Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
Not to feed the trolls, but: there’s been a lot of talk lately in the comments about what blouses look best under suits. There’s also been a lot of talk about whether button fronts look dated. For my $.02, I would argue that both are classic looks — but they can be difficult to get the fit right, plus they require dry cleaning and/or ironing or steaming… so of course a lot of women do choose easier care blouses and tops, with less opportunity for gaping. There happen to be a TON of styles for modern blouses under suits right now that are super affordable, versatile, and easy to launder — so let’s round them up!
Note that we still stand by the recently updated Guide to the Best Tops for Under Women’s Suits, as well as our older roundups of the best dress shirts for women, the best silk button-fronts, and the best busty blouses — we’ve also got some great tips on the best solutions for gaping shirts if you do want to go with a button-front look.
Before we get to today’s featured styles, here are some special categories…
- Hall of Famers (specific styles that have stood the test of time): J. Crew Factory, Everlane, Grana, NYDJ
- Great brands for a splurge for modern blouses: Rebecca Taylor, Joie, Equipment, DvF, L’Agence, Boden, MM.LaFleur,
- Plus sizes: J.Crew Factory, Vince Camuto, (sign up for our newsletter focusing on plus-size workwear!)
- Petite sizes: New York & Co., Express,
- Tall sizes: New York & Co., Ann Taylor, ASOS, J.Jill
- Pregnancy sizes: Isabella Oliver, Loyal Hana, Loft, ASOS, H&M (check out our entire guide to maternity workwear!)
Here are some of the best modern blouses for under suits that we’re seeing today…
Ann Taylor Factory has this great mixed media top for only $17.99 (down from $59.99) — it comes in three colors, sizes XS-XL, and it’s machine washable. At sister site Loft there are several similar split-neck tops (in a bright white, a dark green, a pink polka dot, and a stripe) that are also machine washable and only $29-$39.
Readers have sung the praises of this boatneck top at J.Crew Factory for a long time — I like that it comes in sizes up to 3X and is only $32 today (down from $64.50). There’s even free shipping today.
I tend to have mixed feelings about secretary blouses or “pussy bow” blouses — it can feel difficult to get the tie just right! — but this affordable and machine washable option at New York & Co is getting a lot of good buzz, comes in four colors and petite and tall sizes for $44.50. Today it’s 40% off.
Express can be hit or miss as far as workwear goes, but this romantic blouse is only $49 and reminds me of ones I’ve seen for three or four times that. I like that it’s machine washable and available in sizes XXS-XL. I get it if you’re avoiding actual button fronts, but this one is super cute with working buttons.
It’s hard to go wrong with Vince Camuto blouses — this “rumpled satin” one has a nice texture and sheen to it, and comes in a zillion colors and style options, including plus sizes. Around the same price range are Hinge blouses, which we’ve featured a bunch. (If you like the satin look this J.Crew one also looks nice.)
Everlane’s silk blouses have always been really popular with readers, and their new “clean” silk blouses are eco-conscious. They’re available in sizes 00-16 in five colors.
Ladies, what are your favorite modern blouses for suits? What brands are your favorites for regular wear, and what are your favorite splurges?
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Help me with life insurance questions
Preparing our annual tax returns brought home to me how my income is 2/3 of the family income. We have a 13 year old kid. I want to purchase term life insurance that also covers long term disability and critical illnesses care. From reading about it, I think I want underwritten insurance with medical exam so payment in an event is hassle-free and I think I want it for 10 years (to protect us until my daughter can earn her living and we have built up some good equity in our home). As it is, my earning ability is our primary asset.
I am in Canada (QC). My question is, how do I find a good independent advisor who is not tied down to a particular institution? Will I get a beter deal through an advisor or do I paythem extra money on top of the rate I would pay an insurer? Are they wort it? Or, if you would recommend an insurer directly, which one? I want a good price but also a company that pays out without too many issues.
A side question: I have never smoked but I am obese (230 lbs). I am otherwise healthy, have never had issues with cholesterol or blood sugar etc. but still obese. Will I get a better rate if I work to lose weight first? Or will “I lost X pounds in Y time last year” actually raise my rate because statistics… Is that the kind of thing an advisor can answer reliably?
