Blouses for under suits?

[celeste]

If you wear traditional, conservative suits frequently, can you point me in the direction of your favorite blouses to wear with them? I'm putting together some interview-appropriate outfits for a week long process. I have suits in basic colors - black, navy, and grey.

Ideally, I'd like natural fibers (cotton, silk, etc) and enough of a sleeve to cover my armpits. I think I'd prefer collarless shirts, but am open to all suggestions.

TIA!!

[celeste]

Mar 13, 2016 19:07:46 GMT -5 mryrcn said:

The Limited is your friend

Cute styles but so.much.polyester I'm looking for similar blouses in silk or cotton. There has to be a one stop shop like that, right??

[magdala]

I have had good luck Nordstoms, Talbots, Macy's and White House/Black Market. Some ideas:

shop.nordstrom.com/s/joie-marcher-pleated-silk-top/4319284?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=SHADOW+LILY&resultback=729

shop.nordstrom.com/s/eileen-fisher-silk-jersey-scoop-neck-tank-plus-size/4228101?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=4217

www.talbots.com/online/browse/product_details.jsp?id=prdi37270&defaultColor=8060&N=10157+4294966492&selectedConcept=&_=1457915581125&Nr=AND(OR(product.siteId%3ATalbotsSite)%2COR(product.catalogId%3Acatalog20002))

www1.macys.com/shop/womens-clothing/womens-suits/Department_type,Suit_style/Tops,Suit%20Separates?id=67592&edge=hybrid&cm_sp=us_hdr-_-women-_-67592_suits-%26-suit-separates_COL1

www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-silk-long-sleeve-blouse?ID=2477650&CategoryID=67592&LinkType=#fn=DEPARTMENT_TYPE%3DTops%26SUIT_STYLE%3DSuit%20Separates%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D92%26ruleId%3D%26slotId%3D35

www.whitehouseblackmarket.com/store/product/centerpleat-shell/570168015?color=001&catId=cat9699276&fromSearch=true&scPos=1-1455-2487

In addition to blouses, I wear solid color fitted sweaters and plain solid color T-shirts under my suits. This one from Land's End is a workhorse for me: www.landsend.com/products/womens-supima-short-sleeve-sweater/id_234750?sku_0=::G3D

[celeste]

Mar 13, 2016 19:41:17 GMT -5 magdala said:

I have had good luck Nordstoms, Talbots, Macy's and White House/Black Market.

Thank you! I really like the first and last ones. That Land's End sweater is a great suggestion. I hadn't thought of Macy's and Talbots - I'll definitely check there.

[thedutchgirl]

I prefer shells to button downs or similar under suits generally, which it sounds like you don't want. If you do, I've found a good variety at the Ann Taylor Factory Store, or the regular store. I have a few basic tanks from Gap too, which I like.

In the winter, I have Tippi sweaters from J Crew in about 8 different colors, and I wear them under suits nearly every day.

ETA: Everlane has some lovely silk blouses. They ran too big for me under suits, but the ones I tried seemed like good quality.

[celeste]

Mar 13, 2016 21:40:36 GMT -5 thedutchgirl said:

I prefer shells to button downs or similar under suits generally, which it sounds like you don't want. If you do, I've found a good variety at the Ann Taylor Factory Store, or the regular store. I have a few basic tanks from Gap too, which I like.

In the winter, I have Tippi sweaters from J Crew in about 8 different colors, and I wear them under suits nearly every day.

ETA: Everlane has some lovely silk blouses. They ran too big for me under suits, but the ones I tried seemed like good quality.

My concern with shells is that they don't protect the blazer from sweat. I use deodorant but not antiperspirant, so I feel like I need an extra layer of protection to minimize dirt and dry cleaning frequency. I was actually just looking at Everlane and had the same concern about the baggy cuts. Maybe I'll do a test run, though. I'll check out the Tippi too. Thanks!

