WIW 8/28 - New equipment blouse and Mind the Gap! - YouLookFab Forum

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WIW 8/28 - New equipment blouse and Mind the Gap!

Charmian

Veteran

After almost a month of agonizing, I pulled the trigger on an Equipment "signature" silk blouse. Actually, who am I kidding -- I'm still agonizing! After all the time I'd spent with Nordies' SAs, I'd planned on getting a soft color like Nature White from them. But when it arrived, the material was just too translucent for me; and all their other colors washed me out. So I went to a different retailer for a different color selection.

So here we are: the "signature" style in "red ochre" (a soft red-y rust), slim straight-leg jeans, and off-camera shoes (the tan ones from this post). I am completely in love with the juxtaposition of lux silk and oversized masculine shirt, and want to wear it again right now!

But ... what is up with the gap over my bust? I've spared you the side view, but I assure you my co-workers had a splendid view of my bra. I don't mind using fashion tape, but it seems ludicrous that it would be necessary on an oversized shirt!

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Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from lynne

Deborah

Veteran

Can you/would you consider just hand stichting that part of the blouse so it doesn't gape? I have to do that occasionally. I do agree though that it is unusual on an oversized blouse... but then it's not reading as oversized to me:)

It looks great by the way.

MNsara

Veteran

Love, love, love Red Ochre! I have that exact one in my closet just waiting for fall We are shirt twins!!!! However, I have NO bust to interfere with shirt drape.

If it's from Nordies, can you take it to their alterations and have them add a snap between those two buttons? It must be a combination of your bust, your back/ribcage, and the way it drapes fron your shoulders. . . (my fussy spot is upper biceps)

harmonica

Veteran

A snap sound like a great idea! The shirt looks really great and I'm taking notes

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

The shirt and color are beautiful but I wonder if you should try another one of the same to be sure it's not a manufacturing issue? Otherwise a snap would be an easy addition from Nordies.

merwoman

Veteran

Just chiming in to say how stunning this looks on you! Love it! And am sure that there is a solution to the gap in the above listed solutions - isn't it great being able to reach out and tap into this wonderful resource?

JR

Veteran

Love, love, love the shirt, the colour, the drape, the outfit.

The snap would be an easy fix (so easy it would probably be less hassle to do it yourself than to take it in). A cami would also help. It isn't exactly a fix, but at least it would preserve your "privacy".

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Gorgeous! A 10.

A little snap will sort out the gap

Diana

Veteran

Yes, I agree to add either a snap or just sew it closed if you can get it on without unbuttoning. i usually just sew them up.

I have the same problem with blouse buttons, even on oversized blouses. I think in my case it's because my boobs are quite wide-set so they pull the sides of the blouse away from the middle even if there is extra room. Unless there is a button in exactly the right place (right at the middle of the bust vertically) it will gap a little. (I even have a similar problem with things like v-neck tops, where I don't exactly get cleavage but a little gap down the middle that you can see down.)

catgirl

Veteran

This looks fantastic on you! I'm not sure about the bust gape, but sounds like a snap would help. I am busty and two of mine don't do that but the grey one does a bit. I wear a smooshing bra with it.

sarah

Veteran

All of my button down shirts gap. For the cotton ones, I use fashion tape. I've used that on silks, too, but if I keep it on too long, it leaves gummy residue (thankfully, the dry cleaner got it out). I've slip stitched up the gap on some of my silk shirts.

It's a pain, but it's just the way some shirts fit some of us gals.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Love the blouse, the color and the fabric. You look great - good choice.

FYI, his is another modern garment design flaw. Really blouses are supposed to be designed to have a button/buttonhole RIGHT at the bust apex line (which is usually directly in line with the underarm sleeve seam) - but in the manufacturer's interest of saving money by saving buttons, thread and labor, most blouses being made these days skimp on all of that, making the buttons too far apart to put one right on the perfect spot. When I sewed all my own clothes, I learned to space the buttons by starting with that one, and I never had gaps. The idea of adding a snap seems like the best solution.

