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Updated: Nov 1, 2018 111 Comments · by

Thursday’s TPS Report: Fitted Non-Iron Sateen Shirt

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Banana Republic Fitted Non-Iron Sateen Shirt | CorporetteOur daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. This week’s TPS reports come to you from guest poster Staci Zaretsky, who blogs with our friends over at Above the Law.

I knew I had to pick this one for today's TPS because I've been looking for a pink blouse, and this really caught my eye. This shirt is fitted at the waist and hip, and the best part is that you don't have to iron it. For all of us busy women, that's a major plus. You can buy it for $69.50, and it comes in five colors: black, blue crystal (which I also loved), pink oxford, wild orchid, and white. Banana Republic Fitted Non-Iron Sateen Shirt

Seen a great piece you'd like to recommend? Please e-mail tps@corporette.com.

(L-2)

Comments

  1. roses

    I have this from last season and love it, but I wouldn’t pay full price for it. Banana’s button-downs always go on sale…I got this for about $15 on the sale rack!

    • Ellen

      Me to! Great Pick, Stacey!!!! I love this pink blouse and I love Bannana Republic. I think I will get it in PERSON b/c it is not far from where I walk. YAY!!!!! I walked to work today and it was schpritzeing out and I got my hair a little wetter then I like, so it is now frizzeing up. FOOEY b/c I should have brought my umbrella, but I had left it here! I think I will buy another umbrella that I can keep in my lit bag just in case it rain’s b/c I do NOT like to look like I got caught in the rain and I do NOT like putteing stuff in my hair to defrizze it.

      Butch called and he now want’s me to go w/him to watch Basketball at a sport’s bar tonite. I do NOT like to even watch sport’s, but especialy NOT at a sport’s bar where all these drunk’s are out there yelling and burpeing and spilleing their beer’s all over the place. The guy’s act like 12 year olds and they are NOT even playing the game. I think he said it is basketball. I went already to a couple of NET’s games, and that was OK b/c it was at the BARLCEAYS center in Brooklyn, but I do NOT like sitteing in bar’s with guy’s who think they are coacheing the team from the bar! FOOEY! So I said I do NOT think I want to go. He said we could meet for dinner first at a place I liked, but I said that I could not eat alot b/c I had eaten 1/2 of a cheezecake with Myrna last nite. He wondered how I could keep my tuchus in shape doeing that eateing and I said that that is why I walk so much.

      My freind from college is in town, and I told her I would show her what I do so I am meeteing her today downtown at lunch and we are goeing together into court (with Mason), and I am letting Mason handel ONE case in front of the judge. I do NOT want him to mess up my streak with the judge, so I will also stand up to introduce him so that the Judge know’s he is with me. YAY!!! Afterward’s, Cathy will go with us back to meet the manageing partner and the other’s at work. YAY!!!!!!

  2. Christie

    A few quick notes on this shirt:
    Pro – It comes in a range of sizes (regular and petite; 00 through 16) which is great because you can fully customize the fit.
    Con – I think the iron-free name is not legitimate at all – which shouldn’t be surprising as it’s almost 100% cotton. I find this shirt creases quite a bit with one days wear, and must definitely be ironed out of the wash. A simple example: I go out of my way to avoid putting my purse on my shoulder first thing in the morning because I’ll be stuck with a rumpled shoulder all day long. I have 4-5 of them (for fit, not for the iron-free idea), so it’s a consistent issue.
    Other – BR often has this shirt on sale, or you can apply one of their coupon codes. I’ve paid as little as $40 in Canada.

    • Wanderlust

      For me, “fitted at the waist and hip” just SCREAMS “let’s show off your muffin top!”

    • ContractsinTX

      Agreed about the non-iron lie. This has to be steamed or ironed out of the wash. That being said, I have this in white from a few years, and the fit is amazing. I’m rather busty, and I did not have to add extra buttons or go up a size and get it tailored down.

      +1 on waiting for a sale. BR regularly has everything 40% off. I got mine for about $16.

      • Barb

        I was wondering about the fit on busty body types – thanks! I think it’s a beautiful shirt but I avoid most crisp button-downs for that reason – they need alterations if they fit up top.

