swasat
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2011 9:34:28 GMT -5
Posts: 3,735
|
Post by swasat on May 13, 2013 21:37:34 GMT -5
Is it just me who sees this or has most of the clothing in the market actually made mostly out of synthetics these days? Its almost summer and I have been shopping for office wear. Well, "trying" to shop would be a better phrase. Everywhere I look I see sleeveless tops made of out of some synthetic material? Hello?!?! Most of them are not even suited for office attire. They either have deep cleavage or deep arm holes or some floral print on them. I understand that its summer but who wears big red rose print blouse to office? I buy a lot of my office wear from Talbots and Ann Taylor. Same story there. Except for button down shirts I couldn't find any blouse that would look professional enough. What has happened to the clothing industry!! The material have degraded but the prices have increased. I am not paying $70 for a sleeveless Ann Taylor blouse made of polyester. Heck no! Ok, now that the rant is over, I need some suggestions. Where can I find "non-polyester" professional looking clothing? I don't need anything super formal, my office is categorized as business casual but everyone dresses pretty well. So I am looking for nice looking tops that look modern yet nice with pants and skirts. Any suggestion would be appreciated. I am quite the clothes horse so I don't mind spending $100-150 on a piece of clothing that fits really well.
|
|
chiver78
Administrator
Current Events Admin
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:04:45 GMT -5
Posts: 39,476
|
Post by chiver78 on May 13, 2013 21:50:03 GMT -5
I do! with plain trousers and a solid cardigan. the blouse is the accent (I hate scarves, pins, and pretty much anything else that might provide accents). just this past week, I picked up a top that I can only describe as "fluttery" in a hot fuschia - on clearance for ~$20. there were other colors on the non-clearance racks, but I'm cheap. fuschia works with my coloring, and the cut looks pretty good on me, so game on! I found my top online in black, holy crap! the regular price is $59?! linkall that said, Macy's is having a ridiculous clearance sale right now. I picked up (clearance) Nautica pj's for Mom AND a few tops for myself, and I still only spent $100. I've got one top I still might return, but the rest have all been de-tagged and run through the laundry already.
|
|
gooddecisions
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 22, 2010 13:42:28 GMT -5
Posts: 2,418
|
Post by gooddecisions on May 13, 2013 21:51:57 GMT -5
Good luck with that. I gave up on trends and now stick with button downs from Brooks Brothers. Not the best price, but I take care of them so they last. I basically look like these girls every day (the ones pictured in button downs and pants or pencil skirts): www.brooksbrothers.com/womens/shirts-blouses/0242,default,sc.html?lid=topnav-menu
|
|
whoisjohngalt
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:12:07 GMT -5
Posts: 9,140
|
Post by whoisjohngalt on May 13, 2013 22:11:34 GMT -5
Well, I wouldn't know since I haven't bought anything new since before my pre-pregnancy days. I am too cheap to buy stuff in my now-fat size, so I am waiting until I loose all the weight. I am sure by the time I am done all the clothing is going to be made only of the best materials in the most gorgeous styles.
|
|
chiver78
Administrator
Current Events Admin
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:04:45 GMT -5
Posts: 39,476
|
Post by chiver78 on May 13, 2013 22:21:13 GMT -5
Lena, I can't remember if you're one of those posters who refuses to shop at Walmart or not, please forgive my advice if that's the case. Walmart's "Faded Glory" brand includes a damn comfy line of zip-fly, trouser-cut yoga pants in a few different colors for $16/pair. I've got a pair of tan, one of charcoal grey, and a couple of black. the only caution I have is that you totally need to line/rack dry them as they will shrink vertically AND fade in color in the dryer. all of mine are currently falling off my ass by 9AM (I'm losing weight on purpose), but I'm not quite comfy yet in the next size down. I absolutely plan to re-up the stash in my closet for the next couple sizes.
|
|
whoisjohngalt
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:12:07 GMT -5
Posts: 9,140
|
Post by whoisjohngalt on May 13, 2013 22:25:04 GMT -5
Chiver, I LOOOVE me some Walmart, but why buy anything if I can wear my mom's pants and my maternity shirts, right? How are you loosing weight Are you doing any of those wonky diets like Paleo or what-not? Sorry Swasat, not trying to hijack your thread
|
|
susanb
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 21, 2012 14:16:56 GMT -5
Posts: 1,430
|
Post by susanb on May 13, 2013 22:37:05 GMT -5
I recently did a wardrobe update and found business casual and natural fibers at Theory and Anthropologie
|
|
Shooby
Senior Associate
Joined: Jan 17, 2013 0:32:36 GMT -5
Posts: 14,782
Mini-Profile Name Color: 1cf04f
|
Post by Shooby on May 14, 2013 6:28:25 GMT -5
I HATE clothes shopping. It is my least favorite thing EVER. I would love a store where i could walk in and just buy a complete outfit from head to toe including purse and shoes and it was all matched and coordinated for me and i could just buy it as is. Sort of Garanimals for adults.
