Just Like That, Ruched Tops Became Everyone's Favorite Clothing Item

The slew of classics you see in your wardrobe today? Many of them started off as trends. They pop up and gain popularity, and if people gravitate toward them enough, you'll start to see them on the market season after season, and eventually, their consistent presence becomes the norm. That's the case with ruched tops. Alongside smocking, ruching within the fabric is an easy way to add a little something special to what could be a basic clothing item. I have mediocre sewing skills but have even used them to add ruching to a plain T-shirt to make it more interesting.

Now that ruching has surpassed peak popularity, there are quite a few options on the market. Whether it's ruching on the side of a top or creatively done on the sleeves or a neckline, it's a closet staple you'll want to get ahold of. Ruched pieces have been saviors to me. Whenever I want to keep things simple but still look (and feel) put-together, pairing one of these tops with a skirt or jeans does the job. I rounded up the best to shop below as well as some outfit inspiration along the way.

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(Image credit: @champagnemani)

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

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(Image credit: @claire_most)

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(Image credit: @mariaalia)

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(Image credit: @alyssainthecity)

Next, It's Here! We Designed a New Clothing Line, and It's So Good We're Freaking Out

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Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.