it is, I have to save up for them.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Sarah, have you checked out the one Shiny and I got? It’s $28 on Bluefly!
August 19th, 2008 at 9:34 am
As a superklutz who snags everything, I’m always wary of mesh fabrics … but these are adorable, so I may have to make an exception!
August 19th, 2008 at 10:07 am
OH I love this post b/c I just love Sweet Pea tops. I was JUST looking at them over the weekend on Bluefly and want a leopard print one.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Oh my gosh, I’m in LOVE! I just ordered three. I’m concerned they might be a tad long on me, but that’s what return shipping is for! INC used to make so many cute tops like these, but I’ve found them lacking lately and was bemoaning not being able to find anything similar to replace my old INC ones.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Seet Pea tops are sweet. I have one and I also worried about it snagging. I wore it on Easter and thought I had snagged it on a chair back but when I checked it out it had not snagged. It’s miracle fabric.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Also! I have a white-and-gray Sweet Pea top that I spilled spaghetti sauce alllll over.
It washed right out, no stain at all. And the fabric still lets your skin breathe, so you don’t get the sweatiness that sometimes goes along with manmade fabrics…
August 19th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
I’m actually a little surprised by how many people LOVE these tops! I’d never heard of this brand before coming to YLF - in fact, just yesterday I was going to start a forum thread on what these “sweet pea” tops actually were. So, a very timely post!
I can’t make a complete judgment on the tops before actually seeing them firsthand, but, honestly, I don’t see what y’all see in them. I like the silhouettes of them - what a great variety of wrap tops, volume, high-necks, etc. - but the fabric and pattern completely kill the look for me.
The floral print just looks a little dated and country-home-ish. I know that’s a rotten attempt at an adjective, but it’s the only word I can think of to describe it. I guess the print reminds me of either the upholstery fabric in a farmhouse. The leopard print and the red/white flower print are a little more up my alley, but I still can’t picture myself wearing them.
The mesh also seems a little cheap, but I’m sure it’s a fabric that looks much nicer than it sounds. I guess I’d have to see it firsthand.
So, all in all, I’m not sold on the tops. I’m glad to have had a little lesson in sweat pea tops though!
August 19th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Does Sweet pea come in petite sizes? (xs)
August 19th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I love Sweat Pea too… I like the sillouttes and the mesh. They are very well made, light and delicate and wash well.
I’m excited to order one off of Blue fly. My problem is that I can’t decide about the sizing. In my closet I have two…one is slightly too short and is a Large and the other’s sleeves are slightly too tight and is a small, though it fits elsewhere. Any guidance?
August 19th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Sweat Pea does not come in XS, but they run small. I wear a regular XS everywhere, and in some brand (like BCBG and ATL) I even need XXS, but in Sweat Pea S size fits me perfectly.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I find they run small as well. I had to go up to a medium.
I also love Sweet Pea tops but I don’t think I would want more than 2 or 3 at a time in my wardrobe. They all have a similar look and feel to them, which is good but can get repetitive. My favorite thing is that they are just easy. No ironing, no dry cleaning, no stretching and shrinking. I only have one SP top but I feel like it will last for years to come.
August 19th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I love the look of these tops but would like to try one on before purchasing. Does anyone know of retailers in Canada (specifically, southwestern Ontario) that carry them?
August 19th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Jess, I’m only 5′0″ tall and the sweet pea size small works just fine. The material is very forgiving - which means - I think - that it works for a variety of body types and sizes. The more waist-defining shapes with ruching can be scrunched up (which helps to disguise any love handles/tummy bulge). Also, the hems are not finished - so theoretically, if you still find the length too long, you could easily just cut with a really good pair of scissors and skip the $ of going to a tailor. I have not had to do that - and as I said - I’m only 5′0″!
Shell - I understand what you are saying and I do agree some of the patterns are kinda overwhelming and don’t appeal to me either…. but do try them on, if you see them in the store sometime. They have a miracle way of slimming you that is easy to get addicted to.
Jane, now you have me worried… the two I ordered are the long-sleeved ones. All the rest I own are s/s or sleeveless. I do hope they fit (cuz my arms aren’t all that slim).
Final thought: most of these tops need a cami underneath, because they are quite sheer. I only own one that doesn’t need a cami; it is an older model bought awhile back from Marshall’s and it happens to be double-lined.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I LOVE the Sweet Pea wrap tops in theory. When I try them on, they never seem to work with my long neck (V-neck elongates further), short waist (wrap part shortens it further), long arms (3/4 sleeve looks funny). Angie, any tips for other Sweet Pea styles I should try? My gut is that the baby doll won’t help the short waist situation either.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
I think the floral prints SP uses are too bold and bright to be “country-home-ish,” as you say Shell. I don’t like ditsy Laura Ashley florals myself, but these are more fun and abstract. Angie made a post about this a few months back.
The mesh material is nice because it’s very breathable in the summer and extremely easy to care for. It actually doesn’t really look all that different from my other knit tops, and it lasts a lot longer. Take a look at them in person. Maybe you’ll be surprised!
August 20th, 2008 at 7:48 am
More sweet pea top converts! They are indeed a no-brainier.
Jane, try a bigger size. Sweet pea tops aren’t always consistent with their sizing. I have clients switching sizes all the time when the styles are different.
Shell, these tops come in plain too. I’d say give it a bash before you rule them out.
Emily Kate, I’m afraid I can’t help you out.
Excellent points, Tina. I’m in disagreement about three quarter sleeves looking funny on long arms. I have long arms and a long neck too. I don’t wear V-necks, but I wear all sleeve lengths. Are you busty?
August 20th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I have never heard of Sweet Pea before so if I come across this brand next time I shop I will definitely try some things on. Anything slimming is right up my alley and those tops in the photo are cute. The bottom right one would do a great job hiding tummy bulge and I love the blue leopard print top.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:25 am
I have 3 Sweet Peas and I just adore them — 2 are wrap style and the other is just a T with a shirred square neckline. The prints are such a nice way to add kick to even just jeans. I will be dashing to Bluefly to check out the sale!
August 21st, 2008 at 9:14 am
Angie, I am kind of busty (34D). Impact of bust on short waist situation has improved since I took you up on your Chantelle recommendation, but I still worry that wrap dresses and tops are tough for the short-waist/long neck combo. Why don’t YOU wear V-necks? The long neck?
August 21st, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Wow, $28 sounds great Tanya! Too bad I’m on a shopping ban until October. I’ve over spent and have all of my clothing budget for August and September used up already. If not for that, I would definitely snatch up another at that price.
I keep meaning to post on the forum again. We are still moving now, but I’ll try to get on there again soon.