Help with blouses, please! (Shopping Update Added) - YouLookFab Forum

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Help with blouses, please! (Shopping Update Added)

Kathleen M

I'm starting to shop for "professor clothes" for my first solo-taught college course in the fall. And I would like a few blouses. I almost *cried* tonight trying on a top that came in the mail (https://www.loft.com/chevron-u.....5&). I tried it in Large and XL, and it was just so OFF. Pulled in the bust, partially because the armholes were low (in the XL) so the armpit seam lined up with the fullest part of the chest, so when i move my arms just a little bit, the button gaps (does that description make sense?). I'm not *that* big (34G) and it's a drapey fabric.

Mostly I try to stick to pullovers for this very reason (my upper arms are also full but overall I'm a 12/14 in most brands), but the blouse was so pretty and I really wanted it to work. I'm always passing up cute tops like this and it feels so limiting.

So all this to say, suggestions for blouses that won't make me cry? I realize it's the blouse, not me, but this happens so often that I just feel like I'm the wrong shape. Which is ridiculous, but it's SO frustrating.

Shopping

16 replies

Latest reply was from DonnaF

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Target has a lot of nice blouses in their Knox Rose line right now that are not button front. They definitely have a boho vibe, but the cuts may work better for you. I am a similar size and I love this brand.

Kathleen M

Oh, those are cute! I think they might be too boho for my current style priorities. I will absolutely keep an eye on that brand though. Thanks for the tip!

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

I keep looking at this brand, but I have never ordered: http://www.bounteous.co.uk I am intrigued, though.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Oh! Check out Old Navy, too. They are another one that fits me well and sometimes have unexpectedly nice blouses.

lyn67

Veteran

You can always try so called "mix-media" tops (when usually front is woven and graphic/patterned but back and sleeves are rather uni color block and knitted-whuch gives more comfort) and blouses that don't have buttons down the front at all and with raglan sleeves-a little bit bohemian, but you can find simpler versions, too.
This is one I have bought recently and love.
https://www.charles-voegele.de.....2146130789

Chris987

Veteran

I know EXACTLY what you are talking about with that fit issue. It happens to me all the time. A few years ago I tried a session with a Nordstrom personal shopper, and although it was not a huge success overall I did learn a few things. One thing she said is to try sizing DOWN with shirts if the buttons are gaping, that gives you a better fit in the shoulder and armhole area and MIGHT fix the problem. It doesn't always work for me but it sometimes does. You can also just put a safety pin into the placket where the gaping is, I do that all the time although it's not such a great solution if the fabric is very lightweight.

Knit shirts are more forgiving than woven non-stretchy fabric but you wont' get a crisp look

It might be good to go visit a mall if you can and try on a bunch of different brands....they all fit so differently. As folks have said here on YLF a hundred times, you need to find the vendors that GET your body shape. It's hard work and can be very frustrating! For me I have found that Lands End and Talbots petites are the only sizes I can count on to get a good fit n basic shirt. I don't always want the super-classic styles they carry but at least I know where to go if I'm stuck.

BrieN

Veteran

Along the lines of Chris' comment, I find that trying the petite size of the same shirt can help with this issue (which happens to me all the time-- I don't have a lot of length between my shoulders and breast). I have found the loft and AT have good petite choices.

abc

Veteran

When that happens with a blouse (or any piece of clothes), just say NEXT! Because it is the item, not you!

I swear - swear - SWEAR - (ok, is it clear yet?) by NYDJ henley blouses. The fabric is luxe (even though it's polyester). It wears like iron. I wash them, hang them to dry and they're ready for the next wear. No ironing. I shove them in my suitcase, get to my destination, hang 'em up and they're ready to go, no wrinkles.

I discovered them in Nordstrom, but they can be found much cheaper on Amazon, at 6pm.com and by using google shopping.

Another plus (no pun intended, ok maybe) is that they come in straight sizes as well as Plus. Right now I'm probably an XL in tops, but I get 1X in these for roominess. They don't gape at the bust, I don't have to wear a cami underneath, and they're just perfect. I also strongly prefer set in shoulders, which these have. Dropped shoulders do nothing for my sloping shoulder line.

Also keep a lookout at Nordstrom Rack, sometimes they have knockoffs. I was in stores last week and saw short sleeve similar ones, but I prefer upper arm coverage so I'll wait until fall to see if they have comparables ones. I did find at Rack a year or two ago Halogen brand ones that were pretty similar and wear almost as well as the NYDJ.

They come in solids and prints, too.

Good luck.

ETA: I saw a very very similar cut top on Eloquii. With their promo codes it came to about $25-30, but I believe they only came in solids. Reviews were positive and I almost ordered one just to try them out as a possible alternative/supplement to my growing NYJD henley blouse collection. Based on your description maybe you could wear the smallest size on Eloquii.

NYDJ Women's Plus Size 3/4 Sleeve Printed Henley Blouse

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NYDJ Henley Top (Plus Size)

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NYDJ Henley Blouse (Regular & Petite)

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Anonymous

Agreeing with Chris that actually going to the stores and trying brands might be your most time saving and successful option.

Sheila

Veteran

Another vote for Target...this time, their 'Who What Wear' line. Most items come in both Misses and Plus sizes. Not everything is for me, style-wise, but I keep coming back for the Chanel-esque items in black and ivory.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Those types of blouses can be harder to fit - the Loft also runs big.

Try something like this first, and you might need to size down.

Leafed V-Neck Matte Jersey Top

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Vine Mixed Media Tie Neck Shell

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Crossover V-Neck Shell-Stencil Bouquets

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Anonymous

I'm in love with my NYDJ blouses. They're the best for my style, though I do have to comb through a lot of them to get to the colors and prints that work best for me. I have managed to catch almost all of them on sale for under $50.

NYDJ Henley Blouse (Regular & Petite)

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Kathleen M

Thanks all! There are some great suggestions here. Angie, I love all 3 of those! And for those of you who mentioned the NYDJ blouses (they seem to have a lot of fans)--does that gathered 3/4 sleeve wristband interfere with blazers or sweaters for layering?
Guess I'll just have to have a Nordstrom day in the near future

Anonymous

I would say that yes, the sleeves would interfere with layering. There are, however, some sleeveless ones that are great for summer and for wearing underneath a blazer or sweater. I love them for cruises where I have to take a sweater on and off to cope with the changing temperatures on the ship.

Kathleen M

An update:
Tried some NYDJ blouses on for size... still gapped.
The Ann Taylor jersey blouse didn't look great on me (it had a high neck in the back, almost like the back of a mandarin collar) and I have a short neck, not a good look).
The LOFT blouse was just kind of blah.

So, new personal style rule: NO BUTTON UPS (unless I plan to wear them open over something else).

I just ordered these two from Ann Taylor. Hoping they'll work better. One's a knit, which is usually better on me, but it looks refined and blouselike and has a pretty keyhole back. The other is sleeveless which eliminates the pulling at the arm problem. Wish me luck!

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Double Dot Matte Jersey V-Neck Shell

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DonnaF

Veteran

Try Foxcroft, sold at Nordstrom and other places. Also, as mentioned earlier, Talbots and Lands End. I've had luck sometimes with Nordstrom in-house brands -- Caslon and Halogen, but mostly Halogen. Things can get tricky if stuff runs XS, S, M, L, XL unless you hit the sizing just right. Unless you have time and hope for an outlier, forget Banana Republic and J.Crew which are made for straighter figures, or at least I have.