Make it or Buy It: Natural Life Summer Tops
- thefrayednerve
- May 14
- 4 min read
Updated: May 16
I typically make my own clothes, but occasionally, something online catches my eye. I've had a time trying to find lightweight 100% cotton fabric by the yard in prints that I like. Even Mood has failed me this year, but Natural Life's Instagram caught me at a vulnerable moment of fabric finding despair. I ordered 4 shirts that match my summer aesthetic (think Rose the Hat X cottage witch).
The haul came in a week later and I was satisfied enough with half of the order. The other half... inspired my first blog post.
Before I go further, I'm on the young end of Gen X or top end of Xennials. Measurements are 39-33-40, so that puts me as a solid Large in Natural Life sizing. I'm 5'7 and have a long torso, so I wasn't surprised when two of the shirts fit rather short. Nothing a cami underneath can't handle.
Below, I'm showing the advertisement, the unboxing before the first wash, and the fit after washing and drying (medium heat, delicate cycle in a laundry bag). This is the only time I will machine dry these, as the fabric is too delicate to survive many cycles (not a criticism). Spoiler alert, all of them shrunk ~5-10%, but the sizing ran large so I welcomed it.
The Good
Barcelona Cotton Button Down (Paisley Floral Borders)
Material & Care
100% cotton
Measurements
Length: 28in (from highest point on shoulder); Chest: 42in
Fits true to size with a relaxed silhouette
Unboxing
Fits exactly as expected and the finishes were solid. I would never wear something like this buttoned up fully, but this looks great open or buttoned across the chest. Fully buttoned, it gives full-on granny vibes for someone my age.
After Washing/Drying
The stiffeners are washed out and it has the movement I expected. I even like it with the buttons fastened halfway. No work needed.
Magnolia Top (Wildflower Medallion Teal)
Material & Care
60% rayon, 40% cotton
Measurements
Length: 23in, measured from highest point on shoulder; Total Chest: 52in
Fits true to size
Unboxing
The shoulders are a bit puffy and it is definitely a relaxed fit, but no complaints vs. advertising. This one is a cotton/rayon blend and feels great. The rayon should provide more longevity than cotton alone, while still being a natural (albeit heavily treated) fabric.
After Washing/Drying This one was the most noticeable shrinker, likely because it was also the shortest. At first I thought this one would be ok, but the width of the neck is not balanced by the length. Will have to think about this one.
The Bad
Cotton Tunic-In-A-Bag (Orange Floral)
Material & Care
100% cotton
Measurements
Length: 28in, measured from highest point on shoulder; Total Chest: 47in
Fits true to size with a relaxed silhouette
Unboxing
Looks ok when I turn in the neck edge, but the unturned "finished" edge made me jump out of my skin. Frayed edge, visible stay stitching and an uneven zigzag that looks like it was made with a Lil Sew handheld machine. You can't even turn it under and make a faux facing out of it because of the triangular neck insert in the back.
After Washing/Drying
The fit was way too "mom" for me even after washing, though the fraying at the edges didn't worsen even after machine drying. That was impressive. However, I decided on several upgrades -- see the "Let's Fix It" post here.
Material & Care
50% cotton, 50% rayon
Measurements
Length: 26.5in (from highest point on shoulder)
Fits true to size with a relaxed silhouette
Unboxing
Looks great until you lift your arms: Is this a dolman or a raglan? Either way, it needs fixing.
After Washing/Drying
I really thought this was going to be ok after washing and drying and I wore it on a Zoom call... the sleeve attachment became very problematic and any movement kept pulling the shoulders forward. I'll have to do something about the sleeves on this one in a future post.
Construction and Quality
Overall, the stitching and edge finishes were consistent and clean, and the quality of the fabric did not disappoint. The Barcelona Button Down had a lightly interfaced collar and cuffs. The colors and patterns were exactly as expected and the tassels and beads were of solid quality. I especially loved the wooden buttons and beads on some of the shirts.
Be careful with the seam rippers if you do decide to modify your own Natrual Life purchases because this is very nearly tissue cotton. Snag one thread and you could have yourself an unraveling. This is the cost of wearing super lightweight, flowy cottons/rayons regardless of manufacturer.
The exception was the Cotton Tunic in a bag. The hem, seams, and sleeves were finished with a narrow hem and look great, but the neck... did they not finish the shirt?
A closer look at the website shows the unfinished edge as a feature, not a flaw. It's not false advertising, so I can't throw shade at them for trying to fool customers. However, I will not walk around with a neckline like this.
I put in an hour's work and turned this shapeless tunic into a flowy summer cardigan that is perfect for my wardrobe.
See my post on the process of fixing this neckline: Let's Fix It: Cotton Tunic in a Bag
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