      • WestCoast Lawyer

        This is why BR button-down shirts never work for me. I’m the opposite of busty and they always gape in the back. I guess they were expecting my b**bs to push the shirt forward, but alas…

    • Anon

      Interesting. I have several of these and never need to iron or steam them – they’re always pretty darn crisp straight out of the dryer.

      I do, however, recommend that anyone with muscular arms size up. My normal size in tops/dresses is X, and I have to go two sizes up in these shirts. The smaller sizes fit until I bend my arm, and then I end up with a tear in the elbows.

      • Mpls

        Maybe the key to the crispness and non-iron-ness is hang them up as soon as the dryer is done? Like while they are still warm. That helps reduce the wrinkling (and subsequent ironing) in regular shirts as well.

        • tesyaa

          Yes – and don’t even dry them all the way. Put them in the dryer for 5-10 minutes and take them out to hang to air-dry.

      • Baconpancakes

        Those wear like IRON. BB non-iron shirts are probably so coated in chemicals they’re wearable cancer factories, but man, they are seriously non-iron. I love them.

        • DontBlameTheKids

          Okay, now I’m looking at my shirt today in a whole new light. I love that I can just throw them on and they never wrinkle…but I actually didn’t know that they used chemicals to make it that way. Gah!

          • Bonnie

            Chemicals are in everything. FWIW, I’m very allergic to formaldehyde and have never had a reaction from non-iron shirts.

          • Baconpancakes

            It’s basically soaked in formaldehyde. Fine for occasional wear – not going to hurt you in small doses, like most carcinogens, but I wouldn’t wear one multiple times a week.

          • BCB

            Chemo-phobia is getting a bit out hand nowadays. Your shirt is not going to give you cancer. Wear it as much as you like.

      • abogada

        Yes, my BB non-iron shirts are truly non iron. It really annoys me though that the buttons stop about 8 inches from the bottom of the shirt. Other than that, I really like my BB non-iron shirt. I have the fitted cut and they are fitted and flattering without being tight.

  3. Diana Barry

    So for those of us looking for white lace or eyelet shirts for this summer, I just got the “Lace Top” from Boden (link to follow) and it is quite nice – side zip, fully lined, good quality.

    For people with broad shoulders and small waists, it won’t work unless taken in at the waist – the shoulder seam on the size I kept hits me a little bit in at the shoulder, but the size up was MUCH too big esp in the midsection. Also, it is better for shorter torsos since it hits at high hip and wouldn’t work if your pants are super low-rise or if your torso is long. BUT great top for under suits or with jeans on the weekend.

  4. Anon

    Does anyone actually take button-downs to the tailor? I have several that fit too big in the waist, but it feels like more of a waste of money than having a pair of dress pants or a blazer tailored. Any thoughts on whether it’s worth it?

      • Baconpancakes

        When you say by hand, do you mean actually by hand, or with a machine at home? I’ve done a few things by hand, and while the stitching is strong, it’s always a little wonky.

        • Lily student

          Either. If you have a machine, use that, but if you don’t, don’t. My trick to getting non-wonky hand stitches is to draw a line in tailor’s chalk and to make tiny little stitches. Hard on the eyes and a bit time consuming, but nothing that can’t be done in front of a film on a Saturday afternoon.
          I don’t have a sewing machine at college so I’ve had to adjust!

    • Cat

      I’ve had sleeves slimmed and a waist taken in – both were $15 or less if I recall correctly. I’ve worn both pieces more frequently because I don’t feel frumpy in them, so I think the investment was worth it – my thought process was “I haven’t worn either of these in a year b/c I feel frumpy – so I could either donate or tailor – and to spend $15 each to basically get two new tops is way better than I’d do out shopping.”

  5. Lyra Silvertongue

    Vicarious shopping TJ: Anyone want to help me find a new “office sweater?” Looking for a black, mid-length, long-sleeve cardigan or otherwise open front sweater. Wrap style also works given what I’m usually wearing. Open-minded on fabrication but the purpose is to fight the chill of our overzealous AC. Preferably $100 or less. I need to replace the current shawl-collar one that I keep at work as it’s just not looking so good anymore.

  6. tazdevil

    have you tried Athleta? They have some sweaters that are sold as post yoga warmups that might fit the bill.

