How to Style a Crochet Top, From the Beach to Dinner

To style a crochet top, balance its open, textured stitch with smooth, simple pieces: a plain layer underneath, then clean trousers, a silk skirt, tailored shorts and denim. Decide first how much skin you want to show, because what you wear under the crochet sets the tone of the whole outfit. Over a bikini it is a beach look; over a fitted cami with a midi skirt it is a dinner look.

Crochet has moved a long way from the festival field. The most wearable versions now use it as a detail, a band of crochet lace at a neckline, a hem, a strap, on a fully lined cotton dress, so you get the texture without the see through problem. Below is what to wear underneath, how to take crochet from the beach to dinner, how to wear crochet dresses, skirts and shorts, and how to work a crochet set. The examples are from Posse, the Australian womenswear label, and every piece called crochet here is one the brand itself describes that way.

What is a crochet top?

A crochet top is a top made from loops of yarn pulled through one another with a single hook, which creates an open, lacy, slightly raised texture. Knitting, by contrast, uses two needles and rows of interlocking stitches, so knits are usually denser and stretchier while crochet is more open and holds its shape.

Crochet lace is the same technique used as a trim. In the Posse pieces featured here, crochet appears in three ways:

• As handcrafted detailing on a whole piece. The Harlan Short in Black is described by the brand as having handcrafted crochet detailing, with a high waist, a mini length and a close fit.
• As a crochet lace neckline on a knit. The Posy Tank in Black is a ribbed knit cami with crochet lace at the neckline and scalloped trim along the straps.
• As crochet lace trims on cotton. The Veda family, in Vintage White and Azure, uses crochet lace at the neckline, yoke, straps and hems of cotton tops, tunics, dresses and shorts, most of them fully lined in cotton voile.

What do you wear under a crochet top?

What you wear under crochet depends on how open the stitch is and where the openwork sits. The rule of thumb: match the layer underneath to your skin tone when you want it to disappear, and match it to the crochet colour when you want a tonal, more polished finish.

The Veda pieces fall into the last two rows. The Veda Top in Vintage White has short puff sleeves, a square neckline with sheer crochet lace, front pin tuck detailing and is fully lined in cotton voile, so the lace frames the neckline and the body stays opaque. A skin tone bra with a lower centre front is all it needs.

How do you style a crochet top for the beach?

On the beach, crochet is a cover up and a swim layer at once. Wear an open crochet top straight over a bikini, add loose shorts and flat sandals, and you can walk from the sand to lunch without changing.

• Keep the swimwear simple. A solid bikini under crochet looks cleaner than a printed one. The beachwear edit has plain shapes that sit well beneath openwork.
• Choose the right short. A crochet trimmed short, like the Veda Short in Vintage White, which has crochet lace at the hem, an elasticated waistband with a drawstring tie and a cotton voile lining, works over swim bottoms.
• Add a hat. A bucket hat suits the relaxed texture; see our guide on how to style a bucket hat.
• Finish with flat sandals. Leather slides and thong sandals look best. Skip the heavy platform.

How do you make a crochet top look dressy?

To take crochet to dinner, cover the skin, smooth the silhouette and add one polished accessory. Crochet against silk, satin and crisp cotton looks deliberate; crochet against more texture looks busy.

1. Layer a fitted cami underneath in the same colour as the crochet, so the stitch reads as surface pattern.
2. Choose a smooth bottom. A bias cut silk midi skirt, wide tailored trousers and dark straight jeans all work.
3. Add a heel with a clean line. A slim strappy sandal, a pointed mule and a low slingback suit crochet better than a chunky block.
4. Bring in gold. A fine chain, a pair of hoops and a slim cuff stop the look feeling too beachy.

The Posy Tank is the easiest dinner piece in this edit. Its ribbed knit body is fitted and opaque, and the crochet lace sits only at the neckline, so it works on its own with a black satin skirt and a strappy sandal. Wear it with the Harlan Short and black flat sandals for a tonal all black crochet look on a warm evening.

How do you wear a crochet dress?

A crochet dress follows the same rules: line it, then pick shoes by the length. Fully lined dresses with crochet trim go anywhere a cotton sundress goes.

• Mini. The Veda Mini Dress in Azure has a square neckline with a crochet lace yoke, a soft V neck underneath, wide straps, an A-line off body fit and a full cotton voile lining. Flat sandals by day, a woven mule at night.
• Midi. The Veda Sundress in Vintage White has short puff sleeves, a square neckline, a shirred elasticated waist and underbust, and crochet lace at the neckline and hem. A flat leather sandal and a straw bag keep it relaxed; a low heel and a small leather bag take it to a long lunch.