|
|
zibazinski
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 24, 2010 16:12:50 GMT -5
Posts: 47,910
|
Post by zibazinski on May 14, 2013 6:34:47 GMT -5
Macy's has a section where I just bought plain white and black shells for 20 bucks apiece. I bought 4 of them because its taken me years to find these.
|
|
busymom
Distinguished Associate
Why is the rum always gone? Oh...that's why.
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 21:09:36 GMT -5
Posts: 29,220
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/IPauJ5.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0D317F
Mini-Profile Text Color: 0D317F
|
Post by busymom on May 14, 2013 6:41:20 GMT -5
It is VERY hard to find business appropriate clothes these days without spending a lot of money. I don't want to show cleavage (or butt cleavage). But the current "fashion" trends make it difficult to have that "polished" business look.
|
|
wvugurl26
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 15:25:30 GMT -5
Posts: 21,879
|
Post by wvugurl26 on May 14, 2013 6:48:06 GMT -5
I buy a lot of stuff at Banana Republic.
|
|
mmhmm
Administrator
It's a great pity the right of free speech isn't based on the obligation to say something sensible.
Joined: Dec 25, 2010 18:13:34 GMT -5
Posts: 31,770
Today's Mood: Saddened by Events
Location: Memory Lane
Favorite Drink: Water
|
Post by mmhmm on May 14, 2013 6:52:23 GMT -5
You might take a look at Travel Smith online. They've got some nice, conservative tops that aren't made of slimy stuff. They're not cheap, but they're not horribly expensive, either. Here's a link: Travel Smith
Another place you might try is L. L. Bean. They have some lovely washable linens. L. L. Bean
|
|
skubikky
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 7:37:12 GMT -5
Posts: 3,044
|
Post by skubikky on May 14, 2013 7:23:20 GMT -5
I recently did a wardrobe update and found business casual and natural fibers at Theory and Anthropologie Found a beautiful fitted long sleeve black button Theory blouse at Marshall's for $69, tag on it was $265! The fit is magnificent.
|
|
michelyn8
Familiar Member
Joined: Jul 25, 2012 6:48:24 GMT -5
Posts: 926
|
Post by michelyn8 on May 14, 2013 7:25:23 GMT -5
Is it just me who sees this or has most of the clothing in the market actually made mostly out of synthetics these days? Its almost summer and I have been shopping for office wear. Well, "trying" to shop would be a better phrase. Everywhere I look I see sleeveless tops made of out of some synthetic material? Hello?!?! Most of them are not even suited for office attire. They either have deep cleavage or deep arm holes or some floral print on them. I understand that its summer but who wears big red rose print blouse to office? I buy a lot of my office wear from Talbots and Ann Taylor. Same story there. Except for button down shirts I couldn't find any blouse that would look professional enough. What has happened to the clothing industry!! The material have degraded but the prices have increased. I am not paying $70 for a sleeveless Ann Taylor blouse made of polyester. Heck no! Ok, now that the rant is over, I need some suggestions. Where can I find "non-polyester" professional looking clothing? I don't need anything super formal, my office is categorized as business casual but everyone dresses pretty well. So I am looking for nice looking tops that look modern yet nice with pants and skirts. Any suggestion would be appreciated. I am quite the clothes horse so I don't mind spending $100-150 on a piece of clothing that fits really well. I don't remember what industry you're in but unless its one of the really conservative ones, the print blouse would be totally appropriate as office wear when paired with the right skirt or pants. For me, it would be the type of prints I'd be leery of because I'm cautious how much attention I draw to myself. I can't offer any suggestions on where to find clothes in better materials, but I definately feel your pain. This has been an issue I've had with retailers for over a decade. Both of my daughters had body odor issues in their early teens (changes in hormones are such a joy to deal with) and it seemed like everything we'd find in the stores for warm weather wear were synthetic materials that didn't breathe. Not to mention, the kind of synthetic that would be itchy too. It has always been a hunt to find something that wasn't polyester that they'd like and I'd agree was appropriate. I'm fortunate that I can wear pullovers/t-shirts to work (construction office) or I'd be utterly miserable getting dressed every morning. Nowadays, I'm just bored with my wardrobe because everything I like seems like it'd be a bit to young for me and stuff suited to my age is never available in my size. I'd be in heaven if Lane Bryant ever started carrying sizes for those of us on the low end of the size charts. I've always loved the styles they carry but I'm not willing to put on the weight necessary to fit into them.