  7. anon

    I am looking for a CPA in the Metro DC area (preferrably NoVa). Any reccomendations? I am an inhouse attorney who will make around 180k, mortage, car loan, no kids, and am looking for someone who deals with people at this income level.

    • Anon

      Me, too. Especially one who is good with a few VA income tax issues I expect to run into this year when I move away (but will be renting out my house until I return).

        • Bewitched

          All my comments lately have gone straight to moderation-with no obvious word concerns and nothing in my email or website fields. I’ve reported it to the tech team but it keeps happening. Frustrating!

  8. Swimware

    Ladies, would it look really bad to wear swim shorts and then wear a one piece swimsuit on top of it? I am pear shaped with large thighs and planning to incorporate swimming into my daily workout routine. Since am planning to do it at 5am, not a lot of people are going to be around. I am extremely conscious about my thighs so I want to cover them under any circumstances. Do you folks have other options?

    • Lily student

      It wouldn’t look bad as such, but might be a bit irritating. Once you’re in the water no-one can see your thighs anyway, remember. (Unless I’m doing my strokes wrong!)

    • Anon

      Why not wear board shorts on top of your one piece swimsuit instead? I think layering anything UNDER a swimsuit would probably feel very uncomfortable and lead to chaffing.

    • McGiggles

      That does sound odd to me (one piece on top of shorts). What about board shorts (can be found at surf shops) over the one piece? Or a tankini with conservative swim shorts type bottom?

      • Fiona

        The tankini/swim shorts combo is what I thought the OP meant. I wouldn’t necessary think the shorts/1 piece would be “odd” but it would create a lot of extra drag. You can still do shorts with a little sleeker combination.

    • Fiona

      You do you. Wear what you want – especially when you’re working out.

      As a fellow early morning swimmer, I’m there to swim, and I don’t take notice of what anyone else is wearing.

      And, my favorite water park swim wear is actually a pair of swim shorts and a rash guard shirt. Then I can walk all over, eat lunch, take care of kids, and ride all the water slides all in one outfit.

      • Clementine

        I agree, wear what you’re comfortable with.

        I will also stress what Fiona says- when I go swimming at 5 or 5:30 in the morning, I am usually totally in my own zonked out work. Also, the early swimming crowd in my area is an interesting mix of triathletes/serious training folks, regular exercising folk with a wide variety of body types, and the 70 and over crowd. At my gym I guarantee that you would blend right in with the rainbow of body types working on their health.

        Swim what you’re comfortable in; however, putting anything except for very trim bike shorts under something sounds like w*dgie-central.

      • CKB

        I agree too. Nobody except you is going to care what you’re wearing for early morning swim workouts, unless it’s something wildly inappropriate for working out, and even then, you might get a couple of looks, but most people are going to be focused on their own workouts, not on what you are wearing. Swimming is different than, say, running on a track, because being in the water decreases how much you can see of other swimmers.

        Whatever you decide to do, make sure there isn’t too much drag. I would consider most board shorts to be in this category. They’ll be floating around, possibly falling down, and not only will you have to work harder due to the drag factor, but you’ll also be distracted and won’t get as good of a workout.

    • Kontraktor

      Aside from looks, depending on the swim short, you may find they give you too much drag (or chafing) to really be comfortable. I would suggest either wearing boy short bottoms over a one piece (so no flowy shorty material to add drag) or looking into a sporty tankini (or even bikini) suit with boy short bottoms. Speedo definitely makes such suits with more of a sports br* top/actual sport top and they are functional for swim workouts (I used to wear all the time for multi-hour summer swim workouts). You could also look into one of those body suit type of swim suits, like the kind swimmers wear at competition, to cover to your knees.

    • Alana

      There are also Jammers, the long fitted shorts favored by boys these days instead of tiny speedos. 5 AM lap swimming is not a meat market at a hotel pool. Comfort is key to avoid drag and distractions caused by chafing, string ties, and the like. Also, large thighs can be great in the water! If it’s due to fat, that helps with floating. If it’s due to muscle, that helps with a powerful kick. If both, then both!

    • houda

      I remember one year watching the olympics, and many swimmers had a swimsuit that was down to thigh level. You could look into these?

