Ulla Johnson's dresses get the attention, but the tops are the pieces that actually stay in rotation. A puff-sleeve silk blouse, a broderie anglaise shirt or a crochet tank carries the same craft detail as the dresses at a fraction of the price, and each one turns jeans or a plain trouser into an outfit.

They are also the easiest category to buy across retailers. Revolve and Shopbop hold the jersey and cotton styles, Saks Fifth Avenue and Net-a-Porter carry the silk blouses and knit tanks, and Moda Operandi stocks the crochet and fringe pieces. Prices below start around $120 and every style was confirmed in stock at a multi-brand retailer this week.

The knits are where the label's handwork shows most clearly - jacquard tanks, pointelle, crochet trims, leather threaded through open stitch. These are the pieces to size carefully: fine-gauge knits and jacquards are cut close and do not stretch out, while the cardigans are designed to sit slightly oversized.

A crochet or fringe top over a simple slip skirt is the label's most repeatable evening formula, and it packs far better than a dress. Merino and cotton knits should be folded, never hung, or the shoulders will drop.

If this is your first Ulla Johnson purchase, start here. The jersey tanks, cropped cotton tops and puff-sleeve styles sit between $120 and $290 across Revolve, Shopbop and Moda Operandi, and they carry the same prints and gathering as the dresses.

Styling is straightforward: a gathered cotton top with wide-leg denim, a metallic tank under a blazer, a coverup top over swim. Cotton and jersey styles can be washed cold on a gentle cycle; anything with silk, crochet or embellishment should be dry-cleaned.