Can anyone help with the holy grail of work blouses?

[dameofdilemma]

Really need some new blouses to wear with trousers to work and am struggling...

Needs to be:

• blouses rather than shirts - can't face the ironing but also find a thinner material tucks into trousers better for me.

• not see through, don't want to have to wear an extra layer underneath (why or why is so much stuff see through??)

• not block black/navy as have eczema and can be a bit flaky

• not crazy patterns or flowery or ruffly/ribbony/gypsy etc.

• must have sleeves (but not floaty/frilly) and a demure neckline.

• needs to be from somewhere that doesn't adopt vanity sizing (am short and a genuine size 6 on top).

Have successfully bought from Zara and Mango in past but am now struggling. Has anyone any tips?

And:

Doesn't gape at the bust, yet doesn't have tons of material in the small of my back.

Watching with interest!

I'm just going to park myself here as well as I'm seeking the same.

I have ended up with one, in peach, from tk max, by sheer fluke a year ago. Never found it again, despite fruitless searching. I have even taken to eBay.

Ok so I have (historically) bought two in Mango in black/white print. I think both would have appeared more see through if they'd been plain white.
I have one more shirt-like from French Connection in pin striped white/blue but I have to pin it to stop it gaping (and I'm small of chest).
And a flowery one that I don't love from Oasis (that I had to pin at the top as it was so low).

Am getting desperate!

H&M have some lovely ones in at the moment. Search long sleeved blouse on their website.

Have a look at banana republic (although may be too big for you), massimo dutti and esprit.

Hmmm. I don't know about an exact one as I don't wear them often myself, but my first thought was H&M, they always have a few different blouses when I look at the website.

I did look at H&M but they were either too shiny or crazy prints or see- through or oversized or stretchy/gappy. :(

BR and Espirit have come up too big in the past but will try them again. Hate shopping online as sizing is such an issue I end up returning lots.

Now Massimo Dutti there's a thought...did look over Summer but it was 'European beach look' but their Winter range is usually more office-y.

Uniqlo silk touch blouses / shirts - come in wide range of styles and block colours (no patterns I think)

Agree with Curragh. Uniqlo. I have them in black, white, navy and salmon. Can't beat them. Silky feel, long sleeves with cuffs, not voluminous - proper shirt cut rather than blouse iyswim.

Uniqlo sizing comes up generous imo, so work around that. I'm a size 8 and get their XS in everything.

I tried on a nice red one in Zara today but was wrap around and you need a camisole type top underneath

This one m.zara.com/uk/en/woman/tops/view-all/short-sleeve-crossed-front-blouse-c733890p4786504.html

I like asos: www.asos.com/prd/6267475

There's a couple of different styles (v neck or collared) - I have both styles, in black and lilac. Lovely chiffon-y material

Benetton can be good for small sizes.

I too am this work blouse wearer, OP. Zara, Hobbs, Uniqlo. Although broader around the beam at size 14-16 . M&S occasionally do the business. I go in there with a laser focus for white, cream, nude blouses silently screaming at the mad prints

I too need blouses but which skim my belly
I'm broader than I'd like

I feel the need to report back.

I ordered a couple from uniqlo off the back of this thread and they fit the bill perfectly!

So thank you!!