Tailored tops - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

About: Five Missed Retail Opportunities

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

Tailored tops

elpgal

Veteran

What is the last tailored top you have purchased? Is there one that you are currently considering?

For me, what comes close is the Everlane Slim Fit shirt and it is more drapey than tailored.

General

32 replies

Latest reply was from Suz

Emily K

(website)

Veteran

This year, I went from having no woven tops to having five. The most tailored among them is a J. Crew Linen PerfectShirt. The most recent "tailored" shirt I've purchased is the short sleeve silk shirt from Grana which is more drapey than tailored. Tailored wovens are difficult for me as I am large busted and knits are a lot easier to fit.

Perfectshirt in piece-dyed Irish linen

View Info

Top Pick

3

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I have two casual tailored tops that I bought relatively recently -- both button front shirts from J. Crew, one purchased this spring and one last fall. The chambray probably isn't truly tailored -- it's just slimmer fitting than a lot of shirts, but it does have drape. The second one has quite a lot of darts and is definitely more tailored, though on me it still has some ease.

My other tailored tops are dressier -- a peplum from J. Crew being the main one. I also have some more body con (fitted knit) tops and a lot of slouchy/ drapey tops along with a few oversized ones.

Western chambray shirt in vintage indigo

View Info

Top Pick

8

Perfect shirt in fern-printed Indian cotton

View Info

Top Pick

6

Structured flutter-hem top

View Info

Top Pick

11

Suz

(website)

Veteran

High Five, Emily. I'd call the J. Crew "Perfect Shirts" tailored also -- that's my second one.

elpgal

Veteran

Emily and Suz, button downs are reliable bet. I hope JCrew has more options in the Fall.

delurked

Veteran

Do flannel shirts count as tailored? Ha ha. I have a newer one from Jcrew factory and a couple older ones from Eddie Bauer. I can only think of a couple things that come close to qualifying - but one is a ponte top with darts and a belt, and the other is a button front with knit ribbing to give it more ease. So basically, I own no tailored tops at all.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

And I just realized that peplum is knit, not woven. Though it is a sort of scuba-like fabric so seems as if it is in-between.

elpgal

Veteran

Delurked, flannel shirts follow me home all the time. Have you tried the Uniqlo ones? They wash and wear well.

All this talk of tailored clothing reminds me of Eshakti. They were popular a few years ago. Has anyone ordered anything from them recently?

delurked

Veteran

Elpgal - I've never tried Uniqulo, but I see lots of good recos for them. I may try something in the spring, but don't need any more flannel.

Gigi

Veteran

Here's mine, from Anthro. But maybe some will consider it body-con?

Maeve | Anthropologie Sleeveless Poplin Buttondown

View Info

Top Pick

3

Joy

Veteran

J Crew perfect shirt in a crinkled gingham. I would love to find s great tailored white shirt and would probably try Books Brothers.

Anonymous

Brooks Brothers Non-Iron Tailored Fit White Dress Shirt.

Style Fan

Veteran

I bought a denim shirt from J Crew last winter when I was in Florida. That is the only tailored top in my wardrobe. I would love more but they are very difficult to fit.
I am hoping to add some Rails shirts to my wardrobe this year. I have heard good things about them and they might actually fit me. There is an independent boutique that carries them near my old home town.

Pocket chambray shirt

View Info

Top Pick

6

RAILS Channing Embroidered Military Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

1

RAILS Courtney Released Hem Chambray Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

2

RAILS Ingrid Chambray Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

4

RAILS 'Carter' Chambray Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

2

cindysmith

Veteran

I haven't bought a tailored top in...

well, I can't remember the last time I bought a tailored top. I'm seriously racking my brain, and cannot think of the last tailored top I owned. I bought some when I was at university, but I graduated in 2011 or 2012.

I kind of hate them, because it's so difficult to find one that fits. Anything with buttons gaps open over my chest. If it has sleeves, the sleeves are too tight on my muscular arms. I also have those wing muscles on the sides of my ribcage under my arms (and muscles across the back of my shoulders), so they tend to be tight across my upper back.

Sizing up isn't a good option; because I often have to size up so far that I'm then looking at paying a tailor to remake the shirt through the waist, forearms, and shoulder seems which then gets into issues with the size of the armholes. The length is often too much for a tailored top so now we have to remake the bottom of it to shorten it.

I am not going through all of that to make a top fit my body. Even if I could find a tailor skilled enough to pull it off, I wouldn't do it because then I would have so much money invested in the shirt that I'd be afraid to wear it because Murphy's law holds true: the more expensive it is, the quicker I'm going to spill something on it that can't be washed out, or I'll rip it on something within 3.2 nanoseconds of putting it on my body.

Knits are my friends. Loose/flowy is my friend. I like looking at tailored tops on other ladies, but I have given up on them for myself. And I don't even miss them, TBH. My knits make me feel like I'm wearing a pyjama top all day

Muffin

Veteran

J. Crew for me too! They seem to fit me consistently and the fabrics (cotton, linen, chambray) all hold up well. I did try a Brooks Brothers but the non-iron material was way too scratchy and I never reached for it. I hear mixed reviews on Banana Republic but haven't tried them.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Gigi -- it looks like a slim tailored shirt with lots of shaping -- but that would depend on how snug it is, I guess!

Christina F.

