A little poll - How many white shirts/blouses do you own? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

A little poll - How many white shirts/blouses do you own?

Tanya

Veteran

I recently got 2 new white shirts and still keep wanting more and more. It seems that I can can never have enough! So I am conducting a little poll here, how many do you own? They can be white/cream/ivory, any sleeve length, button-downs or blouses, but must be woven ( cotton, silk, etc..), no knits. I'll post my own number tonight.

Thank you for participating!

General

32 replies

Latest reply was from Tanya

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

I have two that fit this category:
The white Express ribbon blouse, and the JCrew ivory silk twisted placket blouse.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I have three and need to replace one of them - the sleeves and body length have shrunk after laundering it for a year. One is a basic white shirt from BR, one has a ruffled collar and placket (from Club Monaco - my favorite), and one is from ATL (that's the one that has shrunk over time).

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oooooooh, Tanya. You know I’m a white button-down and blouse monster. I have several and would happily, HAPPILY add more. They form part of my signature look. I’ll let my cat out of the bag once you’ve let out yours

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

I actually do not have any. I don't like the way they look on me and do not care for ironing. The crisp woven shirt look has always looked really terrible on me. I never feel like myself, never comfortable. I think it looks great on others but will likely never become my signature style. White is not a color I can wear. I do have cream knits. I could possibly see a cream button-down with ruffles in a soft fabric in my future.

Lena

I'm still looking for a good one. I have two (white and cream, long sleeve)from BR that are too big everywhere (pre YLF purchase). I used to have one from GAP (pintuck stripes on the chest, round collar), but donated it last year (kicking myself for that).

I have a hard time concentrating on basics because I'm so attracted to color, hehee.

Debbie

two white button downs (one long cuffed sleeve, one 3/4 sleeve)

mirah

I love white tops ! in all I think right now I have 8 white (of which 5 are button downs in different fabrics and lengths) and 3 cream woven tops ..I purged 4 recently and looking to replace them.. white works as my bright in a neutral outfit and the neutral in a bright outfit

Violet

I have one white button down shirt with 3/4 sleeves, but I use it mostly for layering under other pieces. I would like to get another one that I can wear by itself. I think it is a nice classic look.

Patience

Veteran

I guess I've got 6 not counting knits. I'm also a big fan.

shana

Veteran

I have 4 total - 2 long sleeved, 1 3/4 sleeve and 1 short sleeve. I also have several tunic style but they don't really count as a shirt/blouse right? I guess most of my tops are knits (which works better with a large bust). I like the look of a crisp white shirt but not as much on me - I guess I have flashbacks to wearing my grade school uniform which featured a white button down ss shirt & plaid skirt. I also wonder whether white might be too much contrast when your skin is brown? Maybe I should look into cream or ivory instead.

Antje

Veteran

I have 6, I think, and added 3 of them in the last month: two plain white button downs from H&M for layering (e.g. under a dress, vest, waistcoat, sweater), and a tuxedo shirt from Express that I just got this week and plan to wear with my waistcoat, black blazer, skinny jeans, and some fun pop of color, maybe a big fat red rose brooch or something.
I didn't use to have any white shirts, thinking they were boring and made me look pale, but Angie changed my mind by showing me how I can layer them creatively and now I can't imagine living without them anymore. In fact, I'm wearing one of the white button downs under my black dress today

cinncali

I only have two white shirts. One is a short-sleeved seersucker shirt that I bought at Talbot’s a few years ago. I’ve worn it only one time this year, to a summer picnic. The other one is a long-sleeved no-iron shirt from Eddie Bauer that I got a few weeks ago and I haven’t worn it yet. It looks so crisp and pristine that I’m saving it for a somewhat special occasion to wear for the first time.

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I have 5 all up.

This time last year I had 1: a short sleeved black and white striped shirt. I have never been a shirt (or a white wearing) person but over in Vietnam my friend talked me (twisted that rubber arm!) into getting some tailor-made. Now I have 5 more: 2 short puffy sleeved ones, and 3 long sleeved ones with wide cuffs and big collars (they were my specifications). All feature some kind of stripe but from a distance appear white.

I'm still getting used to wearing them to be honest. I wear them mainly under a vest of some sort, which is becoming problematic now that it's heating up!

anne

Veteran

I have one that I bought recently. It has short puff sleeves and ruffles down next to the buttons.
I love the look, but don't like ironing and have tended to have problems finding shirts that fit and flatter. Since YLF I am giving them another chance as a layering option

Nicole

Veteran

I only have one and it's s/s and I rarely wear it. I would LOVE to find some white shirts that fit well and are comfortable--but I have a really hard time with shirts. I don't find them all that comfortable--they are always riding up on me. Does anyone else have this problem with shirts? Even shirts with stretch will ride up--I feel like I spend more time pulling them back down than anything else.