I have been struggling with his for a while.
anon
I’d repost on the morning thread. Caveat: I am in the US, not Canada. I would start with an advisor recommended by someone you trust. They can answer a lot of these questions BEFORE the underwriting process. Many advisors can source products from other institutions though will start with (and favor?) their own. You can also apply for several all in one go to compare them, but be careful to compare apples to apples–riders make a big difference.
Leah
I do not own that pussy bow blouse specifically, but I can say that New York & Co dress shirts wear like iron. I have several NY&C buttondowns that are only now starting to fray at the cuffs a bit, and they’re at least eight years old. I do NOT take good care of them–they get carelessly tossed in regular warm/hot wash loads and dried on medium heat.
Ellen
I had a bow on my blouse, not sure if it were a pussy bow blouse, but Frank immediately went to untie it with his greazy hands, so I stopped wearing it and gave it to Goodwill. The last thing I need is for a man to go investigating my boobies through a blouse like this! FOOEY on men that try to take advantage of us and grab our boobies against our will. Those are strictly for OUR pleasure, NOT their’s! DOUBEL FOOEY!
Anonymous
Counterpoint, my one and only NY&Co button down shirt didn’t even last 2 years of infrequent use. Multiple areas where the shirt buttons at the middle are fraying, and while I was overweight to obese when I wore it I did select a size that fits and am puzzled at how fast it disintegrated.
anon
I have a bunch of tops in poly materials, like these, and I don’t think it’s avoidable. But I haaate how gross they get over time, especially in the armpit area. I even wear a cami underneath because I can’t stand the feel of poly on its own. What am I missing here, in the laundry care department?
Lana Del Raygun
A couple things I would try:
– switching to an aluminum-free deodorant (ie not antiperspirant, idk how that would work for you)
– using less detergent (almost everyone should do this anyway)
– washing with vinegar
S
Blouses are one area where it’s totally avoidable! Just get silk blouses, hand wash. I like The Laundress delicates detergent.
Anonymous
If it’s an order retention issue, I do a wash every now and then with Tide Sports formula (and then I do another regular load after since I don’t like the scent of the sports formula). Removes any odor and it’s like new again.
HSAL
The comment above has me wondering – what’s the hate with polyester blouses? I love them. They wash and wear well, don’t get that wrinkly, hold up better than knits. Many posters have been looking for natural fibers and I honestly don’t understand why. They don’t “feel” any different to me than other fibers. Is it the environmental impact?
Anon
Poly that is meant to look silky from places like Target, Loft, etc always looks cheap to me. I think the material feels awful and doesn’t drape nicely. Ymmv. I also don’t necessarily agree about durability. They hold up better than cheap knits from the same places for sure, but I have lots of old silk and wool that has outlasted fast fashion.
Lana Del Raygun
They feel way sweatier on me than natural fibers, and I’m a sweaty betty to begin with. I’m also convinced my sweat smells different in different fibers, although I don’t know if that’s scientifically plausible.
anon
I also have that feeling, though still wear some poly tops because they are cheap (and loose, unlike cotton) and I haven’t had much of a clothing budget for the past three years.
Anonymous
I must not be buying the right kind of silk blouses, because when I wash them on the delicate cycle with zero, and hang to dry, they are a wrinkled mess and no amount of ironing or steaming seems to get them back to wearable condition. Dry cleaning works, but that’s an expensive weekly bill.
Printed poly blouses from Talbots and Banana Republic seem to wear like iron for me. Wash on delicate and hang to dry and most don’t need ironing. The plain colour ones don’t seem to wash and wear as well.
What brands of silk do you buy and how do you care for them?? Would rather wear a natural fibre as I do sweat especially in the summer and often other times as well thanks to hot flashes.
Anon12
Yes. I’m prone to feeling guilty that every time I was that article of clothing that it’s adding to microparticulate load of plastic in our waters. But I still have non-natural fiber clothing because my budget is not unlimited. And I know how the natural fibers have environmental impacts too. Basically, if you consume, you pollute. No win situation.