Veteran

I've bought Boden's Classic Shirt in a three prints. I am short waisted, so I buy a petite size, which is the only way for tailored tops to clear my hips. I find it to be TTS to what I take in tailored tops with sleeves.

That said, my workplace is casual enough that I'm moving away from a need for such tops. The ones I have are fun prints, so I will keep them to wear with jeans and nice shoes, but I don't need any more tailored tops at the moment.

I do also have this chambray button down from Caslon (bought at NAS last year; this is a similar or identical one from this year).

The Classic Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

1

Caslon Long Sleeve Denim Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

0

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Many of my own shirts AREN'T tailored. And many of the shirts here aren't either.

Th BR stripe is the most tailored shirt I have. I have quite a few tailored items of knitwear though.

Banana Republic

Riley-Fit Bow Shirt

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

24

Classiques Entier Bell Sleeve Silk & Cashmere Sweater

View Info

Top Pick

16

Janie Stripe Sweater

View Info

Top Pick

15

View Info

Italian cashmere long-sleeve T-shirt

View Info

Top Pick

12

Italian cashmere long-sleeve T-shirt

View Info

Top Pick

7

Wool turtleneck sweater with ribbed trim

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

13

View Info

View Info

View Info

Anonymous

It's funny : when Angie posted about the lack of structured or tailored woven tops in the market , I thought about a recent experience I had with some pieces from a new line I'm repping. The company is based in Southern California, and has a distinct West Coast vibe....which isn't always what sells in my part of the country, but the clothing samples I was sent piqued my interest . (there are lots of other products in their line other than clothing ) They arrived in early August, when I was already sick of summer and it's relentless heat , and was looking for something different to wear with shorts than my usual t-shirts . These three pieces became absolute workhorses, much to my surprise, because I never thought of them as quite " my style". But talk about comfortable, cooling, flattering (far more so than a t-shirt ) and different! Took me completely by surprise - but now I know what to wear casually that looks polished and a more put-together than my old uniform. The company is called RockFlowerPaper - for anyone interested.

This post has 3 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisa p, all quite fluid - or semi structured, and boho. NICE. I like the shaping on the waist of the first two styles. That bit of tailoring makes can make ALL the difference.

Ginger

Veteran

elpgal, I order from eShakti about 2-3 times a year. What do you want to know? I just placed an order for a dress (emerald green knit, long sleeve, knee-length) and my first blouse from them: body with tailored fit in a knit material, sleeves and color in a light poly semi-sheer. I'm really hopeful it will work for me.

View Info

View Info

Anonymous

Angie - yes. They are not super fitted or tailored, but the structure comes from set-in sleeves and a "tailored" collar and button placket. And for course the woven vs knit fabric. And yes, they are very boho, and that is the vibe of the entire line. Fluidity is part of the appeal - summer heat and all.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Lisa p, and from the side seams on the upper torso. Fluidity is our friend. Structure and volume in the right places is our friend.

rachylou

Veteran

Boy, it's been a long time since I've found a tailored top... fit achieved by cutting and sewing...

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I hadn't had any in years, but I have found a few lightweight but not sheer ones at Talbot's outlets. This is very hard to find. Perfect to wear in hot but not crazy hot weather as I don't have to worry about sunburn on my arms.

Thistle

Veteran

Being a busty gal, I have given up on tailored tops. I usually go with knits as more voluminous tops look like tents on me.

elpgal

Veteran

Ginger, that's a lovely green!
Do the items hold up well?

Have you ever had the waist moved up? The waist position and bust diameter are my primary reasons for wanting custom.

Are they good with returns? There seem to quite a few negative reports on the return process.

Tina

I love a tailored look but have a shape that would involve tailoring every item -- if it fits in the chest and back, it's too big in the shoulders. Plus sizes are too loose through the torso making me look like a tent instead of an hourglass/pear.

Zibbets

Veteran

I love tailored shirts! My most recent find is a white buttondown with navy polka dots from Tommy Hilfiger. I have worn it with jeans, a tailored navy pencil skirt and navy/white striped shorts.

The Classic Shirt in "London Conversational" tickles my fancy, but I can't justify it because I already have a closetful with Liberty prints, stripes, dots, flowers and sailboats.

Ginger

Veteran

They do hold up, quite well. The most wear I've experienced is with jewel-tone cotton knits like the green; like a lot of darks, they do eventually start to fade a little bit. So I baby them and try not to wear them in the height of summer when I can't help sweating.

Whether you give custom measurements or go by the size chart, you have to select your height. The garment will be proportioned to your height in that way. If you're extra short-waisted for your height, you can use the custom fit option. (FWIW, I like a snug fit on the waist in skirts and dresses and so provide a measurement 1" smaller than my actual. That way I don't have to wear a belt. I don't fudge any of my other measurements, though.)

The waist length is not 100% consistent with every order, though to be fair I've been ordering for 5+ years. It's a tricky thing to get right even when making my own patterns.

I actually haven't done any returns! My mother has, though, and I don't remember that she had any issues. They did move to an online system for them about a year ago so I'm sure there were some rollout issues. I believe they provide a return shipping label; only the original shipping would not be reimbursed. (They use DHL and it's usually very fast.)

If you have an issue, do call CS. I haven't always had fast/effective email responses, but calls are extremely helpful.

12