The Four Tops, January 23rd

According to Wikipedia, The Four Tops were an American vocal quartet from Detroit who helped to define the city’s Motown sound of the 1960s. The group’s repertoire included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes. You might remember “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” or “Baby I Need Your Loving,” It’s The Same Old Song,” and “Something About You.” My four tops on the other hand are a bit different. I’m talking about the classic short sleeve t-shirt, the long sleeve crewneck, a thick, broken in hoodie, and a long open cardigan. This wardrobe quartet sets me up for fashionable success and happens to relate exactly to those popular songs. Don’t believe me? (Ye of little faith!) Keep reading…

Let’s start with the tried-and-true t-shirt. “I Can’t Help Myself” works perfectly here. I think we all have waaay more t-shirts than we are willing to admit. Favorite ones we save for wearing out with nice outfits. White ones we are terrified to wear at all. Black ones we live in. Ratty ones that have finally migrated to the pajama drawer. Worn out concert t-shirts from yesteryear. Some have cool logos. Some were souvenirs from trips. Others have buttons or feathers, designs, sparkles, graphics, or puffy letters. Some we categorize by activity (dry fit) or day of the week (football for Sunday). Some get folded and stacked but others are deemed hanger worthy. And yet when we see a new prospect that would add so much to our already robust t-shirt collection, it’s a no brainer to add to cart. T-shirts are comfort clothes and we just can’t help ourselves!

Next up is “Baby I Need Your Loving” which overlaps perfectly with the necessary but sometimes boring long sleeve crewneck. For women, these are staple winter items under a bulky coat when you know you’re going store to store and the inside temp is about 50 degrees warmer than the outside temp. They aren’t always fancy or fun, but they have a job to do and they are equal to the task. They could certainly use a little boost since most of the time they are overlooked in our overstuffed closets. When we layer them, they are relegated to the bottom, covered up by a better top layer we’re interested in showing off, like a cool vest or a cropped cardigan. Baby, they need our lovin’.

A well-worn hoodie from forever ago is a go-to grabbing the paper outfit, a bagels run uniform, a too lazy to disrobe pajama top, and a hang on the couch ensemble if properly paired with equally loved sweatpants. “It’s The Same Old Song!” Even when you have newer, nicer, cleaner (gasp!) hoodies from which to select, chance are (your chances are) that you go for the fave again and again.

Lastly we have the long open cardigan. A godsend on chilly fall and spring mornings, for air travel and on days where it appears your (ahem) caboose is a little rounder than you remember in those leggings. These unique workhorse sweaters provide low front pockets for your freezing hands, or a place to keep your phone. The length provides cover, warmth and gives you the welcome appearance of a tall, slim silhouette, and who doesn’t want that? This cardi does what no other can do. “There’s Just Something About You,” that keeps me coming back for another wear.