[ashap]

I've found a lot of my tops at Nordstrom and JCrew - they make a lot of pieces in silk or silk cotton blend for around $100 each.

www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/topsblouses/PRDOVR~E9133/E9133.jsp

I just bought this and I love it www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/topsblouses/PRDOVR~E9171/E9171.jsp

shop.nordstrom.com/s/rancher-j-top/4254655?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Caviar&resultback=2835

Love this one:  shop.nordstrom.com/s/mckenna-blouse/4227458?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1525

[celeste]

Mar 14, 2016 7:48:28 GMT -5 ashap said:

I've found a lot of my tops at Nordstrom and JCrew - they make a lot of pieces in silk or silk cotton blend for around $100 each.

www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/topsblouses/PRDOVR~E9133/E9133.jsp

I just bought this and I love it www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/topsblouses/PRDOVR~E9171/E9171.jsp

shop.nordstrom.com/s/rancher-j-top/4254655?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Caviar&resultback=2835

Love this one:  shop.nordstrom.com/s/mckenna-blouse/4227458?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1525

That last one is GORGEOUS! Here's my next silly question. Do blouses with a deeper V like that look weird under blazers when they're buttoned? I've been looking at rounded neck lines up until now. I've never had to pay attention to this stuff before, haha!

[ashap]

Mar 14, 2016 11:18:05 GMT -5 celeste said:

Mar 14, 2016 7:48:28 GMT -5 ashap said:

I've found a lot of my tops at Nordstrom and JCrew - they make a lot of pieces in silk or silk cotton blend for around $100 each.

www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/topsblouses/PRDOVR~E9133/E9133.jsp

I just bought this and I love it www.jcrew.com/womens_category/shirtsandtops/topsblouses/PRDOVR~E9171/E9171.jsp

shop.nordstrom.com/s/rancher-j-top/4254655?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=Caviar&resultback=2835

Love this one:  shop.nordstrom.com/s/mckenna-blouse/4227458?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=1525

That last one is GORGEOUS! Here's my next silly question. Do blouses with a deeper V like that look weird under blazers when they're buttoned? I've been looking at rounded neck lines up until now. I've never had to pay attention to this stuff before, haha!

I just bought that top I love it!

I don't think it looks odd at all under a buttoned up jacket, usually a little peek of the shirt still shows.  I like the look personally!

[magdala]

Mar 14, 2016 11:29:21 GMT -5 ashap said:

Mar 14, 2016 11:18:05 GMT -5 celeste said:

That last one is GORGEOUS! Here's my next silly question. Do blouses with a deeper V like that look weird under blazers when they're buttoned? I've been looking at rounded neck lines up until now. I've never had to pay attention to this stuff before, haha!

I just bought that top I love it!

I don't think it looks odd at all under a buttoned up jacket, usually a little peek of the shirt still shows.  I like the look personally!

V-neck blouses work under suits when the shirt peeks out of the suit neckline.  I have a couple of jackets and blouses that I cannot wear together because the shirt does not peek out of the jacket when buttoned.   If I wore them together, the shirt is invisible and it looks like I just have the suit and no shirt underneath.  That is not my kind of look. 

[woowoo]

The reason I like Limited's tops so much is that they can be washed and hung dry. I have a ton of beautiful tops from Jcrew and Nordstrom's but I hate having to get stuff dry cleaned (and I even get free dry cleaning at work).

I have about 2526 portofino shirts from Express...the sleeveless ones are super comfortable to wear all day in the summer, especially when commuting. I leave all my suit jackets at work and just wear cardigans or jackets over my shirt.

[celeste]

Mar 14, 2016 13:07:02 GMT -5 woowoo said:

The reason I like Limited's tops so much is that they can be washed and hung dry. I have a ton of beautiful tops from Jcrew and Nordstrom's but I hate having to get stuff dry cleaned (and I even get free dry cleaning at work).

I have about 2526 portofino shirts from Express...the sleeveless ones are super comfortable to wear all day in the summer, especially when commuting. I leave all my suit jackets at work and just wear cardigans or jackets over my shirt.

Yeah, machine washable is definitely a plus. And good call on leaving the blazer at work! I'll remember that if I get this job.

[tabithasoren]

I recently bought this top for under my black suit, and I really like it.

www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-sleeveless-contrast-trim-blouse?ID=1629868&CategoryID=255&LinkType=&selectedSize=#fn=BRAND%3DCalvin%20Klein%26sp%3D2%26spc%3D189%26ruleId%3D2|BS|BA%26slotId%3D105