From the peplum top revival to flashy styles reminiscent of the noughties club scene, Harriet Cowie ponders what the 2026 ‘town top’ would look like.

Let me take you back. The year was 2009: Florence and The Machine were having their breakthrough moment, social media was booming, and boys were wearing heinous pointy ‘town shoes’ to get into bars. For women, getting ready for a night out was a ritual shared with friends and a Smirnoff Ice, one that followed a very simple fashion formula: jeans and a nice top.

Also known as the ‘town top’ or the ‘going-out top’, the lush look came in many forms — one-shouldered, tube, halter, backless, sequined — but the brief never changed: she was here for a good time. So if we were to revisit the concept now, what would the 2026 town…