Ask Angie: Can you picture this blouse as a sub for the P-Bow blouse in the Lagerfeld outfit? - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: Can you picture this blouse as a sub for the P-Bow blouse in the Lagerfeld outfit?

April

Veteran

As I noted elsewhere, I became obsessed with one of the outfits you posted in your piece on how to take the "priss" out of a pussy bow (PB) blouse (first pic, below).

I have a pair of very skinny, very black Rag and Bone black skinnies, the same studded booties shown in the picture, and this black jacket: http://www.bcbg.com/en/arelia-.....w1gSJAAvIF

My question is this. I don't think I would wear the PB blouse much except in this outfit. I love this one, however, and think I would get a lot more wear out of it. What do you think of it as a substitute for the PB blouse in this outfit?

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Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

April

Veteran

P.S. And no, I will not be including the kittycat-face fingerless gloves. They're a bit too "Trick or treat!" for me.

Inge

(website)

I could totally see the second blouse work as a substitute, April, it is gorgeous too!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It will work, but it's not nearly as fab.

Sorry to be a downer, April. The pussy bow makes the outfit to my eye.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I like it as an alternative. I am not in love with the PB look, so I wouldn't be so concerned with being such a faithful copycat, personally. But I love that outfit too and could see copying it in my own way as well. What are the boots, by the way?

kkards

Veteran

not to diss Angie, but I think its the gloves that make this outfit! if you wear the gloves, IRL no one will notice what blouse you have on

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I think the PB gives it a very specific look, and I think with your blouse it will still make a very cool outfit. Actually, I might prefer it.

tulle

Veteran

April, I fell in love with that look, too, and am working on adapting it for myself. I have a white pussy-bow blouse, but will probably substitute ink blue for the black pieces: velveteen skinnies, a knit jacket, & hair calf booties. If you have no strong objection to the bow, and just feel that the bow-less shirt would be more practical, I would suggest adding a tie--either a white silk skinny scarf, a higher-contrast ribbon, or even a man's tie--to that white shirt. (I agree with kkards that the gloves are zingers, but am not sure I have the nerve for those.) We may both risk losing some of the perfect edginess of the original, but it's fun to experiment.

April

Veteran

Janet, the booties are these http://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/.....Cihjw_wcBg

To all others, I'm on my phone so typing is awkward but I will craft a proper reply when I get to New York.

Echo

Veteran

Without the PB blouse, there is no juxtaposition of hard and soft with the look - which, like Angie said, MAKES the look.

The other white blouse will certainly go with the other pieces, but it becomes an entirely different look. One could conceivably substitute a ruffled blouse for the PB with a similar effect, but not a plainer one with no neck embellishment, IMO.

April

Veteran

I see. The PB blouse is necessary. And the kittycat gloves are no longer available (sorry, kkards -- but see, you influenced me to go and check!) Okay, I will look for one that I think I would wear and that's not a crazy price.

I just can't imagine it would be a workhorse for me (that priss factor), so I don't want to spend a fortune on it. The one that's actually featured in the Lagerfeld outfit is $365. I can't convince myself I'd wear it enough to justify that price. Plus, white silk? How long before it gets stained?

Now, on the plus side, it is rather classic and won't look silly a season or two hence. Hmm...

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annagybe

(website)

Veteran

It is a fantastic look isn't it?
Some other options:
The Ted Baker is gorgeous, and cheaper.
Uniqlo is the cheapest.
Bothe Uniqlo and Lands End are machine washable, though not silk.

ETA Mango, but it's more tie-like

http://www.landsend.com/produc.....218?sku_0=::A6J

Ted Baker Babri Woven Mix Knit with Pussybow

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5

Women Satin Bow Tie Long Sleeve Blouse

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4

Tie-neck Blouse

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5

April

Veteran

Thank you, Anna G! So helpful. Some of those are so reasonably priced I could order one and do a comparison with the more expensive KL one. Even if I just try one on and see if the whole bow idea is or isn't too prissy for my taste, at least I'll know.

And then if I hate it on me, I'll keep this line from Jason Isbell in mind next time I'm tempted by a PB blouse:

But I sobered up
And I swore off that stuff
Forever this time

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ha, April! Hilarious.

But truly - yes -- why not try a version on and see. It might be that it is only prissy in the wrong combinations.

There's the BR one also. i see it is currently off sale (at least on CAD site) but it was on sale a few days ago and no doubt will go back on sale, or maybe there is a storewide 40% off anyway right now -- not sure. Quite reasonable then.

I love the outfit. I also love the substitute blouse you picked but hesitated to comment this morning when I first opened the thread because I thought it wouldn't be quite the same. Lovely, but not the same feel to it.

Banana Republic

Riley-Fit Bow Shirt

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3

Runcarla

Veteran

The BR pussy bow blouse does double duty as a basic tailored white shirt since the bow is removable!

April

Veteran

Thanks for the BR addition, ladies! They are sold out online in all but the size 10 Regular or the 2 Petite, both of which may be beyond me in different ways, but I will keep checking.

However -- cotton. Hmm. What do you think of the "crisp" factor of cotton as used in a PB blouse? I was imagining that one of the things that might make me embrace the bow at all would be the flowy droop of silk.. (Yes, even as I was complaining about how quickly white silk would get stained -- such a contrarian.)

Am I crazy to think that it would be harder to take the priss out of a big cotton bow than a slim, droopy silk bow?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Not, not crazy at all. I would probably also prefer the silky one, although I can also see the attraction of the cotton variety -- one potential problem with a silk one is the same problem many people encounter with silk scarves. Silk is slippery. So the bow might always come undone. Which is fine if it does so in a lovely way, but not so fine if it just droops into your soup.

April

Veteran

Ah, I just caught on that I was on the Canadian BR site, and apparently the US has plenty of sizes in the cotton bow shirt.

Yes, I see what you mean, Suz. I suppose I could fashion-tape the whole affair together if untying proved to be a problem (one of those breezy solutions that's probably easier said than done.)

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

*pouring a stiff drink for April*

GET A PUSSY BOW BLOUSE NOW!

April, I have the striped version of the white from BR and LOVE THIS BLOUSE. It's crisp like a shirt so the bow is stiffer and more "in your face". I would wear the softer, floppy iteration no problem either. I like priss.

Banana Republic

Riley-Fit Bow Shirt

Sale

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