ISO Silky/satiny tailored front button blouses - YouLookFab Forum

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ISO Silky/satiny tailored front button blouses

Katja

(website)

You all can find anything, I know.

I am lusting after the blouses worn by the character Tania Moretti in the PBS Masterpiece series Zen. I hunted for a decent picture to use as an example, but came up empty.

They're your basic business shirt: collar, buttons up the front, but instead of being cotton they are satiny and in strong colors (jade, cobalt, etc). I'm having no luck finding anything like that for under a couple hundred bucks:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/st.....tback=2771

Thanks for your help!

Shopping

24 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Makrame

Veteran

Well, I just tried a really nice blouse from Ann Taylor but the front buttons are hidden under the placket so maybe it is not exactly what you want. http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/p.....Color=3015 The colors are great, though. Warning: it runs big (I often get an 8 in Ann Taylor tops but the 8 was way too big).

Katja

(website)

Oh, that's nice! The placket is fine. The colors are little muted.

This is also pretty close, in the non-white colors: http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/p.....Color=9192

KikiG

Veteran

That is easy! Buy the white shirt, buy the cover-your-own button kit, cover the buttons in the strong colored fabric and take off the buttons the shirt comes with and sew on the new buttons. Just be aware that the covered buttons are fatter, and you need to get smaller covered buttons than the flat buttons you take off, or they won't go through the buttonholes.

Also, it is sometimes helpful to spray paint the plastic or metal button shells that get covered with fabric (before covering) to avoid "glint" through sheer fabric. I once covered buttons with a navy and green plaid shirting fabric, and I had to paint the shells black to avoid show through of the metal under parts.

Katja

(website)

Sorry I was unclear! Cotton versus satiny wasn't meant to refer to the buttons alone, but to the entire blouse. I'm looking for satiny/silk/charmeuse shirts of the style usually called button-down (which is wrong, but that's another thread).

D'Ellen

Veteran

Oh yes, I loved Tania's blouses too! I remember having some similar back in the late 80's or early 90's, but I don't see them these days...not in my shopping realm at least.

Katja

(website)

Maybe they're hopelessly out of fashion...

MsMary

Veteran

Maybe you should try your local consignment store or Salvation Armani, then! I just got a fab bright orange silky blouse at the vintage store here in town!

D'Ellen

Veteran

I love the deep-colored Ann Taylor ones. Hmmm...I've been eyeing an Ann Taylor sweater and the 50% deal is very tempting.

Sarah

Veteran

I saw a bunch of cool blouses on Madewell today. Not sure if the colors are what you're after but you might check.

bella

(website)

Veteran

For the kind of shine that you want, you are looking at silk shirts which can get pricey. Your other option is 100% polyester, which can look a bit cheap.

If you are willing to trade off a little shine for affordability, Express has some nice shirts:
http://www.express.com/essenti.....pro#jsLink
so does The Limited:
http://www.thelimited.com/deta.....rt/4133006
Colors are gorgeous.

Another option is thrifting. They always have a lot of silk button downs at my savers.

Elly

Veteran

I want a champagne one!

Inge

(website)

How about these, Katja?

http://www.macys.com/catalog/p.....fe3iR7Tl5w

http://www1.macys.com/catalog/.....sn_results

http://www.macys.com/catalog/p.....8VHU3uAFgA

http://www.6pm.com/jones-new-y.....use-fennel

http://www.6pm.com/jones-new-y.....use-cobalt

http://www.victoriassecret.com.....vsdWrapper

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Katja, I really liked your AT link, because the colors are so rich and jewel-toned. What was missing with the blouse in that link? I thought they were beautiful. @Inge: I really like the VS link you showed, too!

bella

(website)

Veteran

I just saw the Ann Taylor silk blouse in store, both the winter white and the lunar sky. They are gorgeous and now %40 off for the Columbus Day weekend.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

@Bella: Is there much a difference between AT regular and petite sizes? I never know which way to go with this. Love the idea of a sale price!

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

;( Most of the sizes are gone.

bella

(website)

Veteran

hi Vicki, I don't know about the blouses but I tried on a jacket in both 2 and 2P. I don't normally consider myself a petite but I was really struck by how much more proportional the label and and collar looked in petite. so if you are a true petite or are hovering around the petite/regular line, it might be worth giving petites a try.
Also, do you have an Ann Taylor store nearby? the sale started just today and mine was stocked full with a lot of merchandise in all sizes.

Katja

(website)

Wow, Inge, thank you! I'd stay away from the ones with pockets over the bust, but all the others are fab!

Vicki, I am 5'7" but short waisted; I often do better with petite tops. Off to AT tomorrow to see what's there

Inge

(website)

You're welcome, Katja. Please report back?-)

Katja

(website)

Will do.

So how do you all find these things? Google "shopping" search is pretty lame; are there dedicated fashion shopping engines? Or do you just go from store to store?

Inge

(website)

http://www.shopstyle.com is quite handy for this, Katja. Just type in what you are looking for and you can filter by colour, price, size etc.
I often just use the general Google search engine too. And usually I have some idea of where to find a certain item online and then I just go directly to the store websites.

NK

(website)

I saw these at BR:

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=883847002

I wonder if they might have more colors in stores?

Katja

(website)

@NK, thanks! Sadly, I'm just back from shopping and didn't stop in at BR.

I tried on these AT blouses: http://www.anntaylor.com/ann/p.....Color=9192

The winter white was actually a very nice ivory, my favorite color. The 14s were baggy, and the 12s were good in the shoulder but (surprise!) gapped at the bust, so I left them at the store.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Ah, I saw the thread title and was going to recommend that very AT blouse! I bought it today in that dark teal color, and I love it. I have a similar blouse in emerald green from AT that is easily 10 years old and still looks brand new. I'm sorry it didn't work for you.