Camisole of the moment

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Camisole of the moment

— by Angie

on September 22, 2008

I wear a camisole virtually every day. My favourite brand and style, perhaps surprisingly, is the BP. stretch camisole from the junior department at Nordstrom for $12 a piece.

These camis are made of a rich cotton-spandex and bound with a pretty sateen. They come in about 20 different solid colours and have sufficient length for layering if you’re petite or regular height. The neckline is pretty high and the fabric stability is impressive. They don’t have a shelf bra and are as soft and comfy as can be.

They run a little small, so go up a size. I’ve triplicated my black and white camis and bought a few other colours. Despite getting washed and tumble-dried frequently, they have lasted quite well. It’s a win.

Which are your current favourite camisole brands and why?

Nordstrom offers additional colours at store level. Unfortunately, there are only six shades to choose from online.

Underwear

39 comments · Add a comment

Melissa

Great tip! I am always on the lookout for inexpensive camis because mine tend to shrink and I like my camis to be long for layering. If these can be tumble dried and do not shrink I will be a convert!!

September 22, 2008 at 7:42 am

Debbie

Thanks for showing us these Angie!

Is there a structural reason why you like them without a shelf bra? Is it just a personal preference or is it because you wear a bra with them anyway so a shelf bra just adds more fabric that is not needed?

I love your picks like this!

September 22, 2008 at 7:45 am

redhead

Target makes a wonderful cami and has all of the attributes mentioned above. They are usually on sale for $8. Sizes run a little large and the straps are adjustable. I have several and they too have lasted quite well despite frequent washings.

September 22, 2008 at 7:46 am

Tanya

I have recently tried one of these and completely agree with you Angie, they are very nice. Most of my camis are either Express stretch cotton ones with shelf-bra or H&M modal ones. I like BP ones the best at the moment, but I do not get to the store very often, so i\I end up having more of these other brands. I go through a lot of camis, particularly white/cream ones in the summer. This summer I had three of them in rotation and right now two of them need to be replaced.

September 22, 2008 at 7:48 am

Patience

BP is my favorite brand too! You just can’t beat the quality/price combination. I also prefer no shelf bra. And I need to restock. Last time I purchased these, there were two lengths– regular and super long. The super long ones were $16. I do find the regular ones to be on the short side after a few washings and I don’t tumble dry since they have spandex. Other brands I like are the soma tanks (not camis but it’s useful to have a built up strap sometimes), Express– another good quality/price combo but with a shelf bra, and undertease but they are pricey and I’ve found they often don’t have stock.

September 22, 2008 at 7:53 am

Joy

Thank you for this tip. I’ve found many camis to be shorter than ideal for layering. My favorite so far is a white Lauren mini rib knit 100% cotton cami (Denise tank) with some cotton lace work at the neckline. I love it for the bit of lace that peeks out.

http://www.ralphlauren.com/con.....Id=2880451

It came in a variety of colors and reg and petite at our Dillards and Macys

September 22, 2008 at 7:57 am

Joy

I don’t see an edit button. Let me try a different link.

http://www.ralphlauren.com/pro.....age=family

September 22, 2008 at 8:17 am

Real Style Real People

(website)

I also wear tanks or camis everyday! I have tons of the old navy LONG ribbed tanks. But I will try these too Angie!

September 22, 2008 at 8:31 am

Jessa

(website)

I’m excited to find a nice cami without a shelf bra! I really don’t like shelf bras because I feel like I can’t breathe well with one on. I’ll be checking this cami out very soon at the store.

September 22, 2008 at 8:43 am

Laura

BR makes my favorite:
http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....038;vid=-1

I like the feminine touch that the lace brings to my outfits. The neckline is high enough and the straps are adjustable. Plus the lycra feels like it’s sucking me in, in all the right places! I buy the petite in a size up and the fit is perfect. Downside: At $34, it’s significantly more expensive than the BP version Angie features.

September 22, 2008 at 8:49 am

Jillian

Sorry if this is duplicative– browser problems! GRRR!

Angie, I love your specific suggestions like these! Your attention to detail and exposure to a much wider range of clothing than I see usually makes these winners. I will look at Nordies. Also, your suggestions are great and differ from many blog “suggestions” which appear to be paid adverts.

At the moment, I like one from BR: http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=552504042

It has a higher neckline which is very helpful for business settings where I find most camisoles are not modest enough when a woman bends over a conference table. I also like that it is seamless. But, it only comes in navy, cream, and white and is pretty expensive. I triplicated my white recently when they had the 30% off sale.

September 22, 2008 at 9:04 am

Meredith

I’ve been a fan of Undertease for a long time. Great, long-lasting camis in every shape and color.

I do like the price tag on the BP camis. I will check those out soon.