White dresses come with their own rules about weddings and underwear, which we cover in our guide to how to style a white sundress.

How do you wear crochet skirts and crochet shorts?

Crochet bottoms need a smooth, close fitting top, because two loose textured pieces together lose their shape. Pair a crochet short with a fitted tank, a tucked in shirt and a simple tee.

• Crochet shorts. The Harlan Short is high waisted with a close fit, which makes it the more structured choice. A fitted black tank and a crisp white shirt, half tucked, both work over it.
• Crochet trimmed shorts. The Veda Short, with crochet lace only at the hem, reads softer and suits a loose cotton top.
• Crochet skirts. Keep the top fitted and plain, and if the skirt is open, wear a slip underneath in your skin tone.

Crochet sets: wearing them together and apart

A crochet set is a top and a bottom made with the same crochet detail and colour, sold separately. Together they look like a dress; apart they give you two textured pieces to wear with plain basics. Posse designs in sets across its collections, and the Veda family is a good example of how crochet details carry from piece to piece.

• Together. The Veda Top with the Veda Short, both in Vintage White, with flat sandals and a cream Tassel Belt tied loosely at the waist. Our tassel belt guide covers how to knot it.
• Apart. The Veda Tunic in Azure, a square neck tunic with sheer crochet lace at the neckline and straps, a keyhole button at the back and an A-line off body fit, over white wide trousers.
• Mixed. The Veda Top in Vintage White with dark denim and loafers, then with the shorts on the weekend.

For more on building outfits from matching separates, see our guide on how to style a matching set.

Crochet top vs open knit: what is the difference?

Not every openwork top is crochet. Many are knitted with an open stitch, which gives a similar airy look with more stretch. The Saskia family is a good example: Posse describes it as high twist cotton with shell detailing, not crochet. The Saskia Top in Ivory is cropped and off body with flared sleeves and a keyhole at the back, and the Saskia Skirt in Ivory has vertical knit shell lines, an elasticated waistband and a self yarn drawstring with tassels. Style them exactly as you would crochet: a skin tone layer underneath, flat sandals and gold jewellery. If you prefer a knit layer over your crochet pieces, our guide to how to style a cardigan covers the cropped shapes that suit them.

What shoes and bags go with crochet?

The designer sandals edit is the place to start for the flat leather shapes that suit crochet in summer.

Can you wear crochet in cooler weather?

Yes. Layer a fine knit under an open crochet top, then add straight trousers and loafers; a fitted long sleeve tee and a crisp shirt work underneath too. A cotton crochet trimmed dress works into autumn with a cardigan, opaque tights and a flat boot.

How do you care for crochet?

Always follow the care label first. As general practice, crochet and crochet lace last longer when washed gently in cool water, dried flat and stored folded, because hanging lets the weight of the piece stretch the loops. Fasten any buttons and turn the piece inside out before washing to protect the lace edges.

Sizing

Posse sizes run in letter sizes XXS to XXL, and the brand describes the pieces in this edit as fitting true to size. Fitted styles like the Posy Tank and the Harlan Short sit close to the body, while the Veda and Saskia shapes are cut off body. The full collection is on the Posse brand page.

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear under a crochet top?

At the beach, wear a bikini top under fully open crochet; in the city, wear a fitted cami in the same colour as the crochet. If the crochet sits only at the neckline of a lined top, a skin tone bra cut lower than the lace is enough.

How do you make a crochet top look dressy?

Layer a fitted cami underneath, then add a smooth bottom such as a silk midi skirt and tailored trousers. Finish with a slim heel and fine gold jewellery.

What do you wear with a crochet dress?

Choose flat leather sandals and a straw bag by day, and a low heel with a small leather bag in the evening. Check whether the dress is lined, and add a slip underneath if it is not.

Is crochet the same as knit?

No. Crochet is made with a single hook pulling loops through loops, which gives an open texture, while knitting uses two needles and interlocking rows that are usually denser and stretchier.

Can you wear a crochet top in winter?

Yes. Layer it over a fine knit and wear it with straight trousers and loafers, then add a cardigan and tights to a crochet trimmed dress.

How do you wash crochet?

Follow the care label, and in general wash crochet gently in cool water, dry it flat and store it folded. Hanging crochet can stretch the loops out of shape.