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Wanting blouses: how do these look?

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I love woven blouses. Love them. And have the hardest time ever finding them in my size. I've come across these two at Nordy's, both for reasonable prices, and would love your input.

Blue and white silk one from Lily (bonus question, what colour is the cami? ):
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/li.....ltback=613

White blouse that isn't a buttondown:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/se.....ltback=365

I would appreciate any descriptive details you think I should have. With blouse no. 2, I'm especially interested in learning about the position of the smocking and the exact billowiness of the sleeves.

Thanks for your help!

Shopping

19 replies

Latest reply was from Luckygirl322

yellowgirl

For the first blouse, the Lily - the cami is white. It's very flowy and sheer, and the cami seems to be several inches shorter than the blouse. It looks a little off to me b/c of that, but others may have a different opinion.

The white blouse is my favorite of the two! I really like the Smocked band at the bottom - I have a blouse like that and I think the style is really flattering. The smocking seems to hit at about the hip-bone area. It's hard to tell how billowy the sleeves will be b/c the model's arms are down. They look like they have some fullness to them, but I wouldn't describe them as overly-full. This blouse is really pretty in the periwinkle color, too.

Good luck!

Maya

Veteran

Yellowgirl pretty much nailed it. All I'd say is that the second blouse is a banded/smocked top, and is NOT waist-defining, which I know you like. The smocking is around the hips, and also FYI there are chest pockets.

celia

Veteran

Hi Michelle,great blouses here.
#1 is see trough, it has a very romantic kind of flower print in shades of pale blue and very light brown.From the pictureit looks more of a tunic lenght.The cami is white.It is not a blouse that will give you a sharp look but in summer it will be a very feminine and breezy outfit with your white jeans(and work apropriate)
#2 is a more dressier blouse. The smocking starts(in the photo) where the zipper of the jeans starts (not near the button ,down bellow).The sleeves are not very billowy, maybe 1,5 inches from the wrist total.
I hope I'm not confusing you.I like both blouses and think you would like the feel and shape of them on you.

marianna

Veteran

Michelle, I've seen both blouses in real life... and I would pass. In my humble opinion they are not up to your style or quality quotient. The Lily blouse looks extremely cheap in person... and the Sejour top is mediocre at best.

Sorry. Just my honest thoughts after spending 40 hours a week looking at these items.

marianna

Veteran

If you're interested in looking at some blouses that I like, here are a few:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/da.....ltback=228

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/da.....tback=2125

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ta.....us/3164847

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/da.....us/3154081

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ke.....tback=6401

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Thank you for these descriptions! They helped me realize that neither of these blouses are what I'm after -- maya's right, I do prefer more tailored looks. Marianna, your opinion absolutely counts, and I'm so glad you spoke up as honestly as you did! I'm about to look through your recommendations, which I'm sure are fabulous. Thank you!

marianna

Veteran

Didn't meant to burst your bubble, just being honest. I'm really underwhelmed with a lot of the Encore merch right now, and my stylish friend Michelle must wear only the best!

celia

Veteran

I'm glad Marianna steped in

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

No bubble bbursting angst here, just gratitude!
Marianna, Angie actually said something about the swiss dot top at one point. What in the world are "dust and "sage" as colours?
And are there any blouuses anywhere that are a little more fitted than floaty? That seems to be everywhere right about now.

marianna

Veteran

Dust is a light pearl grey and sage is like a dull avocado green. I prefer the dust! I bought a similar Daniel Rainn top with swiss dots at the Rack and love it.

Most of the blouses that I've seen lately are definitely more floaty and voluminous but I'll keep my eyes out for anything more fitted.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Oooh, Marianna, excellent choices. The first and last are my particular favorites; the banded/cinched part sits right where I like it, above my hips. I have been looking at that dotted swiss one too but I am not crazy about either of those colors.

Joy

Veteran

Michelle, I could see Marianna's last pick (the Kenneth Cole in papaya) on you. It's a watercolor floral in shades of deep coral to salmon with green leaves on cream. I could see it with a white/cream or denim skirt or pants. It's shown with khaki pants.
The drape is from the shoulders crossing in front in a deep V to look a bit like a wrap top. The cami is the same print as the blouse. After the gathered waist there is a ruffle that comes to the middle of the model's pant zipper, so maybe too short for pants. The area just above the waist is very poofy on the model. The one review isn't very encouraging though.
I wonder if Marianna has seen this top?
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ke.....9009-0-0-1
It is more fitted; the review says it's slimming. It's a pretty print of periwinkle blue brushstokes on a white background with a bit of black at the end of each stroke. the strokes make a curvy pattern. There's a small cowel neckline and a bit of draping across the midriff but not so much that the model's waist and figure are concealed.
This is one of those summer tops that will pair nicely with with black without being dark. It will also be beautiful with white or denim. The bottom hits below the model's crotch of her black pants.

I wanted to add that it has short sleeves but they look like they are cut as part of the top instead of set in. I think I read that Angie prefers this but it may have been for cap sleeves. I'll have to look for it later.

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

Although this Daniel Rainn (suggested by Marianna) is really pretty,
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/da.....44B9L1WoQA

it has lace work running (approximately) from the neck to mid arm which creates a sloping shoulder silhouette. Just making you aware of that. My favoirtes among the suggestions are Marianna's 4th suggestion, the sheer light grey Daniel Rainn, and Joy's suggestion (Kenneth Cole). The sheer top is very on-trend, it does need to be paired with bright white pants or another bold color so as not to wash you out. Joy's KC top is quite bright and will work with white, black or red pants/skirts.

Here's my suggestion:
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/fo.....ltback=508
This is a classic button down shirt w/ elbow length sleeves. This one (on sale) is in yellow which I think will add a lot of punch to your outfits, going well with white or black or red (Angie did a WIW with white, citron yellow and tomato red). In other colors, the top got good reviews.

Maya

Veteran

Michelle, I just flipped through Nordies to see if I could find anything, and virtually everything--EVERYTHING--is without waist definition or shape of any kind.

I'm having the same frustration. I finally found a fitted top at Esprit today, but I'm really sick of volume (and if *I'm* sick of volume, you know it's getting stale). I enjoy it but not as a replacement for other styles.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thank you, Marianna!!

Michelle, I have seen this one irl and to Marinanna's point, it has KILLER potential:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/da.....VGDdoChcVg

Loving the idea of you in coral and lilac too.

marianna

Veteran

That's my favorite one too, Angie.

Michelle, I'd cut out the attached camisole and use your own... and then it's a perfect, gorgeous blouse!

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Thanks, ladies.
I'm leary of the ruffles, since it's a trend that I am also heartily sick of. What's different about these? And what't eh geometric pattern? Is it a navy on navy kind of deal?

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

Michelle - the pattern is off-white (white?) on navy. I love the pattern...I hope I can describe it accurately. The background is all solid navy, and the pattern is similar to mosiaic tiles done in concentric circles, which overlap slightly with other concentric circle figures, near the outer layers. These "mosaic tile" circles themselves vary in size and consist of between 4 and 10 (approx.) concentric circles. The tile shapes are dots, rectangles and very occasionally, teardrop shape (the center of one of these figures is a flower).

Hope this helps!

Luckygirl322

I love Marianna's suggestions. The first one is fabulous in both black and coral.