White Shirts & Blouses

Frances

I am having a devil of a time finding work-appropriate white shirts and blouses lately. I am looking for something fitted and relatively plain that won't gap too much in the button placket or create the paper-bagging effect when tucked into a skirt or trousers. I do not want any ruffles or rosettes or silly minature pockets or frilly details. Has anyone come across anything like this recently, and if so, WHERE? Also, does anyone have any experience with the Banana Republic Non-Iron shirts? Are they any good, do they hold up, and do they really not need ironing? And one last thing--does anyone have any experience with Victoria's Secret clothing? I have always shied away from it in the past because it looked a little too provocative for my taste, but they do have a few white shirts on their website that look passable, so I'm wondering if I should reconsider. Thanks in advance...

15 years ago

Shopping

12 replies

Latest reply was from bredpit

Kate

Veteran

First, I read somewhere that non-iron shirts use all kinds of crazy chemicals that might not be good for us. I don't know where I read this, or the details, but it's worth looking into if you care about what kinds of chemicals you put against your skin.

I personally haven't tried VS clothing, but I know my mom has and said it was very poor quality.

I have no idea what size you are or your price range, but here are some options:

http://www.gap.com/browse/prod.....=585792002

http://www.brooksbrothers.com/.....ctionsize=

http://www.anntaylor.com/catal.....pe=Regular

15 years ago

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Thomas Pink is the place for shirts in the UK, are they stocked in the US Frances? They are expensive but they can be affordable when on sale and the website ships to the US.

Here are the latest sale items
http://www.us.thomaspink.com/f.....e/shirts_w

15 years ago

elpgal

Veteran

Something like this..
http://www.calvinklein.com/pro.....Id=3630614

15 years ago

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

With Thomas Pink I would also recommend T.M Lewin for shirts, especially for hour glass figures with a bigger than average bust - http://www.tmlewin.co.uk/?gcli.....2AodUlzK5Q . They only go down to a UK size 6 so if you are a US size zero of 2 they might not work for you.

I buy my sister and brother shirts here and post them to New Zealand.

Hawes & Curtis are also very good - especially if you are looking for shirts with a more radical print (which I know you aren't, but I thought that it might be worth mentioning this). - http://www.hawesandcurtis.com/

Both ship to the USA.

15 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Fabulous suggestions from Kate and the gals.

Frances, it's all a question of budget. Try BCBG and Theory too.

15 years ago

lynne

Veteran

I wouldn't trust the quality of VS clothing. Everything I ever ordered from them was cheaply made and went back.

15 years ago

Frances

Active Member

Wow, such great suggestions! Kate, thank you for linking to so many possibilities! I remember perusing the AT site a few weeks ago and then trying to find a couple of the shirts you linked to in store, but they either didn't carry them or didn't have them in my size; however, I can always order online. And thanks for the warning about chemicals in the non-iron shirts. I had never heard that before, and it certainly gives me pause. Also, I hadn't thought of Brooks Brothers, so I will put that on my "research" list too.

Elpgal, that Calvin Klein shirt would work well. I wonder why I didn't notice it when I searched their website last week?

Angie, I didn't see anything promising on the BCBG site when I searched it a few days ago, but I hadn't thought about Theory. Theory is usually a little too pricey for me, much as I admire their clothes, but it doesn't hurt to take a look, and for the right investment shirt, I would be willing to spend a little more.

RoseandJoan and LondonKiwi, thank you so much for introducing me to Thomas Pink! There is a Thomas Pink store in San Francisco's Union Square, and I've always walked right past without having any idea what it was. I now have a reason to venture in there. LondonKiwi, I will bookmark Hawes and Curtis too--those shirts just look like too much fun to pass up, and I love a great striped shirt!

15 years ago

Frances

Active Member

Oh, and Lynne, thanks for the VS input too--I suspected as much about the quality, but was just reaching a point of desperation. Luckily though, I have been infused with all kinds of new ideas from the YLF ladies! I knew you'd all come through for me!

15 years ago

April

Veteran

Frances, in my experience, anything "no-iron" just means you'll only have to do a touch-up. These shirts will still crinkle a bit at the placket and they won't look truly crisp without any ironing whatsoever.

If you go to the "clearance" section of the Brooks Brothers site, they have a beautiful shirt that's half price. It's not no-iron, but worth a look: http://www.brooksbrothers.com/.....ctionsize=

EDIT: Oh, and here's a non-iron version. Apparently a lot of BB items are on sale right now: http://www.brooksbrothers.com/.....ctionsize=

15 years ago

Frances

Active Member

That does it! I am heading to Brroks Bros. this week for a quality shirt investment!

April, thank you so much for the info on the non-iron shirts. I guess there's really no shortcut or way around my intense dislike of doing laundry or ironing after all...

15 years ago

taylor

Veteran

I second the BB no iron too. I wore one in my last post:)

15 years ago

bredpit

(website)

Member

Thanks Frances for a very good discussion. Shirts are the main objects which shows your personality in the hundres. You can find some fabulous designs in the stock of justwhiteshirts.com, which is meant for it's quality fabrics also.

Thanks & Regards,
Bred Pit
Dress Shirts

15 years ago

Category