Velvet Tops for Women: The Edit

These eight velvet tops are for winter evenings, when you want to look dressed up without a full outfit. All eight are designed by Ramola Bachchan and sit at the hip, with full sleeves, so they go over trousers, jeans or a straight skirt. Four are hand-embroidered, two carry crystal work, and two are wrap tops with a crystal medallion at the waist.

Embroidered velvet tops

The wine top has a pair of birds in flight worked in Aari embroidery across the chest, in gold and ivory thread. The deep wine velvet gives the stitching shadow, so the birds stand out from a few feet away. It has a V-neck and full sleeves and sits at the hip, so it goes over straight trousers or slim jeans. With black it reads as an evening outfit; with cream trousers, as in the photos, it is softer.

The teal top has an abstract floral motif embroidered low on the front, with a line of beadwork along the V-neck. Teal sits between blue and green, so it is easier to wear under warm restaurant lighting than a bright blue. Keep the jewellery small: the neckline is already trimmed.

The brown top has a round neck and a golden vine of hand-embroidered leaves that runs from the neckline down over one shoulder. The high neck means it needs no necklace; drop earrings are enough. Brown and gold go well together, and it pairs easily with ivory or camel.

The green top has a band collar, snap buttons down the front and a yoke of gold zari embroidery. Its sleeves flare and are slit at the cuff, so it looks more like a light jacket than a blouse. Worn closed it is tailored; with the top snaps open it is more relaxed.

Crystal-embellished velvet tops

The olive top has crystals worked in a branching spray down the front from the V-neck. Olive is close to a neutral, so it goes with black, burgundy or navy as easily as with cream. The crystals pick up light as you move, which means the top needs little extra jewellery.

The teal blue top is the quietest of these. It is plain velvet with one cluster of crystal paisleys at the shoulder. It has a V-neck and full sleeves, and a relaxed, lined cut. Statement earrings work with it; a necklace would compete with the shoulder.

Wrap velvet tops

The two wrap tops tie at the side, which shapes the waist, and have a round crystal medallion where the wrap crosses. The black is the most formal piece here. Over a straight black trouser it works for a dinner or a party, and it does not need a belt.

The plum is the same wrap with the same medallion. Plum sits between red and purple, so it works with either gold or silver jewellery.

For how to wear velvet through an Indian winter, see our guide to velvet outfits for winter. If you want a longer piece in the same fabric, see velvet kurtas. For an outer layer, see velvet jackets.