    • Anonymous

      A one piece over shorts to me sounds like an 80s workout video thongitard, and is going to draw way more attention than just wearing the one piece by itself, or wearing the one piece under the shorts.

    • Aggie

      A Speedo Kneeskin would be a great alternative. They are around $90 but Speedo swimwear lasts a very long time. It is basically a Speedo swimsuit that extends to knee length.

      While swimming is not a fashion contest, I would not feel comfortable with anything under a one piece swimsuit, as said above, wedgie city!

    • anon in tejas

      I do this the other way around. one piece race suit and then tri shorts on top.

    • Killer Kitten Heels

      Former swim-team kid here, and when we intentionally wore pantyhose as “drag” to practices, you ALWAYS wore it over the suit to prevent wedgie central. One pieces are designed to stay in place in contact with your skin – if there’s another fabric, the suit will slide and be uncomfortable.

      If you’re going to wear shorts (unless you’re talking actually investing in a suit like the Speedo Kneeskin), wear them over the suit, and keep in mind that they’ll weigh and slow you down.

      One other potential source of suits you’d be comfortable in – check out triathlon wet suits – they’re designed to be worn by folks who are swimming and then hopping immediately onto a bike, so they’re usually shorts and would likely be more comfortable than the combo you described.

  10. Lady Tetra

    I’d like to get a long gown to wear to several different black tie events (weddings and galas) this summer and fall. I want a color that’s not black. Any suggestions for what color would be most versatile? Thanks!

    • Moon Moon

      Dark blue. I have a long navy blue gown that does well in a number of situations. For a more festive wedding look I will put on a colorful necklace (like a bright pink statement necklace), for more somber events I will pair it with regular jewelry, black wrap and shoes (I’m a navy and black fan). It also goes well with both silver and gold metallic.

    • Hildegarde

      I think a burgundy or wine color would be good; even though it’s a dark color, I don’t think it looks out of place in the summer. A champagne color would also be nice, if that would be flattering with your skin. Of course, these also happen to be two of my favorite colors for clothing, so I might just be biased.

      • Anonymous

        +1. I’m making navy my new LBD color. Black does not do me any favors, and navy or royal blue looks great.

    • Emmabean

      I’ve been wedding dress shopping recently, and actually have a dress recommendation that may be useful for you. Search for the Annabelle dress on the BLHDN website. It comes in like twelve colors and is designed so that you can customize the top to be strapless, one strap, etc etc., so you could have a different style at each event.

  11. AMB

    Eek – I just booked three weeks off for a trip to Australia in the fall! I will be visiting a friend but mainly travelling on my own, in part due to all the good advice I’ve read on this board. I’m a little nervous but think it will be a great experience.

  12. SallyStrumming

    Challenge for the squad: Looking for good honeymoon recommendations for November. We can take about two weeks off, are interested in site-seeing or wilderness adventure (or a bit of both) more than a long beach trip, but some time on a beach obviously would be welcome, too (though not a requirement).

    We’re considering Patagonia (but I’ve already traveled in that part of the world a lot, albeit not exactly to the area where we’d go) and some combination of Thailand/Vietnam/Cambodia. Hoping for some interesting ideas for anyone interested in playing–thanks in advance!

    • Hildegarde

      Friends of mine just honeymooned in Bali for two weeks, and loved it. It sounds from their descriptions that it has everything you’re looking for, though the journey there and back sounds brutal.

    • Cat

      Tanzania / Zanzibar, or South Africa – at least I think that’s not rainy season!

    • Wanderlust

      My boyfriend and I headed to Laos/Thailand in two weeks. Look into Laos… super affordable with a mix of adventure and relaxation.

    • Anonymous

      Australia or New Zealand. Beach options depending on where you go, all the wilderness adventure you could possibly want, exciting cities, easy to get around once you are there, and worth 2 weeks.

    • Scully

      India! Hit the beaches in Goa and hire a houseboat in the Kerala backwaters, especially if it’s later in November.

    • A Nonny Moose

      Hawaii!! It’s not as far as Asia or Australia (assuming you’re in the u.s.) so you’d have more time there, there’s amazing food and it’s a great mix of lying by the beach relaxing and going hiking in the rain forest, sight-seeing, snorkeling or other water and land based activities.

