Can I justify £115 for a blouse?

[Daughn]

Me+Em Swing blouse I bought a lovely cotton swing blouse in Monoprix when I was in France last year and the shape is lovely in this heat. I have been looking for one with short sleeves and a v neck and this is the only one I have been able to find. It's perfect but £115. I've tried searching using "cotton swing blouse" but nothing as perfect as this turns up. I am trying to rationalise it by thinking I will wear it a lot but can anyone suggest alternatives that are cotton, v-neck, short sleeve, and khaki colours? Up to £50.

@PlannedMove Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Wrap - some lovely clothes made from natural fibres - another brand to put on my list.

This thread has really been helpful and opened my eyes to other options.

Absolutely buy it if you love it.
its not my taste at all but if its your style go for it!

I’m moving house and repacking lots of old clothes and blankets from my childhood. Cotton was so much better in the 80s. You can still get it in other countries. India or Egypt for example

Poetry has a similar vibe: https://www.poetryfashion.co.uk/subcategory-POES-POESST/sale/shirts-tunics/index.htm

I'd buy it.
I am all for having a small number of clothes that all fit perfectly, are well made and from good fabric. Quick to dress in the morning and always feel good and confident.
I don't care about having loads of clothes, would much rather buy what I really like rather than compromise.

I love Me + Em blouses. I would say that I have had a couple of blouses (though usually the ones that are shirred) that have frayed sooner than I think reasonable for the cost. I still occasionally buy them if there's one I really like, but I tend to wait for the sale.

On another note, I think the Me and Em bashing thread is hilarious, because there is a world of difference between manmade fibres for cheapness and manmade fibres for other reasons, for example, reduction of creasing. But the thread appears to be populated by "experts" who are entirely unaware of the latter. My general experience of Me and Em is that their manmade fibres are not low quality - they tend to be for things like durability and wearability. When I am getting up and down all day in court, I really appreciate tailoring that doesn't crease (particularly as I am very crease-prone in any event).

That being said, Me and Em is, in my view, quite pricey for what it is. Not too pricey, but at the top of cost-per-wear to quality for me. Still have loads of it though.

Op i was coming on to envourage you to buy it. I, too, am a big fan of less clothes but buy what you love.

I have lots of me+em clothes - blouses, trousers & dresses & they are all fantastic quality.

I don't buy fast fashion or cheap clothes but i do love a good sales bargain if i can snaffle one

Wearing something beautiful makes you freel great & cheaper imitations just don't compare

I bought this blouse from Sezane two weeks ago: https://www.sezane.com/en-en/product/adam-blouse/placed-blue-embroidery-on-ecru-background#size-10

You've done the right thing OP. Enjoy.

Glad you decided to go for it. It's your money, there are people who would drop that amount on a few lines of coke. It's just a blouse, it'll do you no harm and make you happy 🙂.

I showed it to my DH who encouraged me to order it to try on.

thank you 🙏

Might go on sale in a week or two. £115 is a ludicrous amount for a cotton blouse really.
Silk yes, cotton no.
Have M&S got nothing similar? I feel like Jigsaw had these types of shirts as well, though Jigsaw can be pricey.

The aversion to anything other than 100% cotton, wool, or silk on mn s&b is farcical I agree.

If you love you should buy it. It's the price of a meal out for two and it will give you lots of pleasure. Clothes are so cheap. Even an "expensive" blouse like this is actually cheap.

what?

You an always return it

Oh...nice. I might be tempted.

Goodness me. Poetry is now looking like a Littlewoods catelogue.

This is it, in a nutshell. If it looks half as good on you as it does on that model, you love it, and you can afford to - even though it's a bit ££ - it would be a hard yes from me. An equivalent purchase for my wardrobe would be worn for many years to come and more than repay the investment.

OP, I'm glad you've decided to go for it. If you like it as much in the flesh, don't hesitate to keep it!

If you are after other tops in a similar shape, I did spot a few others (I know that I buy certain shapes on repeat if I really like them!).

This one is viscose with pintucks at the shoulders - maybe not a colour/pattern you like, but it's very well-priced. Out of stock in many sizes, but you can register for notifications if it comes back in stock.

https://www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/chocolate-brown-floral-short-sleeve-blouse-404699

Tan floral linen from We Are Kindred. It's more of a cropped loose-ish fit.

https://www.wolfandbadger.com/uk/rosalia-linen-relaxed-shirt/

Oliver Bonas has quite a few that are slightly boxy with some sort of pattern or embroidery etc, ie not plain. (I've no idea what the quality is like though, as I've never shopped there.)

This one is cotton.

https://www.oliverbonas.com/fashion/mocha-brown-cream-broderie-short-sleeve-shirt-406777

IBlues cotton loose & boxy floral one that is very well-reduced.

https://gb.iblues.it/p-7111286102001-iblabito-cream

That's a good option too. I've signed up for notifications in case my size comes back in stock.

I hope it's as nice on, OP. I love it, and none of the other suggestions come close.