The right work top does a quiet job. It gets you through a nine o'clock meeting, a lunchtime errand and an unplanned drink without a change of clothes, and it never asks to be adjusted. The wrong one rides up, wrinkles by noon or says something you did not mean to say in a performance review. Most of us own a few of the wrong ones and wear them anyway.
This is a guide to work tops for women, written for the way people work now: a mix of desk, café, client lunch and the occasional video call. It follows one working day in a handful of tops from our tops and tanks and tees collections, with the reasons we would choose each one. Almost everything here is from Chosen by Tuchuzy, designed in Bondi Beach and chosen to keep working through a full week.
What Makes a Good Work Top
Before the outfits, the rules. A good work top has five qualities, and it is worth checking them in the changing room.
It should hold its shape. Fabric with a little body, such as a crisp poplin, a structured cotton or a fine satin, looks deliberate for eight hours. It should be opaque enough for good light, which means a white top should be tested against a window. It should move: you will reach, sit, stand and carry, so check the armholes and the length. It should layer cleanly, since offices run hot and cold. And it should earn its place several ways, with trousers, a skirt and denim on a casual Friday.
Eight in the Morning: The Crisp White Shirt, Reconsidered
If you are going to own one thing, make it a white shirt that is not boring. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Embroidery Shirt in white has fine embroidered detail that adds texture without adding noise. It works open over a singlet when you want it relaxed, buttoned with tailored trousers when you need it formal, and tucked into a skirt for a client lunch. Browse our wider shirts collection for collar shapes and weights.
Tuck the front only if you want a more casual outline, wear it fully tucked for authority and leave it out over wide-leg trousers if the day is going to be long. The same shirt, three different moods.
Ten O'Clock: The Henley You Can Wear to a Meeting
A henley is a shirt in disguise. It has a placket and a collar-adjacent neckline, but it moves like a tee. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Tess Henley Top in white has long sleeves and a poplin feel that looks tidy under a blazer and is soft enough to wear all day. It is the piece we would choose for a day of back-to-back calls, because it looks composed on camera and is comfortable off it.
Wear it under a jacket from our blazers edit with straight trousers and you have the closest thing to a uniform that still feels like yours. Push the sleeves up when you want to look like you are getting things done.
Midday: The Tank That Works Under Everything
A tank is the most underrated work top, because it is the one you do not think about. A good one has a high enough neckline for the office, wide enough straps to hide with a bra and fabric thick enough to hold its line. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Twist V Tank in white has a small twist detail at the neckline that keeps it from reading as basic. The Eyelet Scoop Tank in white adds a delicate texture for summer days. Either one works under a blazer or alone with a good pair of trousers.
For more options, see the full range of Chosen tanks. They are also, quietly, the best-value way to build a work wardrobe, since each one can be worn weekly in a different combination.
Three in the Afternoon: Something With a Little Structure
The mid-afternoon slump is a good time to wear a top that helps you stand up straight. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Scoop Halter Shell Tank in slate is a cool grey halter that looks smart on its own and neat under a jacket. Slate is a useful neutral because it is softer than black and warmer than navy, and it pairs with everything from cream trousers to a charcoal skirt.
If you work somewhere that allows a little more freedom, a satin top is the move. The Chosen by Tuchuzy Satin Bodice in coffee has a defined shape and a soft sheen. It looks dressed up with trousers and a loafer, and dressed for dinner with the addition of earrings. Satin is the top for people who have a work event and a drinks invitation on the same night.
Six O'Clock: From the Desk to the Bar
This is where a good work top proves itself. A shirt can lose the blazer, open a button and swap to a heavier earring. A tank can lose the cardigan and gain a statement necklace from our jewellery collection. A satin bodice can stay exactly as it is. The principle is to put the transformation into the accessories and keep the top constant. If you want more ideas about the shift from day to night, our guides to desk to dinner outfits and after work drinks go deeper into the whole outfit.
The Bottoms That Make Work Tops Work
A top is half of an outfit, and the other half matters just as much. Straight-leg or wide-leg trousers from the pants collection are the most dependable pairing, because they balance a fitted top with a relaxed line. A midi skirt from the skirts collection suits a fine knit or a shirt, and a dark, clean pair of jeans turns any of these tops into a casual Friday outfit.
Colour, Fabric and Care
For a working wardrobe, build a base of white, black, slate and a warm neutral like coffee or butter. These combine freely, so every top works with every bottom. Choose breathable fabrics such as cotton, poplin and linen in warm months, and move to knits as the weather turns. The care label is the final word on washing, but as a general principle, wash on a gentle cycle, avoid tumble drying and steam rather than iron when you can.
If you are shopping from outside Australia, we ship worldwide, including to the United States, so an office wardrobe built in Bondi can be in a New York or Los Angeles office within days. Delivery options appear at checkout. And if you are in Sydney, visit us on Hall Street and try a few options in front of a proper mirror.
Your Questions Answered
What tops are appropriate for a business casual office?
Shirts, henleys, structured tanks worn under a blazer, and fine knits are all appropriate. Avoid anything that needs constant adjusting.
Can I wear a tank top to work?
In many workplaces, yes, with a blazer or cardigan. Choose a high neckline and a thicker fabric, and check your office dress code first.
How many work tops do I need?
A working week is well covered by five tops that mix and match: two shirts or henleys, two tanks and one dressier piece. Rotation matters more than volume.
What colour of top is the most versatile for work?
White and slate are the easiest. Both go with black, navy, cream and denim, and both look good under most jackets.
Do you ship work tops internationally?
Yes. We ship worldwide, including to the United States, and delivery information is shown at checkout.