      • Killer Kitten Heels

        +1. Particularly look into the less-traveled parts of the islands (for example, the Hilo side of the Big Island is further from the traditional resort-type-places, and you’d have easy access to Volcano National Park, which is great for hiking & other adventures).

    • CKB

      I’d go to somewhere in southern Europe, but Europe is always my first choice for a vacation.

  13. Hildegarde

    I’m co-hosting a baby shower this weekend. We’ve decided, in conjunction with the mother-to-be, not to do games, but has anyone ever done any sort of activity at a shower that broke the ice a bit and wasn’t completely hokey? There will be women from two generations there, all of whom will know several other people, but no one will know everyone else.

    Also, has anyone ever received a gift bag as a guest at a shower that she particularly liked? Usually they just seem to be cheap candles no one will use, or candy no one wants to eat, so I’d rather skip it if I can’t think of something that will be useful. A friend suggested small potted herbs, with a ribbon tied around the pot. Does this sound like a good idea? If it matters, most of the women are not big drinkers, and a number of them are somewhat hippie/crunchy types.

    • Miss Behaved

      I went to one shower where they handed out a sheet with pictures of celebrity children and you had to name them. The winner won a bottle of wine, I think.

    • Mo

      I really think there’s no such thing as a non-hokey ice breaker. It doesn’t mean they can’t be fun/worth it, but if you don’t want games the best thing to do is just be a good hostess. Be done setting up before people arrive so you can mingle, set out interesting drinks/finger food and make an effort to introduce people to each other (Bridget Jones-style interesting fact optional).

      • anon

        Agreed. I am a big game-hater and personally love when a shower is just a party. (My preference is no gift-opening at the event too, but this doesn’t always fly). When I’ve hosted them, I don’t do games or gifts and I’ve often been told it was the best shower anyone ever went to because it lacks the stuff that make these events eye-roll inducing. People get to talk & socialize, which is the whole point.

    • Diana Barry

      I liked the baby showers where we got to decorate a onesie for the baby with fabric markers/sharpies. Everyone made something different and they were all pretty.

      Baby showers take FOREVER though, I would start the present-opening as soon as possible!

      No gift bags at the showers I’ve been to, just food.

      • Annie

        +1

        We did this at my friend’s baby shower, it was really fun. We got some 6 mo. onesies and some 18 mo. onesies.

    • anon

      This might be hokey, but we did a game at a bridal shower that might work as an ice breaker. Have each person write down a potential baby name on a slip of paper then put all of the slips of paper in a bowl. As the mom-to-be opens each gift, she pulls out a slip of paper, reads the name, and then has to guess who came up with the name. The names came be serious or silly. So it’s a game, but not as stupid as some you might do. It allows each person to participate in a fun thing during gift opening.

    • AIMS

      The most successful and appreciated-by-all gift I’ve seen at a shower is nail polish. You can get a bunch of different Essie colors in the same color family, put them in small little pouches and/or just tie a tiny little ribbon and a card around the bottle (heart shaped?) that says “Thank you!” — seriously the only time I’ve seen every person be like, “Awesome!”

      As for ice breakers, it’s hard to think of one that wasn’t a game but one idea I’ve done – get a pretty notebook and randomly glue a bunch of pictures inside of the bride/groom and put lots of various quotes about love/marriage/advice (“Always kiss each other goodnight”, etc.) .. Space this out throughout the book… And then have all the guests write their own advice to the couple. This gets people looking at the book, talking about what they wrote and it’s a nice keepsake for the bride after.

      • AIMS

        I read too quickly. Baby shower, not bridal. You could still do the book with parenting advice though? And maybe just stick a bunch of baby pictures in – of the bride and groom and random babies?

        • rosie

          I wouldn’t do the parenting advice thing. I think it’s fine for a bridal shower, but for a baby shower, I think there is a lot of unsolicited parenting advice given and it’s a little more sensitive (note: I’m not a parent), so I would not encourage it. I would be worried about getting stuff like “B-feed for as long as you possibly can.”

          I have to say, I love the nail polish idea for a bridal shower.

