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Thursday’s TPS Report: Vikie – Choir Blouse

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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices. Vikie – Choir BlouseWe're loving this sweet, simple silk blouse from Theory. The sleeves have the perfect amount (or lack of) pouf, and we like the banded collar. We also really like the way the blouse kind of looks like either dots or an ocelot pattern, but is more abstract than either of those things up close. Was $150, now $89 at Nordstrom (available in sizes S, M, L). Theory ‘Vikie – Choir' 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 12.2.24 (Happy Cyber Monday!! See our full sale listing here!)

And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!

Some of our latest threadjacks include:

42 Comments

    1. this is a serious question — are there honestly professional women who care enough about how they dress to frequent this blog, who nonetheless avoid dry cleaning? How? I am pretty much always wearing wool pants/skirts/etc, and often also wool or other nonwashable jackets, silk shirts and sweaters… I’d love to save the huge expense and the environment, so am I missing something?

      1. I am happy to dry-clean suits and pants – I think that’s a necessary evil – but draw the line at tops. There are lots of work-worthy tops out there that don’t require dry-cleaning, so I simply bypass those that do.

        Dry-cleaning is expensive, inconvenient, and bad for the environment. Why go there if I don’t have to?

      2. Except for items that have sequins or complicated pleats I don’t dry clean and instead wash everything in the washing machine on delicate (in mesh bags) using products from The Laundress. I have been very pleased with how my clothes have stood up–in fact, there are several pieces that I think look significantly better without dry cleaning.

        When I have to dry clean, I use a CO2 dry cleaner which is significantly better for the environment.

        1. Just to confirm, you wash lined wool suits in the washing machine on delicate in mesh bags using products from The Laundress? I’m interested in trying this method for sure. I think I will start with a suit I’ve had for several years, though. Not that I don’t believe you. It’s just that dry-clean-only is so ingrained in my head I have a hard time changing that view (Thanks, JCrew!).

          1. My “dry cleaner” is actually a wet cleaner — everything, and I mean everything from Armani suits to wedding dresses, is washed in water with the proper additives. The clothes come out beautifully clean, pressed perfectly, and no drycleaner smell. Absolutely love them. That said, I am not brave enough to wash anything at home that says dry-clean-only except cashmere sweaters. All else goes to the cleaners.

          2. Anon–That’s right. If it’s a wool suit with polyester lining (or whatever) I use their wool and cashmere shampoo since that is the delicate fabric (and the one you see). In the washing machine and then lay flat (or in a few cases, hang) to dry. Same deal with silk tops but I use the delicate wash.

            I’ll admit that as pleased as I have been with the products, I probably would still send designer suits (if I had any) to my eco-friendly dry cleaner. But for my J.Crew and Classiques suits, the Laundress has worked just fine.

        2. Two choices for you:
          1. Dryel
          2. Eco friendly dry cleaners.
          I use 1 when I can, 2 when I need to.

      3. Some are more sensitive to the expense (which really adds up!) and/or environment than others — not to mention finding the time to GO to the dry cleaners. Personally, I’m neutral about DCO/machine wash bottoms (with nice fabric, the wrinkles relax well enough to avoid constant trips). However, tops that are next to your skin are more likely to need refreshing after one wear, so I do pay attention to whether a tight sweater or blouse is DCO.

      4. Oh, heck, I just handwash. It doesn’t take that long and it’s ridiculously easy, and my clothes don’t wear out as quickly.

        Cold water, no wringing, gentle detergent (like baby shampoo) if necessary, roll in a towel to get the excess water out, shape it and lay it flat. If you’re around before it completely finishes drying, then hang it when it’s almost done so it doesn’t wrinkle; otherwise, iron it. Voila!

        1. I accidentally washed a silk jersey DvF top in the machine (normal wash) after a business trip – guess I was still jetlagged. BUT it’s fine!! I think I am going to try handwashing a few of these “dry clean only” label items (will start with old ones). My aunt used to handwash silk and I never believed her when she said they were fine…guess I was proved wrong.

      5. I use two at-home methods to clean suits – dryel and a clothes steamer. I still take my suits to the dry cleaners, but with the home remedies, the trips are cut down significantly.

      6. I am always astounded by all the hand-washing and dryel-ing and ironing talked about on this blog. I have zero time for that kind of thing and if I did have a little more time, that is not what I would be doing with it! Cleaning lady does my laundry and I know my local dry cleaners well.

        1. This site always reminds me that people can always make time for the things that are really important to them. Some of us prioritize cooking, or working out, or time with friends/family, or catching up on the latest television shows or fashion trends. To each his own. I know how I like to spend my time and how I like to spend my money, and everyone else is free to do as they wish, too!

        2. Your cleaning lady does your laundry? Wow! Mine quit because she didn’t want to continue doing dishes (which she had done for my fiance for three years before I moved in).

    2. I would absolutely hand-wash silk blouses, although of course gently, in warm water and a good soap. Rinse it but good, no wringing, hang or lay flat to dry.

      I am really convinced that lazy retailers slap ‘dry clean only’ on most of their clothes to cover their asses.

      1. Wow – I’m impressed with you no-dry-cleaner ladies. I like my shirts properly pressed and my suits clean and to me that = dry cleaning. But good on you for doing the right thing…now I feel guilty! :)

  2. This seems kind of blah. Would need to see it in person.

    Also, I’m curious how many of you wear button down shirts/blouses like this without tucking it in. It’s probably not possible to tuck in a shirt like this. I have a few shirts like this one but am concerned that it might look too casual in my workplace to wear a shirt that is not tucked in.

