Frustration: silky blouses for IT / Hourglass

Sorry, ladies, I just have to rant!

Despite having been a t-shirt gal all my life, I fell in love with how silky blouses look on other women and wanted to play with it on my own body. Originally, I started out in the thrift stores (where I typically play with looks in an inexpensive "playground") but I couldn't find anything that:

-- didn't emphasize my already-strong shoulder line
-- doesn't pulled tightly/obscenely at my bust
-- doesn't complete swamp my waist <-- this one is particularly galling because I've spent my whole life hiding my waist, only to have Angie "discover" my hourglass-like tendencies a few months back.

So 2 months back I gave up on thrift stores and moved into retail stores. I live in Seattle and feel like I've completely combed over the downtown retail corridor (I spent _hours_ at Nordstrom, and all I bought at NAS was a cami and a pair of socks!). The closest I've come is BR's Mad Men tie-front blouse, but even it has a few issues (the shoulder pleats pull a little).

At this point, I'm ready to scream! It's been almost a season, and I feel like should just give up on finding "perfect" fit and start with "good enough", especially since I'm still at the stage where I only want to play with this look a little bit.

Ladies (esp inverted triangles and hourglasses): where have you had success with silky blouses? And should I give up on a "perfect" fit when I'm not yet sure that this look is for me?

12 years ago

Kate

Veteran

Charmian, you might want to take a look at this blouse from Express.

http://www.express.com/1-pocke.....pro#jsLink

It's not silk, but it has a nice drape and isn't blowsy, like so many blouses. I have broad shoulders and a small bust, and often have a lot of trouble finding blouses that fit me properly. This one does, and it comes in a slew of colors. I bought two, and am thinking of going back this weekend for one in black. For me, this blouse is a good wardrobe basic (like a nice tee), and can be dressed up or down as needed.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Well, I have no concrete suggestions because I'm a plus pear, but I also have little luck with silky blouses. They just seem to look sloppy on me, and lack the structure I seem to need to avoid showing all my lumps and bumps.

What is it about the silk blouses that you like? The sexy feel, or the shape, or the overall vibe? If it's just the fit that's a problem, you could get one that fits your shoulders and then altered to fit your bust and waist.

amyreh

HI Charmain, I am an hourglass and also love the look of blouses but have hard time finding ones that show off my waist, as the loose and floaty blouses are all the rage. The Mad Men tie front blouse worked well for me fortunately so I picked that up, and also found these that I really like!

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=864266092

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....sn_results (I got this in a leopard print at the store. This one online is a petite but you may be able to find it in the store in regular or give it a try in petite)

Another thing I will do when blouses don't have enough shape when I buy them is to belt them with a medium width stretchy belt, or tuck them in to a higher waisted skirt.

Zoe

Active Member

Have you tried Victoria's Secret? I'm a busty rectangle with strong shoulders and I've had good luck with their knit shirts. I'm about to try this woven:
http://www.victoriassecret.com.....vsdWrapper which is a cotton poplin, but I'm betting they have silkier blouses as well.

Charmian

Thanks for letting me vent, ladies!

Laura: that is such a WISE question! It's not "silk" that I'm drawn to (the mad men blouse is polyester, IIRC), it's that subtle sheen, the soft texture against my skin, and that gorgeous feminine drape. Maybe I can find something that satisfies those desires without finding a quote-blouse-unquote. As for tailoring: I've contemplated that too, but since this is a look that I'm playing with (rather than committing to), I'm super shy about spending additional money on it. Though, given my frustration level, maybe I should ... ?

Amy: What a coincidence, I just looked at your Mad Men blog post this morning. We bought the same color, blouse-twin! As a true hourglass, how did those vertical shoulder pleats work for you? Mine are a teensy strained, but when I went up one size the SA recoiled (physically recoiled!) at the amount of cloth billowing around my hips. Hmm ... that almost seems like a second vote in favor of tailoring ...

kellygirl

As a member of Team Shoulder, I can totally sympathize. Fitted woven blouses are my nemesis. The only silky blouses I have are roomy tunics and sleeveless shells.

That's funny! The shoulders worked ok on me, but they certainly weren't loose so if you have broader shoulders I could see how that would be a problem - if you really love it and can get it when they are having a 30% off sale or something, might be worth getting the larger size tailored. I do love the feeling of it, you wouldn't know it was polyester unless you looked!

catgirl

I am right there with you. My solution has been silk or silky flowing tunics, like this one from Fossil (out of stock from last year, but they had another one this year):

http://www.fossil.com/en_US/sh.....1351p.html?
orderId=.&parent_category_rn=&departmentCategoryId=&pageFlow=shopCart&itemId=22207949&imagePath=WC1351470

It involves surrendering the waist, but you could always tuck or belt.

Anonymous

Jumping on the ranting bandwagon here:

I feel your pain. I have just about given up wearing anything but knits. My shoulders are like a coat-hanger and the "crisp" button-down shirts are too stiff (can we say, "linebacker?"), so I've been trying on "silky" ones, too (at the thrift stores, as well!) but NOTHING is working.

Like you I've been hiding my waist the last few years in empires and baby-dolls and I'm ready to define it now, thankyouverymuch. Maybe we just need to hold out until the blouse sillhouettes change again? I know we can belt and tuck, but tucking into a waistband that is lower rise DOES NOTHING TO DEFINE A WAIST....Waaaaaaaaa!

Thanks! I feel better knowing I'm not alone, Charmain. :/

adorkable

I feel you all. I'm an hourglass who is generally super narrow - tiny shoulders and tinier waist - but ridiculously busty. I can sometimes wear woven button-downs, but only fairly expensive ones (Ann Taylor / LOFT / etc.).

As for "blouses", if it fits in the boobal area (teehee!), it is so enormous everywhere else that either
1. I look like I'm playing dress-up in mommy's closet or
2. I look like I weigh twice as much as I do

I have the shortest of short waists, too, so I usually look pretty goofy and disproportionate with a belt at the smallest part of my waist.

The blouse trend, for me, is one that I've given up on. I have some lovely knit tunics and they drape in a way that looks great, so I'm happy to stick with those.

(However, if you're stuck on a blouse, here are some brands with woven stuff that tend to work for my proportions to try: Ann Taylor / LOFT, NY&co, sometimes-but-not-always Banana Republic, Zara. None are guaranteed, but all are worth a shot!)

Elly

I am a busty hourglass with monkey arms and broad shoulders--- I wear a E or F cup bra and still have had two tops recently that fit in the bust but are too small in the shoulders, so I feel the pain. Then they are giant elsewhere, including sleeve width. GRRRR