Tanya

Veteran

OK, here's my own answer, I have 10! They are all cotton shirts, no blouses yet, and quite a few of them are from Express. Here's the list:

1. Sleeveless one from NY&Co, with an wrap around cummerbund effect. I love the cut, but the quality is not great.
2. Short sleeved one from Esprit, with a tie-neck
3. 3/4 sleeved Express one, with pintuck detailing
4. Classic BR white button-down, used for layering
5. Express button-down wide side-ruching effect
6. Express thin voile one with tiny ruffles on the front
7. Express wrap one, from thin burnout material
8. Azzarro wrap one, with chest pockets, pretty short so it works for skirts only
9. New Express tunic length white shirt
10. New VS tuxedo-styled shirt, with black buttons, from silk/cotton blend

OK Angie, the ball is in your field now

Anonymous

I have 4.
* AT wrap with a thin black tie at waist (thrifted)
* one with pin tucks, sort of tuxedo shirt (thrifted)
*one cotton/nylon fitted zip front that gives a polished slim line (Express, thrifted)
*one dressy pleated blouse that I haven't worn yet from TJMaxx

I also have a couple with black stripes. A shirt with cami and pants or jeans has become a sort of everyday uniform for me. Now I usually add a cardi too.

Amanda

I have one sleeveless button-front ATL shirt and one Express long-sleeve button-front Express shirt. I'd really like to get a couple of ivory/cream long sleeve button-front shirts but haven't found any with the v-neck (instead of buttoning all the way to the neck).

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Oh gosh, I think I have at least 6 white button-downs, 1 French cuff, 1 regular-sleeve, and 2 3/4-length sleeve, and 2 short-sleeved.

tarzy

Veteran

I have two that I never wear. One long sleeve, one short sleeve. I have the same problem as Nicole - they just never fit right and don't feel comfortable. It's a bust issue - if they fit in the bust they're huge in the body. I LOVE this look on others and am still trying to find a way to make it work!

Maya

Veteran

Wow, I only have 2 button-downs and I only wear them as layering pieces. I don't like how they look by themselves. They give me absolutely no shape at all. I look like a brick with boobs. If I could I would love to wear ruffly pretty cream blouses like Angie and Ana.

julijuli

Yikes. I have one button down and feel so underdressed! I actually tried on a beautiful white ruffly one at J Crew today but I didn't love it so I passed. I'm still looking though!

Alecia

Veteran

I think I have five but I've only got one in the mix right now. My eddie bauer no-iron long-sleeve button down. The others are part of my summer wardrobe and packed away. Out of sight, out mind. I can't remember then all now. Isn't that funny?

But I did notice when I was packing away my summer stuff, my apparent preference for white. I've got a lot of it.

Eva

I have two long sleeved white button down shirts. One more snug than the other. I would be open to adding a unique or funking one. Otherwise I am good with what I have.

Tanya

Veteran

Hmm, it seems that I am the worst by far Angie, only you can come to rescue now, otherwise I'll have to put myself on white shirt shopping ban .

Inge

(website)

I can't help you here either Tanya;-) At the moment I have only one white button-down, but I definitely want to get some more (for layering and to wear on their own), preferably with interesting details and a bit more tailored. An Anne Fountaine (or two;-) is on my list too, they're stunning!

tarzy

Veteran

Tanya - if you asked how many black tops I have, I would rival you!

Ellen

I have five at the moment... I would have more, but some are pre-pregnancy and this is not the most forgiving wardrobe item.

1. BR shirt with interesting basket-woven texture and tux cuffs. This fits perfectly, but errs on the short side. Mainly used for layering.
2. H&M cotton basic, often for layering, but sometimes on own.
3. Very loose, blousy thin GAP shirt with 3/4 sleeves that roll up and fasten for a shorter sleeve - for the "slim jeans and blousy top" look. Love this in theory and sometimes I just enjoy the casual feel of it (especially with the right bag), but the shirt wrinkles easily which isn't great and I think it should be a bit longer on me.
4. Mexx short sleeved slim-cut empire shirt with tiny side zipper. Very fitted.
5. Woven tunic top of exceedingly thin material, a tiny tad small now and wrinkles too easily. Also getting worn.

On my list: the perfect "man's shirt" - I have my eye on some Gap ones. I love this look and it suits my body. Also, another basic button-down because I wear them so often.

Incidentally, I usually wear these with a vest or sweater over, mainly because that works better with my SAHM lifestyle. They show wrinkles less and get fewer stains, yet look put together.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

8 and there are always more on the way. Will elaborate later - got to catch a plane.

12