Going Out Tops: 8 Luxury Styles and What to Wear Them With (2026)

Going out tops at the luxury end are structured, lined pieces that do the work of a party dress when worn with jeans, black trousers and a midi skirt. Markarian makes the strongest in its Fall 2026 collection: a gold-sequin drape top, a gold brocade peplum, a silver corset and a beaded cape top. Find them in our designer tops at Coveti.

What makes a good going out top?

The British going out top is a simple idea: dress up the top half, keep the bottom half easy. It works for a Christmas party, a birthday dinner, drinks after work and a night out with dancing. The trick at the luxury end is structure. A top with a boned bodice, a lined body and a clean back zip looks finished with dark jeans, which a flimsy cami never quite does.

Three things to look for:

• A shape that holds. Corset seams, a peplum, a drape stitched in place.
• A good back. Most of a night out is spent at a bar with your back to the room.
• A lining. Every Markarian Fall 2026 top is fully lined in 100% silk, so nothing scratches by midnight.

For more on how the brand dresses a whole look, see how to style Markarian. For full party looks, see Christmas party outfits.

The Markarian going out tops at a glance

Lily: the black and gold drape

The Lily Sequin Embellished Drape Top is black dupioni draped across a sculpted corset top and hand-embellished with gold sequins. The structure stays sharp while the folds give it movement. It is the most versatile top here: black works with everything, and the gold sequins carry the party mood. Wear it with the matching Mirage Sequin Embellished Midi Skirt for a full evening look, also with wide black trousers and a gold heel, which is how Markarian suggests it. Our sequin skirts guide covers the Mirage in more depth.

Jasminium Gold: the peplum

The Jasminium Gold Top is gold floral brocade shaped into a fitted peplum with soft pleats at the waist. The peplum is the most forgiving going out shape, because it defines the waist and skims the hip. Tuck it over slim black trousers for a cocktail party, add the Pia Gold Midi Skirt for the full set, and for a daytime version try it with dark jeans and a pointed flat.

Maisie: the silver corset

The Maisie Silver Corset Top is a signature Markarian shape in silver metallic floral brocade, with a round neckline, a scooped back and an exposed back zip. It is the going out top for dancing. With the Mira Silver Shorts it becomes a party set; with a long black skirt it calms down for dinner. I like it best with straight dark denim and a silver heel, which is about as British a Friday night as a corset top gets.

Goldie: the cape top

The Goldie Beaded Cape Top is the statement. Long shoulder trains are embellished all over with sapphire, onyx and ivory-toned beads and sequins, with a high neckline and an open back. It is too dramatic for the pub and exactly right for a gala, a winter ball and a New Year’s Eve dinner. Markarian layers it over the matching Aziza gown; it is just as striking over a black column skirt.

Daytime and lighter going out tops

For long lunches, summer parties and the Australian Christmas season, the Pre-Fall 2026 Markarian tops are lighter options live at Coveti:

• Jasminium Navy Bouquet Top, which Markarian pairs with the Ila Navy Bouquet Trouser as a set
• Kit Pastel Plaid Halter Top
• Wilma Dusty Rose Button Down
• Vega Ivory Linen Wrap Top

What to wear with a going out top

The rule I give everyone: one statement on top, nothing loud below. If the top is beaded, the trouser is plain. If the top is brocade, skip the printed bag. For the matching bottoms, browse our designer skirts and designer trousers.

Going out tops for winter and summer

A going out top has to survive the walk to the venue. In a British December that means a long coat over the top and a closed shoe, so the structured pieces, Lily, Maisie and Jasminium Gold, make more sense than anything sheer. Corset tops hold their shape under a coat and look sharp the moment it comes off. In an Australian December, the same tops work with a bare leg and a sandal, and the lighter Pre-Fall pieces like the Vega Ivory Linen Wrap Top take over for daytime parties. In Dubai and Doha, where evenings are mild in winter and venues are cool inside, a top like Goldie with its high neckline and shoulder trains gives coverage with real impact. Whatever the climate, keep a black trouser in the rotation: it is the one bottom that works with all eight tops here.

Sizing a corset going out top

Coveti lists Markarian tops in UK sizes 4 to 18, converted from the brand’s US sizing (US 0 is UK 4, US 14 is UK 18). Australian sizes match the UK numbers, and EU sizes are UK plus 28. Corset tops like Maisie and Lily are fitted through the bodice, so if you are between sizes, choose for your ribcage. See the Markarian size guide for fit notes, and our co-ord sets guide for the matching bottoms. For full December looks, read New Year’s Eve outfits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a going out top?

A going out top is a dressy top worn with simple bottoms, usually jeans, black trousers and a skirt, for a night out. It is a British term for the top half of a party outfit.

What do you wear with a going out top?

Keep the bottom half plain: dark straight jeans, slim black trousers and a black midi skirt all work. Let the top carry the look, and match your shoes to its metal.

Can you wear a corset top to a Christmas party?

Yes. A lined corset top like the Markarian Maisie Silver Corset Top with black trousers is a smart Christmas party look, and it is easy to dance in.

Are Markarian tops lined?

Yes. The Lily, Jasminium Gold, Maisie Silver and Goldie tops are all fully lined in 100% silk.

Which Markarian top has a matching skirt?

Lily matches the Mirage skirt, Jasminium Gold matches the Pia Gold skirt, Maisie Silver matches the Mira Silver shorts, and Goldie matches the Aziza beaded gown.