3 Ways to Tie a Napkin Top (and Why It's Designed to Be Endless)

I designed the Marieloulou Napkin Top around one specific detail: the oversized back tie.

Most “napkin tops” are basically halter shirts that tie into a tiny bow at the back of your neck and call it a day. I wanted something different. I wanted long, generous ties that you can actually do things with. The kind you can knot differently, wrap around your body, leave to drape, or pull tighter depending on the day you’re having. Because the most flattering top is the one that adjusts to you, not the other way around.

So depending on how you tie it, the napkin top can look like a different shirt every time you wear it. Three completely different looks, four, five, ten. There’s no limit. That was the whole brief in my head when I designed it.

In this post (and the video above), I’m going to show you the three ways I tie mine most often. Think of them as starting points, not a rulebook. Each one takes under 30 seconds once you know what you’re doing.

First, a quick note on the design

If you’ve never worn a napkin top before, it’s the shirt, not the dining.

A napkin top is a halter-style top with a clean square front and long fabric ties extending from each side. The “napkin” name comes from the silhouette. Simple, square, intentionally minimal.

The Marieloulou Napkin Top is made from 100% linen and it’s pre-washed linen, which matters because it arrives soft, not stiff. It’s cut to move with your body, not fight it. And the back ties are longer than what you’ll find on most napkin tops. That’s deliberate. Extra length means extra styling options, and it also means you can actually get a secure tie without feeling like you’re working with two tiny strings.

If you’ve been hesitating because tying looks complicated, I promise it’s not. You just need to see it once.

Here are the three you should know.

Way 1: The Classic Bow

Best for: effortless daytime. School runs, coffee runs, working from a café, errands that turn into plans. Anywhere you want clean and put together fast.

How to tie it

1. Bring the front of the top up to cover your chest, with the square panel sitting comfortably where you want it.

2. Take both long ties and bring them behind your back, just below your shoulder blades.

3. Tie them in a simple bow, like tying a shoelace. Pull it snug, not tight.

4. Let the bow tails fall naturally down your back.

Why it works

The bow sits at a flattering spot between your shoulder blades, and the long tails create a soft line down your back that looks intentional without you doing anything extra. This is the version I default to when I want the top to feel easy and classic.

Style it with

Linen pants, denim, a midi skirt, or wide-leg trousers. Sneakers, sandals, slides. It all works. This is the “I don’t have time but I still want to look good” tie.

Way 2: The Wrap-Around

Best for: when you want more shape, a more sculpted waist, or a sportier feel. Also great for travel days or active days when you want it to feel extra secure.

How to tie it

1. Start with the top in place, front panel covering your chest as usual.

2. Take both ties and pull them forward. Bring them around your sides, under your arms, and to the front of your waist.

3. Cross the ties in front, right over left or left over right, it doesn’t matter.

4. Send the ties back around your body to your lower back.

5. Tie a small neat knot at the lower back. You don’t need a bow for this one.

Why it works

This version hugs your natural waist without anything restrictive. You get definition and a more “snatched” silhouette, but it still feels soft because it’s literally just fabric doing its thing. The knot stays low and minimal, so the square front stays the main moment.

Style it with

High-waisted jeans, linen shorts, or anything you’d normally wear with a fitted tee. If you’re worried about it coming untied, this one is super steady because the tie wraps your body.

Way 3: The Hidden Wrap

Best for: going out, warm summer evenings, dinner, events. Anywhere you want the top to feel a little more elevated and clean.

How to tie it

1. Start with the front panel covering your chest as usual.

2. Bring both ties forward and wrap them around your chest like a bra band, under the front panel.

3. Tie a small knot under the front panel so it’s hidden from view.

4. Smooth the front panel down so it drapes cleanly over the wrap. Adjust until you can’t see the tie underneath.

Why it works

This one is my favorite when I want the top to look “designer” without feeling fussy. The long ties become a built-in support layer under the square panel, so from the outside it looks like the fabric is draping perfectly on its own. It’s not magic. It’s just the design working the way it was meant to.

Style it with

A long linen skirt, white jeans, or a slip skirt for evenings. Strappy sandals or low heels. Add small earrings and you’re done. This is the tie that makes the outfit look expensive even if the rest is simple.

Make it your own

These three are the ones I keep coming back to, but they are not the only options.

The Napkin Top was designed to be played with. Try tying it in the front. Try wrapping one tie around your body and letting the other hang. Try criss-crossing the ties like a sports bra. Try tucking both ties into your waistband and letting the front panel hang as a draped halter. Try a bow on one side, a knot on the other.

There isn’t a wrong way to wear it. There’s just your way.

Honestly, that’s my favorite part. I love when someone takes a piece I made and turns it into something I didn’t even think of first. That’s the dream.

If you invent a tie you love, tag me @marieloulou_official. I genuinely want to see it.

One last thing

The napkin top isn’t supposed to be a fussy shirt. It’s the opposite. It’s one piece of fabric that you can tie however you want, so it works for as many different days as you need it to.

That was the brief I gave myself when I designed it.

If you’ve been hesitating because tying looked complicated, it isn’t. It takes 30 seconds. Pick one of the three above and start there, then make it yours.

Shop the Napkin Top → Shop the Earth Linen Collection →

Which tie works best for my body type?

All three. The classic bow is the most universal. The wrap-around gives the most visible waist definition. The hidden wrap is the most elevated and gives the cleanest front silhouette. Try them all with the same bottoms and you’ll find your default in five minutes.

Will it come untied during the day?

A well-tied bow or knot will hold for hours. If you’re doing something active, traveling, dancing, chasing a kid, living life, the wrap-around and hidden wrap are more secure than the classic bow because they wrap your body.

Can I tie it in front instead of in back?

Yes. Bring both ties to the front, knot at your sternum, and let the original “front” panel sit at your back as a drape. It’s one of my favorite variations because it changes the whole vibe.

How tight should it be?

Snug enough that it sits where you want it. Not tight enough to pinch. You should be able to slide a flat hand under the tie.

Does the linen wrinkle when tied?

A little, and that’s part of the vibe. The fabric is pre-washed, so wrinkles read as lived-in, not messy. It also gets softer the more you wear it.