Unless you’ve been living inside a hermetically-sealed box, you’ll know that boho fashion has made a storming return over the last 12 months, manifesting in everything from handkerchief hemlines and low-slung belts to suede bags and, of course, billowing prairie skirts. In the words of Beyoncé, “Baby, I swear it’s déjà vu”. But, if the idea of going full 2004 Sienna Miller is enough to send you running back to minimalism’s embrace, know that there are ways to introduce a little bucolic charm to your summer outfits without signing up to a year-long silent yoga retreat. Enter: the milkmaid top.
You will no doubt be familiar with the milkmaid dress, 2024’s cottagecore-coded trend, but, as the mercury has (finally) risen in the UK, I’ve noticed another whimsical trend being adopted by fashion-savvy individuals. Identifiable by its light cotton fabric, lace or broderie anglaise detailing and white colourway (with the occasional gingham cameo), the milkmaid top is the perfect alternative to your usual white T-shirt or tank top for the summer months.
While we’re enjoying new iterations from the likes of Reformation and Dôen (the brand’s Traveler top is a sellout for a second year running and has been spotted on Kaia Gerber), we’ve also loved seeing how eagle-eyed individuals have managed to secure their milkmaid tops second-hand from antique markets and pre-loved sites – after all, Victorian and Edwardian “corset cover” tops are the original inspiration behind this bohemian trend. Just make sure to triple check measurements, as antique pieces tend to come up small.
“I’m quite specific about anything flouncy – see: ruffled, frilled or puffed – but having trawled resale sites, I am confident that there’s a milkmaid top out there for me,” says Vogue’s senior shopping writer and second-hand fashion hunter, Alice Cary. “I prefer the styles with capped sleeves and a low neckline, perhaps with subtle elements of lace or broderie anglaise. The search continues.”
Styling-wise, the beauty of this piece is that you don’t have to go full boho to make it work – in fact, we recommend juxtaposing it with unexpected separates to give it an updated edge: think boyish jorts, tailored trousers (à la Kaia) or structured A-line skirts. In fact, Carrie Bradshaw’s cotton top and denim capri pant pairing, as featured in Sex And The City season five, could’ve easily stepped straight off the streets of current-day East London – especially with the addition of the silk bandana and pointed pumps. Take note.
Scroll down to see and shop our round-up of the best milkmaid tops for summer 2025.
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This article was originally published on British Vogue.