If a blouse has hidden buttons, you could have another button and buttonhole added, also.

Claudia

Veteran

Yeah, a snap will fix the gap. Nice color on you.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Yep - a snap is an easy and inexpensive fix. I've had it done a few times to blouses. This looks gorgeous on you!

Aida

Veteran

Lovely color for you, H! Sounds like the ladies have your gap issue sorted. And what a great way to get some luxury in at work without the boys being too terrified, eh?

(Your face in the second photo makes me giggle; I make that face quite often with my button-up shirts, too. But a SNAP! What a brilliant idea! And here I've been using double sided scotch tape. Guess what I will be doing tonight when I get home? )

Joy

Veteran

This blouse is beautiful on you! Good for you for seeking out just the right one.

unfrumped

Veteran

That gap in that exact place is, in my experience, much more common in the past 5 years or so, and I have an entire supply of tiny snaps for that purpose. I have sized up a size to avoid it at times but then lost other aspects of fit. and yet it can still be a problem. It is present in some cardi's too. I know it's not my large boobage, so methinks, could it be related to some other aspects of change in the cut, of the blouses so that they're a bit tighter across the upper chest or armholes, even though not necessarily super fitted overall (or is it ME??) ? I just do not recall having that problem with blouses in my earlier days.

For sheer fabrics I have sometimes used the clear plastic snaps instead of metal. Or tape, if you don't mind re-doing with each wear.

Anonymous

Love the top, hope the snap fix works for you. I never would have thought about adding one, I walked away from the silk nexx blouse for the gap problem.

I do have a quick fox for the gap. I use the double sided office tape (like scotch brand). One strip between the offending buttons, lasts all day for me on most tops. It peels right off when I want. It doesn't work on fabric that has high fuzz though.

Anonymous

I guess you could try the recommendations given, but I'll admit, it seems ridiculous to have to do this on an oversized shirt ... and an expensive one, at that! Do you generally have this issue with button-downs?

Charmian

Veteran

@all: Snaps! Why didn't I think of that?!?! I have a ton in my sewing box, too. I'm smiling at the vision of all of us hunched over our sewing kits tonight -- at the least, that's what I'll be doing!

@Deborah: I think it's an adjustment period -- this is a new silhouette for me, and while it feels "oversized" now I'm sure I'll be onto bigger and better things in a few months. Thanks for the encouragement.

@Diana, @alaskagirl, & @Anne: Diana, I think we must have similar busts: mine isn't super-duper big, but it does cause a fair bit of gapping. It's funny that I specifically chose this silhouette to de-emphasize my bust, and yet here I am with a bust gap! Alaskagirl, I'm totally going to try this outfit again with a smooshing bra -- great idea!

@cjh & @unfrumped: What a coincidence! I've been putting off a post on my experiences with bespoke tailoring in HK, and button placement was one of the lessons I learned.

@Aida: I'm so glad someone called out that facial expression -- I was worried you'd all thought that was a normal one for me

Suz

(website)

Veteran

This is a gorgeous blouse and a gorgeous colour for you!! Very frustrating about the gap. But worth dealing with!

KathyL

Veteran

That color looks great on you! I get annoyed at gappage too, and I'm not that busty. Snaps are a brilliant idea! You are too cute with your expression in number 2

Anonymous

That color is so pretty! You'll see, these silk blouses are addictive lol.

I hear you on the gaping. It's the most annoying thing. In this particular blouse, did you try the size up? These equipment blouses are supposed to fit ginormous on you. If the size up is not the answer or the oversizing is not your aesthetic, I think the snap is the way to go, if you plan to wear the blouse all buttoned up all the time. I use a small safety pin or fashion tape instead of the snap these days, because sometimes I wear the button downs more open, with a cami underneath. It seems that no one wears them like that anymore, but if you do, the snap will show.

lynne

Veteran

The blouse is stunning on you! I have the gap problem too with many button ups. Why did I never think of snaps? Like others, I'm off to my sewing basket to sew me some snaps. (but like you, I'm still peeved that with something of that price its necessary)