September 22, 2008 at 9:13 am

Sihaya

I wear camis almost daily as well. I own several of the BP ones but find them a little shorter than the Express ones which I prefer. The Express fits a bit more snugly and is longer for layering. It does have a shelf bra but I wear my regular bra underneath it as well. Because it fits more snugly it feels like it keeps my tummy in line a bit better too – or least that’s what I like to think The Express ones are usually more expensive than $12 – probably more like $20 but you can get them for $12 during the end of summer sales. They have a wide range of colors and what I like even more is that they have some great patterns and prints – I’ve had a lot of fun with a little animal print peeking out of a plain woven shirt.

September 22, 2008 at 9:13 am

Shari

I like to have enough of a strap to cover my bra strap as I have to wear a substantial bra which usually has a substantial strap.

I lived in the Faded Glory tanks from Wal Mart this summer. $4.50 each, great colors, great fit for my curvy self and kept their shape. The only drawback is they were not quite long enough and the hem of the tank sometimes showed through a wrap dress.

I also have some Jocky tanks with a bit of lace on them, and just purchsed some cute camis (w/the “lingerie” straps”) from Old Navy. These have a bit of lace and tucking. In winter, I will keep my sweater on all day, but in summer, sometimes I need shed the outer later for a few minutes here and there. ; )

Will check out BP at my next trip to Nordies.

Shari

September 22, 2008 at 9:23 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Such gratitude! It’s my pleasure.

Sihaya, I don’t know when you last bought a BP. cami but they have improved considerably this year. They are much longer than they used to be (as long as the Express camis actually), and almost as thick. They were quite a bit shorter but the buyers listened to their clientèle and added the value of quality and length to the item without changing the price. Bravo Nordies!

I too enjoy the Express camis. They have the best colours and I don’t mind wearing a shelf bra WITH my bra if the colour is worth it. Generally, I prefer camis without shelf bras. They are a little more comfy that way.

Undertease are fabulous for sure. They lack colours though. But black and white are fab.

BR has great camis. They have FINALLY added length to them. I enjoy a spot of lace from time to time too Joy and Laura. I’d happily pay that price for a pretty camisole. One must never underestimate how fabulous great undergarments make us feel. That’s where great style starts.

Perhaps they have improved, but ON camis are inferior in every respect. I have thrown heaps of those out during closet reviews. Let me know if I’m missing out on something new.

September 22, 2008 at 9:44 am

lori

this is , without a doubt, my fav also – i wear it EVERYDAY and LOVE them!

September 22, 2008 at 9:48 am

My fav (great length for taller gals, and fab quality): Undertease

http://www.undertease.com/shop/index.php

September 22, 2008 at 10:01 am

Kasmira

(website)

I’m a bit surprised that you chose a junior brand, but not that it was a Nordstrom brand!

I have a few NY & Co camis. I like that they are synthetic, so no fading, and also have a pretty lace trim.

September 22, 2008 at 10:02 am

Kelly

(website)

Thanks! With the cool weather coming I’ve been thinking that I need to buy some new camis, and I’m less than thrilled with the ones I have.

September 22, 2008 at 10:08 am

Violet

Thanks for the recommendation! I wear camis quite often and I probably need to replace some of my older ones. Right now, I only have black, white and cream, but I would like to experiment with some different colors. Nordie’s is a bit far from me, but in the meantime I will have to check out Express.

September 22, 2008 at 10:29 am

K Lauren

For us more “voluptuous” ladies there’s Lane Bryant – while mostly I don’t care for the rest of their clothing, camis are great and so many colors and last an amazing long time, even with repeated washings. The straps are adjustable, although they don’t hide the bra straps, I never wear anything that revealing to be showing those anyway in street wear. I love that I can adjust the coverage in front and have so many different options for color combinations and outfits.

September 22, 2008 at 10:58 am

San

Thankyou Angie. This keeps us from having to waste time and money on trial and error. You’re great.

September 22, 2008 at 11:44 am

Sal

(website)

Good to know! I have a hodgepodge of camis, and am always looking for a good layer with NO shelf bra (the bane of my existence).

September 22, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Carolyn

Angie you were reading my mind! I was in the Nordstrom Junior Dept. yesterday with my daughter, age 30, and newly PG with #3. She found 2 cute items (great price for something trendy) and it made me wonder your opinion on shopping in that dept.
I have so many camis that aren’t great- maybe this is the answer!

September 22, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Eva

Most of my cami’s are from Express. They have loads of colors and not just solids. My favorite is a white with subtle silver threads. It makes it a bit more formal which adds to the outfit. I bought it over a year ago but haven’t seen it since *sigh*. Patience, they are on the more expensive side, but run “by 2…” sales often and I usually have an Express coupon.

I also have a silky one with fringe from The Limited that looks great.

September 22, 2008 at 12:33 pm

Sara

(website)

I absolutely love my BP camis too, I sleep in them mostly though. For non-sleeping activities, I enjoy the Old Navy built-in bra camis — they’re usually 2 for $15, they come in great colors, and wash well.

