And #WowOnWednesday
Dear friends. 2023 was the year I got shirty. In the UK, if you're shirty, you're fed up. But I'm using it in the sense of.....wearing shirts.
I have had a few shirts in my life of course, but in the last 10 years I stopped wearing them because they did me no favours. It turned out I was missing out, because shirts and blouses in soft and flowing fabrics are my friend.
First, let's discuss the difference between a shirt and a blouse.
Typically, blouses don't feature buttons that go all the way down their fronts, while a shirt does (I had no idea!). Additionally, the term "shirt" is non-gendered, while "blouse" typically refers to women's clothing. However, if my subject line was "Getting Blousey," that's another word with a different meaning in the UK!
Why I Took Against Shirts and Blouses
Most of the shirts I'd been wearing, which had buttons all down their fronts, were made of cotton or other stiff fabrics. I found I had to buy a bigger size to avoid "gapping" between buttons over the bust, and the rest of the shirt wasn't then fitted enough, plus I had a lot of bulk to tuck in.
Not a good look.
This all changed when I tried the Kettlewell Mandarin Spot blouse, which is in a lovely soft fabric, 100% Lenzing Viscose (good for the planet too). Well, a game changer! It's worn here in the summer, tied at the waist.
As someone with the Gamine style personality, I've always liked the idea of neat collars. I decided to try a couple of M&S's current satin shirts. This is the Satin Collared Blouson Sleeve Shirt (sold out) which attracted me for its bright green colour.
Below an all winter-white look, with pearls. The shirt is the M&S Satin Collared Long Sleeve Shirt in ivory, which is sold out in all sizes except 6 and 20 -24. There's a bit of gapping in the placket, unfortunately, which means I've been wearing it with a jumper over it. But I should be able to sort that with a hook and eye.
The chinos are also from M&S, jumper, old, from Asos. The recycled bead necklace came from @bijourebooted on Instagram.
M&S's sizing is all over the place at the moment. I had to size down to an 8, which is strange because usually I go for a 12 or 10 in their tops. The chinos, which also came from M&S, are a 10 but really I should have bought an 8. I honestly don't think it's me getting smaller.
Nothing was gifted for this post.
How do you find blouses and shirts? Do you like a crisp cotton shirt? Or do you prefer softer fabrics? Do let us know in the comments.
These are the fabulous sites I share my posts with.
There was no #WowOnWednesday last week, for which I apologise. I had an exceptionally busy week and normally I would have teed up a post in advance, but too much rain meant I hadn't taken any photos. I hope you'll forgive me as I rarely skip a week.
Let Me Entertain You
There'll be plenty to read at Is This Mutton over the festive period. Tomorrow it's the Tell Us About challenge - do pop back for that. On Christmas Day, no less, the Style Not Challenge gals are Dressing Up for December.
There will be a new Wow post next Wednesday, when I'll be looking at style hits and misses of the year, and plans for next year's fashion and beauty posts. On Friday 29th December I join the ladies of the southern hemisphere for a look back at December, and 2023. I'm also planning a fun Bloopers post for you.
Time to Link Up!
I hardly ever wear shirts. Btw, didn't know that there was a difference so thank you. But I do like a preppy look that often containes a shirt.
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