Thursday’s TPS Report: Cotton/silk ruffle printed blouse
This post may contain affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
We're liking this cotton and silk ruffled blouse from Banana. The small bit of print… the shape of the neckline… the loose fitting sleeves — like it all. We'd wear it tucked in with a gray or navy suit, perhaps with pearls. It's $59 at Banana Republic, available in both the purple and a light green. Banana Republic Cotton/silk ruffle printed blouse
If you've recently seen a great work piece you'd like to recommend to the readers, please e-mail editor@corporette.com with “TPS” in the subject line. Unless you ask otherwise, we'll refer to you by your first initial.
(L-2)
Sales of note for 5/19/25:
- Nordstrom Rack – Looking for a deal on a Dyson hairdryer? The Rack has several refurbished ones for $199-$240 (instead of $400+) — but they're final sale only.
- M.M.LaFleur – Daily flash sales, and lots of twill suiting on sale! Try code CORPORETTE15 for 15% off. 5/19's flash sale: Jardigans down to $175-$209, dresses down to $150, blazers down to $250
- Nordstrom – Lots of markdowns on AGL (50%!), Weitzman, Tumi, Frank & Eileen, Zella, Natori, Cole Haan, Boss, Theory, Reiss (coats), Vince, Eileen Fisher, Spanx, and Frame (denim and silk blouses)
- Ann Taylor – 50% off summer-ready styles
- Banana Republic Factory – 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 10% off new women's styles with code + sale up to 50% off
- Eloquii – 50-60% off select styles
- J.Crew – 60% off sale, and 40% off packing picks (prices as marked)
- J.Crew Factory – New arrivals, plus up to 60% off everything plus extra 50% off clearance
- Rothy's – Up to 50% off last-chance styles
- Spanx – Free shipping on everything
- Talbots – 30% off dresses, skirts, shoes, and accessories
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- is imposter syndrome a real thing?
- talk to me about the estrogen patch for perimenopause
- where did you “learn to clean“?
- how do you travel light with business clothes?
- what do you answer if prospective dates ask you if you “like your job”?
- how gross is it to put spilt jam back in the container?
- how do you know if you're irritable from depression vs irritable from stuff being irritating?
- what are you doing for meals if you don't cook or barely cook?
Cute print; love the color; hate the sleeves. It also looks like one of those shirts that looks good on the rack but fits really weird.
I bet it would look a lot better on a model with some actual shoulders (this one’s seem to be *very* narrow. I like the print and the neckline, but the color would wash me out.
Pretty color, but this shirt seems kind of shapeless. Also, I’m bettting that it will go on sale in a few weeks for $19.99. I rarely pay full price at BR.
oh no.
Would have to try it on, the styling (esp with that necklace, ugh) and model’s pose look weird to me.
I’d be worried about accidentally flashing people with that neckline (esp if they came into my office and we had a conversation while they were standing at my desk).
…I usually like BR, but this reminds me of my Mother’s early 1980s nightgowns…
that is EXACTLY what I was thinking. It even looks like it was made from that same shiny flammable material
Oh dear no, sorry, world o’ fail, this. Neckline sags, cut is shapeless, fabric looks cheap. Even the model looks like she is trying to slither out of it.
Also ironing is my pet peeve and yah I can just see standing there fiddling around with all those little ruffles.
Sorry for the snark, but I really am taking against it.
Yuck. This seems too “little girl” to me in this color and fabric combo, and I don’t think this would work on anyone above an A cup.
While I don’t love it, I think it might be ok under a suit. I like lavender and purples under grey suits, but on it’s own, absolutely not.
The fabric is very pretty and lilac and gray together is very big for this spring. With a plain neckline and no sleeves, it would have made a very nice underpinning for a gray suit, or as a blouse, it could have looked very nice with gray trousers. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t wear sleeves like that underneath a cardigan or jacket, so it becomes useless.
What do people think about this suit? I am thinking of purchasing this to wear to a woman lawyer’s association gala where I am an award recipient. I love the cut, and the bit of “shazamm” that it has, but I am hesitatant about the cream color. As always, your advice is very much appreciated.
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml;jsessionid=4BSJSTWPKQ0KMCQAAKSRAHA?itemId=prod100270059&ecid=NMALRFeedJ84DHJLQkR4&ci_src=14110925&ci_sku=T2FQM
I really like this suit, and it sounds appropriate for your event.
It sounds appropriate for your event if you’re trying to project a lot of personal power. I don’t think the shoulders would work on me, but, well, I’m me and not you, and don’t know your build.
Love it, though don’t know if it would work on someone really curvy. Also wear with shoes w/o ankle straps, it cuts off the line. I think with nice black pumps it would be great.
I’m not a big fan. I kind of like the black cross in the jacket, but I think it is the sholders and neckline that do it in for me. But, my style is not necessarily your style! If it’s the cream color that’s holding you back, I wouldn’t worry about that. The color is nice. Agreed re no ankle straps, just basic black pumps.
I think the suit is gorgeous. Very classy. Go for it.
Congratters on the award. I think the suit is fabulous, so long as you can live with the frequent dry cleaning, and the zip front. Zip fronts on me, when I sit down or bend over, always go into these bizarre undulations that in no way conform with my own frontal undulations.
My fist thought was ‘no way’, but with C’s styling suggestions I can see it now. I need more structure personally, but on someone else it could look great.
I am bummed about the grayish, bland spring palettes. The past couple of years have been so nice with all of the jewel tones. Oh well.
Interestingly enough, this shirt looks much better on the same model in the pistachio version. It seems like she’s wearing a shirt that is a size or two smaller and actually fits, as opposed to the lilac version that is huge and just sags unattractively. After looking at the pistachio version, I’d probably buy it if I saw it for a decent price.
sorry, C, but that is FUG.
I do not like the color or the style for work, with or without a suit jacket. In each season there seem to be a limited number of colors which will look good at work, for example in a blouse to be worn with a neutral suit. I am noticing that right now one of those colors is a muted red, ranging from a rose to an old brick to a deep amroon that is almost black. The other day I noticed a highly paid professional woman wearing a pale yellow silk blouse with black (in San Francisco) and it did not look good.
Yellow and black never look good together – always looks like a bumblebee. Just like pumpkin and black always looks like Halloween. Yellow and gray together, however, is great.
I tried this top on last weekend and I was pretty disappointed. That model must have a ton of clips on the back of the shirt because it’s much baggier in real life and the neckline is a mess and you can see EVERYTHING when you bend over.
Thumbs down! This would do absolutely nothing on me!
I actually really really like this shirt and would totally get it to wear under a suit. I love loose tops like this , so much more comfortable than fitted things, and a great way to add some style to a boring suit.
Woman of Color – I think that suit is perfect for receiving an award – just (like PPs said) wear different shoes than the model!
Sorry… HATE it. Those sleeves are just bad. And the print, combined with ruffles, is too precious.