September 22, 2008 at 3:38 pm

Steff

My favorites are from J.Jill, tank style with a shelf bra ($24.50). They have good coverage, are long enough to tuck in, and are perfect for layering over a bra (I LOVE the extra support of the shelf bra!) and under a wrap sweater. Wide range of sizes, too- from XXS to 4X. I also have a JJill adjustable-strap cami which fits just as well.

I’m trying to add to my J.Jill collection- they go on sale (as low as $9.99) as seasonal colors are discontinued. Unfortunately, there’s not much of a selection right now. Here’s a link to the “Misses” page:

http://www.jjill.com/jjillonli.....=&h=M

September 22, 2008 at 5:35 pm

Musings of a Housewife

(website)

THANK YOU! I’ve been wanting to find a camisole without that ding-dang shelf bra!

September 22, 2008 at 6:19 pm

Anne

Do you reckon it’s same picture with the colour changed?
BTW Angie, on the model, that looks not quite long enough for a pear? Is that right in practice (just for info, since I don’t plan to buy any!)

September 22, 2008 at 6:27 pm

joelle

I only started wearing camis as layering pieces this spring and the only brand I have tried is Sonoma. The fabric is thicker than most camis, so they should last pretty long. My complaints about them is that they have shelf bras, which I’d rather do without because I always wear a real bra underneath, and they are too short. I got them on sale for $5.99 each, so the price was great, but since you’ve mentioned BP and Express for longer lengths I will check them out.

September 22, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Gina

(website)

What is the right length for a pear? From the comments above, it sounds like you ladies like them long, but I usually find tanks to hang too low, and I’m 5’5″.

September 23, 2008 at 5:52 am

Kristin

I love the bodyshaper camis at NY & Co: ( http://www.nyandcompany.com/ny.....d=cat60122 ) They typically only have black, white and nude online, but I’ve seen other colors in stores. They offer great support, hug every curve and appear seamless under tops! They are regularly priced at $24.95, but they usually always have a BOGO and you can sometimes get them on sale in the store.

They are now making them with wider straps too: ( http://www.nyandcompany.com/ny.....d=cat60122 ) and they offer 10 or so colors online. These are $22.95 with BOGO as well.

September 23, 2008 at 6:51 am

Mai

Oh, thank you so much for the rec, Angie! I have the problem that I’m just tall enough to shop regular clothes (sometimes with hemming pants, etc.), but am short-waisted, so layering tops are almost always too long on me somewhere. If anyone else has a brand they love that’s good for petites and doesn’t have a shelf bra, I’d love to hear them.

September 23, 2008 at 7:52 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Great cami info ladies. Thank you.

I’d like to qualify my statement about ON camisoles. I was referring to the ribbed kind that I find inferior quality. They stock these for teens every season. There are in fact better camis available at the moment and I saw them in a clients cupboard last week. They looked similar to the BP. camis, but not as long. Perhaps that’s your answer Mai?

Quire right, Anne. You’re after a little extra in the cami length if you’re a pretty pear.

September 23, 2008 at 8:59 am

Sarah

Great! I love the feel of Express camis, except for the shelf bras. Somehow shelf bras always managed to squish my boobs and make them look smaller (which I don’t need) and not provide enough support at the same time. They also push the underwire from my real bra into my ribcage, which doesn’t feel great.

September 23, 2008 at 6:50 pm

Julie D

I’m a huge fan of the Michael Stars supima long camisole. I have a long torso, and these provide full coverage, without being so long that they’re bunching up at my hips. They’re more expensive ($30), but they are high quality. The two oldest ones I have are at least 3 years old and the color/length/fabric has held up through many trips through the dryer.

September 24, 2008 at 7:46 am

Therese

I’ve been looking for a decent and long camisole here and have only found them at Muji. Sadly, ribbed only and without any support, but they’re here and now HK$100 (US$13?) on sale in autumn colors! I’d give anything to find a decent long, non-ribbed camisole here, but it seems that I’ll have to wait till my trip to the US/UK this winter for yet another underclothes purchasing press.

September 24, 2008 at 7:17 pm

Diana

Veteran

Thanks for the rec, Angie. I’ll be sure to check these out. I have been buying the dirt cheap basic camis at H&M lately, which are OK but a little short for some applications. Furthermore, I like my camis to be quite tight, but the down side is that they tend to be too tight over the hips and roll up to the waist. Any suggestions for pear shaped camisoles?

January 11, 2012 at 5:45 pm

Mander

(website)

Veteran

I know this is old but people might read this since it was just featured in a “round up” post, so I thought I’d add a little tip.

My favorite camisole is actually from Primark (UK). They are usually sold as tank tops but they are thin and close-fitting, and clearly designed to be worn under sheer tops and tops with big arm holes. They come in various colors, have adjustable spaghetti straps, and are plenty long. Normally I wear a UK 24 but I find the 18-20 size fits me just fine as a camisole. And, they are normally £2-3 each! I also like their long-sleeved stretchy tees for layering under sweaters.

March 9, 2013 at 11:50 am

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