The Ada Linen Top
A Letter From Whitmore Melbourne
Australia · October 2026
If your summer top is stuck to your back by eleven, please read this.
Why so many summer tops let women over fifty down, the six things that fix it, and why the Ada™ costs less than you would expect.
You know the routine. At eight you choose a top that feels perfectly fine. By eleven it is clinging to your back, you have spent the morning pulling it away from your middle, and you have put the cardigan back on over your arms even though you are far too warm for a cardigan.
We want to say something about that before anything else. It is not you.
Most summer tops for women over fifty are made in one of two ways. Some are polyester given a pretty name like “linen-look”, and once the day passes thirty degrees they feel like wearing a shopping bag. The rest are so plain and shapeless that you put one on and feel as though you have quietly stopped making an effort. Neither is fair on you.
An Australian summer is tougher on clothes than almost anywhere else. You deserve a top that is built for it, one that lets you stay cool and still look like yourself. That is what the Ada™ is for. Here are the six reasons.
1 Pure linen, so you stay cool and dry.
The Ada™ is 100% linen. There is no polyester in it and it is not a “linen-look”. Linen lets the air straight through, it does not hold your body heat against you, and it dries quickly when the afternoon turns humid. It does crease a little as you wear it. That soft, relaxed look is part of real linen, and it feels softer with every wash.
What this means for you: no more peeling your top off your back when you get out of the car.
100% linen. The weave lets the air straight through on a hot day.
2 Sleeves that look after your arms.
Let us be honest about something most shops tiptoe around. Plenty of women retire their sleeveless tops years before the hot weather retires them. It is not vanity. You simply want to feel at ease when you wave to a friend, reach up to a shelf or hang out the washing. The Ada™ sleeves come down to about the elbow with a turned-back cuff, so your upper arms are covered and your forearms stay cool.
What this means for you: you can lift your arms all day and never give them a second thought.
3 A cut that never clings to your tummy.
The shoulders are dropped and the body is cut generously, so the linen falls straight down past your tummy and hips instead of following every curve. There is room for a breeze underneath, and nothing to keep tugging at. The hem finishes at the hip with a soft curve, so it sits beautifully over trousers or jeans without being tucked in.
What this means for you: nothing to hold in and nothing to adjust, from breakfast to dinner.
4 A neckline and a button that look cared for.
The neckline opens into a soft V that frames the face and sits nicely on the collarbone without plunging. Just below it is one round wooden button. It is a small thing, but it is the difference between a top that looks thrown on and a top that looks chosen. Easy enough for the shops, smart enough for lunch with the girls.
What this means for you: you look put-together without trying, and you still feel like yourself.
5 Six colours, and an honest word about white.
White, Beige, Navy Blue, Red, Green and Black. Each one works with white or stone trousers, blue jeans or a linen skirt, so one shape covers your whole summer. A word about the White, because we know the worry: in strong midday sun any white linen can show more than you would like. If that concerns you, wear a skin-tone layer underneath, or choose the Beige, which gives the same fresh look with more peace of mind.
What this means for you: one top you can wear all week, in a different colour every day.
6 Every size from AU 10 up to 24.
The good summer top should not only come in small sizes. The Ada™ comes in AU 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24. The cut is relaxed, so your usual size is the place to start. If you would like help choosing, email support@whitmoremelbourne.com with the size you normally buy, and we will help you choose before you order.
What this means for you: a top made for real Australian women, not just the size on the hanger.
How the Ada™ compares with a cheap summer top
Cheap summer tops are everywhere. This is what usually goes wrong with them.
- Polyester sold under the name “linen-look”
- Sticks to you as soon as the day warms up
- No sleeves, or sleeves that hold in heat
- A fitted cut that grips the waist
- Sizes that stop at 16
- Plain enough to make you feel invisible
- 100% linen, nothing synthetic
- Air moves through it on hot days
- Elbow sleeves cover the upper arm
- Roomy body, worn out over trousers
- Sizes AU 10 up to 24
- A wooden button that makes it look chosen
You should never have to pick between staying comfortable in the heat and feeling like yourself. That is why we put the Ada™ in our shop.
Why it costs $64.95
We only sell online, so there is no shop rent and no shopfront built into what you pay. That is how we can keep a pure linen top at $64.95.
And because one colour is rarely enough for a whole summer, buying more makes each top cheaper. Mix any colours you like. Two tops come to $51.96 each (20% off), three come to $48.71 each (25% off), and four or more come to $45.47 each (30% off). The discount comes off in your cart.
Delivery is free and tracked anywhere in Australia. We pack your order within 1 to 3 business days, and Australia Post usually delivers it 6 to 8 business days after that. If it is not right for you, you have 30 days to send it back for a full refund (the return postage is yours). You can pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Neatly folded for posting. Six colours, in AU sizes 10 to 24.
If it were our own mum standing at the wardrobe on a 35-degree morning, this is the top we would hand her.
Summer is not far off now. It is much nicer to have a top like this hanging ready than to go hunting for one on the first scorching morning, when you are already too hot to think about it.
— The Whitmore Melbourne team
The Ada™ — Relaxed V-Neck Linen Top
- 100% linen that stays cool on hot days
- Elbow sleeves that cover your upper arms
- Loose through the tummy, never clinging
- Six colours, in AU sizes 10 up to 24
- 30 days to return it for a full refund
Mix and save: 2 tops 20% off · 3 tops 25% off · 4 or more 30% off.
Written by the Whitmore Melbourne team. Prices are in Australian dollars and correct in October 2026.