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 14, 2013 7:50:46 GMT -5
And for solid tanks, tees, camis, etc., I go to Old Navy. They're cheap and I get new ones next year.
|
|
michelyn8
Familiar Member
Joined: Jul 25, 2012 6:48:24 GMT -5
Posts: 926
|
Post by michelyn8 on May 14, 2013 7:57:42 GMT -5
And for solid tanks, tees, camis, etc., I go to Old Navy. They're cheap and I get new ones next year. Old Navy is good for light weight cardigans in the latest cut too. Those with a tank or t-shirt are a main staple in my work wardrobe.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 2:16:12 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2013 8:16:31 GMT -5
I do! with plain trousers and a solid cardigan. the blouse is the accent (I hate scarves, pins, and pretty much anything else that might provide accents). just this past week, I picked up a top that I can only describe as "fluttery" in a hot fuschia - on clearance for ~$20. there were other colors on the non-clearance racks, but I'm cheap. fuschia works with my coloring, and the cut looks pretty good on me, so game on! I found my top online in black, holy crap! the regular price is $59?! linkall that said, Macy's is having a ridiculous clearance sale right now. I picked up (clearance) Nautica pj's for Mom AND a few tops for myself, and I still only spent $100. I've got one top I still might return, but the rest have all been de-tagged and run through the laundry already. me too....with jeans and a cardigan....or, in the summer, with capris and a cardigan. honestly I think solid color button-downs make you look like you work at IBM unless they're a funky color and are paired with a print skirt. what field are you in?
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 14, 2013 8:18:16 GMT -5
I don't think I own a solid button down shirt................
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 2:16:12 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2013 8:24:42 GMT -5
I don't think I own a solid button down shirt................ I know I don't.....way too hard to find out that fits right....
|
|
chiver78
Administrator
Current Events Admin
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:04:45 GMT -5
Posts: 39,476
|
Post by chiver78 on May 14, 2013 8:36:29 GMT -5
singlemom - I'm in biotech, on the facilities/E&C side of things. some days I'm in meetings, some days I'm holed up in my cube working on code, some days I'm crawling around HVAC ductwork. my wardrobe needs to be able to accommodate all of that. today, I'm wearing an Old Navy "favorite" sweater, jeans and ballet flats. my steel-toe boots live in the trunk of my car, just in case. lena - right now, I'm still trying to straighten out my system after a nasty bout of food poisoning a couple weeks back. I haven't gone all-in on Paleo or any other restrictive diets, but I am limiting my intake of processed crap as well as reducing the overall amount of dairy in my diet. mich - if you like the styles of Lane Bryant, have you ever checked out The Limited? they used to be under the same corporate head, but I think LB spun off awhile back. back when I worked at Structure (now "Express Men") I would buy my brand-loyal stuff in there. it was much more modest than Express, and still looks to be when I walk by the stores in the mall. I've got another size to go before I can go back there myself, but I'll get there.
|
|
swasat
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 13, 2011 9:34:28 GMT -5
Posts: 3,735
|
Post by swasat on May 14, 2013 8:40:36 GMT -5
I am an IT manager in a big financial organisation. In general financial organizations tend to be more conservatively dressed. I see lots of prints around but nothing like rose print or flora or fauna prints on shirts or skirts. Prints can be fun, but they don't have to be loud. And I hate wearing a sweater, any sweater, in summer time.
I have plenty of button down shirts, both in solids and in prints. I love the cut and feel of Talbots shirts. What I am looking for is blouses and tops that look smart and fit well.
I guess I'll track down a Theory or Anthropologie store and try the clothes.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 6, 2024 2:16:12 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2013 8:41:05 GMT -5
singlemom - I'm in biotech, on the facilities/E&C side of things. some days I'm in meetings, some days I'm holed up in my cube working on code, some days I'm crawling around HVAC ductwork. my wardrobe needs to be able to accommodate all of that. today, I'm wearing an Old Navy "favorite" sweater, jeans and ballet flats. my steel-toe boots live in the trunk of my car, just in case. lena - right now, I'm still trying to straighten out my system after a nasty bout of food poisoning a couple weeks back. I haven't gone all-in on Paleo or any other restrictive diets, but I am limiting my intake of processed crap as well as reducing the overall amount of dairy in my diet. mich - if you like the styles of Lane Bryant, have you ever checked out The Limited? they used to be under the same corporate head, but I think LB spun off awhile back. back when I worked at Structure (now "Express Men") I would buy my brand-loyal stuff in there. it was much more modest than Express, and still looks to be when I walk by the stores in the mall. I've got another size to go before I can go back there myself, but I'll get there. I was actually asking swsat what field she was in.....since she said a rose print shell is not work appropriate for her.