    1. I will wear them but only on casual Friday. I have a few shirts like this with similar styling that don’t look right tucked in.

      I like this, but I won’t buy it because of the lack of buttons between the mid-bust button and the top (neck) button. I’d definitely buy it if there was one in between. I can’t even tell you how many otherwise cute tops I’ve passed on because of this lack of button. I realize not everyone would want to button this button, but the option would be nice! Rant over…

    2. I don’t tuck into pants. I do tuck into pencil skirts.
      With pants, the untucked look is fine in my workplace if I wear a 3/4 sleeve cardigan over it (also untucked of course).
      The top is short sleeved so that + untucked would look informal without a cover-up IMO.

    3. Tucking or not tucking, I think it depends on the skirt/pants. If the waist is high enough to STAY tucked in, I will. If it is likely to pull out, and you have to go around all day tucking it back in, grrr, and now it’s all creased, grrr, then I’d leave it out in the first place.

      My granny taught me that during-the-day adjustments to one’s clothing = the depths of unchic.

    4. I hardly tuck anything. I would like to, but I usually cant. Too tall, my torso is too long, the rise of most pants is too short, etc.

  3. Sweet, but I’ve sworn off Theory’s blouses because their button placement is terrible — usually one at the neck, but then the next option is jussssst above the cleavage line. If they moved it up an inch, they’d probably have sold me 5-6 shirts over the last few years, because the fabrics feel wonderful and generally aren’t too sheer (j.crew white blouses, I’m looking at you).

    1. Thank you! Seriously – I think every shirt I’ve kept from JCrew in the past 2 years has been a dark color because all of the white/pale ones I end up returning due to ridiculous sheerness.

    2. I’ve never bought a Theory blouse, but I’m wondering if the button placement issue would affect me because I have almost no chest. Seriously. I’m as flat as a pancake. Any thoughts if the lack of an additional button would still make this shirt a no-go for me? I really, really love it!

      1. I think it is a personal preference issue and you’d have to try it on. I’m relatively small busted but I still prefer to have higher buttons because I don’t like showing that much skin (even if it is not cleavage) at work. But other people feel differently.

        1. For me it depends on the fabric. I’m small busted, too. The cotton ones do well on me, but the silk ones are nightmares. The silk is heavy, but the blouse tends to gape open, showing my bra!

  5. Love it!!

    To lawdiva, I will often wear blouses like this with a suit, under the jacket, or under a blazer. With this kind of cut it looks nice, provided the blouse doesn’t stick out under the jacket.

    Anon, I do use dry clean clothes, but will try to avoid dry-cleaning them often (through use of dryel, shout wipes, deodorant, etc.). I find that with being careful with what I eat and a layer underneath, my suit jackets hardly ever need dry-cleaning (maybe once or twice a year).

    1. you clearly don’t have small children who like oatmeal and throw up often. thanks for the tips, all!

      1. LOL! My trick is that I wear a robe until the last second before leaving the house. But that won’t work if you have to do drop-offs.

      2. LOL! Actually, I have 2 small children, ages 2 and 7 weeks, both of whom throw up frequently! But I do the nanny handoff and THEN throw on my clothes just before I leave the house. It reduces the risk of spills by about 98%. Also, I change my clothes again right when I get home, before I pick up the kiddos, so they stay clean at the end of the day too.

      3. lol! My “mommy trouble spot” is the front of my skirt, where the toddler’s shoes end up when I carry him – and it’s the same spot where he wants to bury his head (and wipe his nose) when he wants me to pick him up!

        1. When my youngest was 4 months old, I returned from maternity leave only to arrive at court one morning for a hearing with baby spit down my back. No idea until someone (thankfully) pointed it out.

    2. L – concur with all your delay-needing -to-dry-cleaning tactics. Washables-only next to my skin. Sometimes to the point of a thin thin thin short-sleeved silk t-shirt instead of a cami, if it isn’t going to show. Excellent under a sweater, which otherwise I would feel it necessary to wash after each wearing.

      In case it helps anyone: I don’t have children, but I am a natural slob, drop food down my front all the time unless I’m out in public paying real attention to passing myself off as a grown-up. And I do have 2 very affectionate cats. In recognition of this, I never, ever put the ‘good’ (especially if it’s black) layer of clothes on until immediately before I go out the door. And it comes off immediately I enter the house in the evening.

      Also in the pursuit of minimizing clothes-cleaning, I also hang as many things as I can inside-out, in the closet, because there’s always a LOT of sand and dust in the air where I live. Something that hasn’t been worn in a couple of months often has a little haze of dust on the shoulders. Remembering to shut the closet door, and having a low-speed extraction fan in the closet, helps. But if there’s a Santa Ana wind (off the desert, full of dust) forget it, everything needs to be checked for at least needing a good brushing before being worn.

  6. Oh, this top is beautiful. I love it.
    But I too am a little wary of caring for silk shirts… :o/

  7. Love it. Would be great with a blazer or cardigan now, alone in the summer. Thanks!

  8. Can anyone recommend a good clothes steamer? There are so many times I send a suit to the cleaners when all it needs is a good steaming.

    1. I use the Conair GS4 Compact Fabric Steamer – it’s $30 on amazon. It works quite well! It does get a little dusty if you haven’t used it in a while, and will sputter a little water once in a while (you’ll quickly learn how to hold the tubing to mostly avoid this), but it definitely gets the job done. I’m sure there are more expensive models that work a bit better, but this is more than good enough for me.

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