      • Anonymous Poser

        I think Essie is now owned by a company that does animal testing. Depending on the bent of the granola types, that might be a consideration for cosmetic/body care gifts.

        • AIMS

          If you want to be 1000000% safe – you can d0 Zoya polish, available on amazon – no testing, vegan, etc., etc

        • B

          Love this cup, but is it normal for a hostess to handout $17 a pop favors at a shower? The last two showers I hosted we had prizes for winners of the games, but didn’t do any other favors. I’m already spending several hundred dollars for food, drinks, decorations, and a gift. I didn’t realize we were also supposed to give gifts to everyone else there!

          • gre

            I’m actually not sure if this is normal or not. I should clarify, this was a prize for the sole game at this shower, so I was the only person to receive one. I have given showers where prizes were given, but I have also been the recipient of a shower where there were no games, no prizes, just a lovely day with good friends. I think you’re fine either way!

    • Flying Squirrel

      Depending on the size of the event, going around the room and giving advice to the new mom? An alternative is writing that advice on a card and reading a few of them out loud (say, pick the out of a bowl).

      I know you said no games, but a fairly tame one is to ask the moms of the mom and dad to be questions about their childhood (things like first word, funny stories, favorite toys). Then, pass out a sheet with the facts without saying who their about and have the guests guess. It can also get conversations going about guests own kids/experiences/etc.

    • rosie

      I like low key games that are optional. Something going on for a while that people can do if they have no one to talk to (and it’s an easy thing to strike up a conversation with a stranger about the game), but not mandatory or the focus of the shower. The baby pictures idea is cute. I’ve seen it with pictures of the attendees, but if they won’t mostly know each other, celebrity baby pictures would probably work better.

      Another similar favor idea is those cards that have seeds in them, so you just plant the cards and get herbs/wildflowers/etc. I do like the potted herbs idea, if it’s not too much work for you.

    • AEK

      This might count as a “game” but Shower Bingo is easy and not embarrassing. Just make up a bunch of bingo cards with an item from the registry or other typical baby gift listed in each square. As the guest of honor opens her gifts, the guest mark their cards, and you have a small prize every time someone gets a Bingo (also helps distribute favors— just have extra left for whomever doesn’t “win”). This serves as a good icebreaker and also helps ease the boredom of the present-unwrapping.

      • Clementine

        I have been at a co-ed shower where people really really got into gift bingo. To ensure fairness, the gifts were opened from one end of the table to the other with no moving of gifts allowed.

        Probably one of the funnier moments that resulted from this was a friend’s husband saying ‘I’ve needed BFing pads for the last four turns!’

      • hoola hoopa

        I love shower bingo. It really helps get through the gift opening. Whenever I’ve done them, the cards are empty and the guests fill them in themselves. Even “no game” people get into it.

        Agree that icebreakers are inherently hokey. Going around to say name, how they know the mom-to-be, and maybe share parenting advice is the least hokey.

        I rather dislike getting favors, actually. If you want to do something, give me a cookie or truffle.

    • Anon

      Icebreaker – the only one I’ve done that wasn’t totally annoying was having everyone go around and say their name and how they know the mom-to-be. It is low pressure but allows everyone to place the other guests. One of the only shower gifts I received that I liked was homemade scented sugar body scrub. It was AMAZING and the host just whipped up a big batch and put them in mason jars.

    • Killer Kitten Heels

      The last shower I went to, the hosts bought packs of inexpensive white onesies, fabric paint, and stencils, and set up a table where people could paint their own onesies for the baby – it was epically entertaining.

    • Anon for this

      I’ve only been to one baby shower where this was a game, but it remains my favorite — it’s “Baby Price is Right” where folks break out into small groups for teams, and then everyone guesses what they think is the price of various baby gear. It’s really funny when done with a mix of childless folks and folks who already have kids — the guesses so different! The winning team gets some sort of prize — $5 coffee giftcards are always welcome, I think.

    • Anon99

      I have received a potted plant as a favor at every baby shower I have ever attended. It’s not a bad choice.

  14. Anonymous Associate

    This is the ONLY button down shirt I have found that fits me off the rack, so I have this shirt in 6-7 colors. Great under suits.

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