|
|
kittensaver
Junior Associate
We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
Posts: 7,983
|
Post by kittensaver on May 14, 2013 8:46:14 GMT -5
I HATE clothes shopping. It is my least favorite thing EVER. I would love a store where i could walk in and just buy a complete outfit from head to toe including purse and shoes and it was all matched and coordinated for me and i could just buy it as is. Sort of Garanimals for adults. If you have money to burn, the personal shoppers at Nordstrom will do this for you!
|
|
swamp
Community Leader
THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 16:03:22 GMT -5
Posts: 45,617
|
Post by swamp on May 14, 2013 8:49:08 GMT -5
I buy neutral bottoms and jackets, and then have assorted shirts in fun prints, so just about everything in my closet will go with everything else.
|
|
chiver78
Administrator
Current Events Admin
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:04:45 GMT -5
Posts: 39,476
|
Post by chiver78 on May 14, 2013 8:51:09 GMT -5
I was actually asking swsat what field she was in.....since she said a rose print shell is not work appropriate for her. ah, you quoted me so I assumed.....my bad.
|
|
kittensaver
Junior Associate
We cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love. - Mother Teresa
Joined: Nov 22, 2011 16:16:36 GMT -5
Posts: 7,983
|
Post by kittensaver on May 14, 2013 9:11:03 GMT -5
J Jill has some nice cotton and linen blouses.
|
|
constanz22
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 14:32:17 GMT -5
Posts: 4,219
|
Post by constanz22 on May 14, 2013 9:45:00 GMT -5
I don't think I own a solid button down shirt................ I know I don't.....way too hard to find out that fits right.... The board just ate my post....ugh... NO button down's for me EVER. I've got a larger chest and have never found one to fit right. They are either too tight, and pull open or if they are bigger then they look too big and boxy. Not my style at all, so I avoid them. Last summer I had to buy almost all new summer clothes after losing 20 pounds. I luckily have a pretty casual work environment, but I found a lot at Loft, after some people here recommended it. They were a little more expensive than I normally spend, but I liked what I got and the items seemed to hold up well. I usually do well with a couple of the lines at Kohls too. Sonoma pants fir pretty well, and I like the apt.9 stuff. Unfortunately, I gained everything back over the winter and got rid of 90% of my "fat" clothes and refuse to pay money for new stuff but can't wear most of what I have. I've been buying a few things on clearance and second-hand to get me through and am starting back on WW to lose at least some of what I gained.
|
|
chiver78
Administrator
Current Events Admin
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:04:45 GMT -5
Posts: 39,476
|
Post by chiver78 on May 14, 2013 9:52:47 GMT -5
constanz, the majority of the clothes that are waiting for me when I get back to "my" size are button-downs. I also have a larger chest than designers think I should, so what I do is buy the button-down to fit everything else, and layer a tank top underneath that one of the colors in the button-down pattern. I usually can't close the top couple buttons, but it doesn't look boxy either. just a suggestion oh, and I hear you on not wanting to spend $ while you're losing. in case you didn't see my other post, Macy's is having a ridiculous clearance sale right now. if you don't mind pawing through sale racks, there are some great deals.
|
|
muttleynfelix
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 15:32:52 GMT -5
Posts: 9,406
|
Post by muttleynfelix on May 14, 2013 10:13:42 GMT -5
I ditched all my button downs a year and a half ago. After I had DS none of them fit and I said forget it. I gave them to my mom and sister who both have a smaller chest than I do (and are just smaller in general. My sister didn't really need any of them. My mom probably gave most of them away, but I don't care. I was done with them. I struggle with clothes. Especially in the summer. I'm just going to be stuck with what I have for now I guess.
|
|
Tiny
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 21:22:34 GMT -5
Posts: 13,488
|
Post by Tiny on May 14, 2013 10:19:36 GMT -5
Just a point on the t-shirts/or t-shirts as a shell - available - Old Navy has lots of color choices but I found that the t-shirts are tissue paper thin so good for layering OR good for when I'm ok with 'showing off' my bra and tattoos (totally inappropriate for work). I've found 'thicker' cotton t-shirts/shells in solids and patterns at Kohl's, Sears, WalMart, and Target. They tend to have a variety of necklines - v-neck, high round, and alittle wider/lower falling round and usually can be had on sale for $8.00 and under. If you can't find what you want at LL Bean - Lands End has very similiar clothing - they too have t-shirts in various styles, shapes, and lengths.
|
|