The Find: A Moody Floral Blouse
Mar 12, 2020
When I started this blog 11 years ago, I was a junior Capitol Hill staffer. Most of my readers were also staffers. We we’re women who needed to dress professionally on limited budgets, so featuring affordable and mid-price fashions was imperative.
Recently, however, several of you have written in asking for suggestions for “investment” pieces. Over the years, these readers have changed fields, been promoted, or just decided that they would rather own fewer, better pieces. So from now on, the Tuesday Find will feature an item under-$100, and the Thursday post will feature a more expensive item.
This moody floral wrap blouse from Ted Baker is a stunner. I love the femininity of the print. The bishop sleeve is also a nice touch.
For a simple outfit, I would pair this with a slightly-snug midi pencil skirt and a pointed-toe heel. For something a little different, I would pair it with a light blue flare leg pant instead. The blue hue pulls from the flowers in the blouse.
Looking for a less-expensive version of this top? Try this Mango blouse or this Gibson blouse (also in petite and plus size).
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LOVE the Ted Baker blouse! Wishing it was silk. I can’t bring myself to spend that much on a item that is 100% polyester.
Agreed. For that price I’d hold out for natural fabric or a total showstopper I couldn’t find elsewhere. This is a decent dupe for the print, at half the price, and it’ll go on sale. In general, a wrap top in a print made in poly doesn’t strike me as an investment?
Maybe we could talk a bit about what we think of as true ‘investment, I’ll wear this constantly’ pieces at another time?
https://www.jcrew.com/p/womens_category/shirts_tops/blouse/open-vneck-top-in-midnight-dutch-floral/AC204?sale=true&color_name=black-med-flowers
I ordered an Oscar de la Renta dress last month for a wedding, it’s poly-blend. I’ve given up on natural fabrics.
Why have you given up on natural fabrics? Curious to hear more.
They’re too difficult to find, too expensive (usually) when you do, and the quality is not what it was before the ’08 recession. So I buy them when I can, but I’ve give up on hunting for them since even the top end designers are using blends and poly.
Loving the addition of this to the blog regularly. I was looking at my closet and realizing that I need to adjust my clothes to my stature, I’m no CEO but as my career progressed I’d like to move away from Anne Taylor sale stuff (which I am not knocking!) and more investment pieces. I’d love to find a great suit option, my banana, JCrew and Ann Taylor suits are predictable, I see the women leaders around me in more chic suits, but it’s hard to find suits that are unique but don’t make me look like Aunt Fanny went to church.
Have you looked at The Fold – I hold out for their sales and it is sooo pretty. Rebecca Taylor has a new suiting line (tailored). I’d also look at Boss, Reiss, and Hobbs as a solid step up from the other brands you mentioned. I also try on brands that are too $$ and then stalk them on final sale at Neiman Marcus/Nordstrom/etc. as you can sometimes find ‘lucky sizes’ if you already know you size (ie – St. John at 65% off is still $$$ but really beautiful and lasts and lasts).
Thank you! Holy moly the Reiss sale is amazing! Just bought myself a brand new suit 🙂
I will not pay good money for new poly fabrics and reward lazy sourcing and manufacturing behaviour. Poly is terrible for the environment and I do not think it is compatible with professional leadership any longer to buy it. Tencel, viscose are alternatives to silk and cotton being used by mid range brands in Australia (where I live) that are a better compromise. I make an exception for vintage poly as it already exists.