My Kind of White Shirt
Well, cream actually. This is one of the two Babette shirts I came home with last week. I’ve always loved the idea of a white, button-front shirt, but have never found one that looked good on me, until now. I think my shirt is the cream version of this one:
This blouse can be worn with the collar either up or open. It also works under a jacket or cardigan, and will be a great option for dressing up a bit for dinner in Italy or Paris.
I also picked up the taupe/tan tunic shirt from the top picture in yesterday’s post. I lost the light before I could snap this pic, so color is pretty funky.
I love it with the palazzo pants! This top could go either casual or dressy, depending on what it’s paired with.
Thanks so much to Susan Tiner, who posted a link to this fabulous video in comments yesterday, showing the intricate and labor-intensive pleating techniques used in Babette’s designs. The workmanship is just amazing!
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The white shirt is very, very nice: flattering, versatile, and looks as if it will be a perfect travel piece. Good buy. I’ll have to bookmark this and see if I can find one when I get back. Off to Venice this afternoon!
Enjoy your trip. You’ve added a great deal of enjoyment to my own planning.
Cheers.
Marie
Palazzo pants are one of my favourite ever styles (kind of a uniform for me) and I’m sure you’ll love traveling in your ensemble. Fun to see you discover the line and embrace ‘your’ perfect pieces.
i love that taupy-brown one! the color looks so good with black.
the white one’s nice, too. interesting fabric.
Rocking! I can’t wear button downs either, thanks to the bosom, but when I do find 3/4 placket or pleated styles, I snatch them up. The pleats or crinkles FLOW so beautifully. You look awesome. Do tell what those terrific black flats you’re wearing are!
That’s a gem Deja Pseu…
It looks very travel friendly too.
I can visualize this for a casual oufit and then dressed up…a winner!
what a great line of clothing, thank you for the introduction.
Hostess
Both of your Babette selections are lovely on you Pseu. I can’t do the traditional white shirt any longer but the cream one you are wearing is a excellent substitute. Thank you for reminding me of this excellent brand. Next time I’m in the Bay Area I will certainly visit a boutique carrying her line.
Love the white blouse. Interesting fabric, and such a smooth fit up front. Great finds, both of them!
Well done, Pseu! Those pieces are going to work splendidly on the road and at home.
The white shirt is definitely a hit! It’s not only the shape but also the right size that make it so great.
The tunic though is not so flattering, at least not paired with the pants and flats. Both the tunic and pants are loose and they visually create a wider figure. I would try it tucked into a pencil skirt.
Great blog, I bookmarked it.
I love this look and the pants are great! The blouse is very flattering! This is an effortless, chic style!
That’s one of the prettiest white blouses I’ve ever seen. Wonderful!
Very nice! A white shirt with a twist. It looks very travel-able, and extremely versatile. I have checked out the Babette site and too bad they are not selling online!
Hello:
One can never have too many white or cream shirts – formal, tailored, casual, open, buttoned – there is always an occasion.
It looks like the white blouse doesn’t do that button gaping thing. Faboo.
Love your white (off white/cream!) shirt – looks great! X
Love, love, love the white blouse, so flattering! I’m not so sure about the tan tunic with the pants, but might like it with an Eileen Fisher pencil skirt.
Pretty blouse! Looks great on you.
Wow squared! You look fantastic in that blouse. And it looks exactly as I pictured it looking on you. Very flattering.
I am glad you like the video link!
Really like the shirt shame Babettes is not available in the UK. Some of the trousers were great shapes.
You look fabulous! I loveloveLOVE the white shirt in particular.
Sooo perfect on you!
That’s interesting how they pleat thing fabric.
The blouse is very flattering to you!
This is a most excellent white blouse! Of all wardrobe basics, I think that one is the trickiest of all.
Excellent white blouse! I really like Babette — the line reminds me of CP Shades, another California line that is sadly defunct. Everything stylish, washable (most things were rayon) and the fabric was textured in a similar wrinkly way.
I agree also with Duchesse that palazzo pants are a great look, if the fabric is right (and if your ankles are slim — a bonus!) — the eye just needs to adjust.
I also agree that the quality of the Babette poly is high, but it IS poly nevertheless, and sometimes poly tops can get “pitted out” — forgive my crudeness. That’s why I doubly miss CP shades, because you don’t have that problem with rayon. On the other hand, a white shirt is not meant to last forever.
Pam – thanks! I was so happy to find this shirt!
Splurgie – thank you!
Marie – ooh, I hope you’re having a *wonderful* time in Venice!!
Duchesse – I love palazzo pants too and haven’t worn in ages. I think in some ways they can be more elegant than a pair of straight-leg, tailored pants.
Style Odyssey – thanks! I love this color with black too!
Jane and Lance Hattatt – I’m beginning to see the light. And I’ll bet there will be more Babette white shirts in my future…
Kady – It doesn’t! Which seems like nothing short of a miracle.
dana – this shirt accommodates the bust without being too big everywhere else. It’s amazing!
Hostess – thank you, and you’re very welcome! Hope you find some nice pieces in Seattle.
laurieann – I’d given up on a blouses too until I found this one. Definitely worth checking out next time you’re in the vicinity of one of their boutiques!
Sue – thank you, and I’m thrilled to have found them!
Susan Tiner – thank you, and thanks so much for posting that video; it’s really wonderful to see the process!
Chicatanyage – that’s a shame the line isn’t available in the UK. More reason to come visit us here!
Fritinancy – thanks so much, and many thanks again for introducing me to Babette clothing!
Jane W – thanks so much!
Sandra – thanks! The tunic definitely has a boxier fit. I might try with my pencil skirt, though not tucked in (doesn’t work with my large bust/short waist combo). Glad you enjoy the blog!
Patti@NotDeadYet – Thank you! Having tried on several pieces, I understand why they prefer to sell the pieces “in person.” It’s hard to tell from the pictures how something will fit, and items I initially thought would be all wrong turned out to be the best fits. But it does make it tougher for people who don’t live near one of their sales points.
Semi Expat – thanks so much!
RoseAG – having done some work with fabric (batik, sewing, sculpture) in the past I found the process utterly fascinating. Thank you!
Kathy – thanks! I will definitely try the tunic with the EF pencil skirt.
WendyB – thanks!
Marieanne – thank you! That cream shirt is definitely a winner.
Terri – thanks! It is a tricky piece and I’d given up until I tried this one.
Sisty – thank you! That name sounds familiar, but can’t picture any of their designs. I do love rayon. But this poly is a whole different animal from the sweaty fabric of yore. And I love the look of palazzo pants, even on short me. I think the trick is to keep the top fitted. Noted about “the pits,” will try to be careful.
I LOVE this collection… and I’m so annoyed that there are no stores up here in Vancouver, (which I find really crazy, since it’s such perfect styling for the west coast, so relaxed and earthy…)
Katriona – they do in Seattle though, if you ever venture that way…
I´m terribly late commenting on this post, but I r e a l l y like your cream shirt. Lovely!
Looks great on you and what a perfect traveling piece as well.
Don’t know if you’ve ever tried the Komarov line (Nordstrom carries it)?
Same concept as Babette re: the pleating, but often her styles are more fitted (in a skimming way!). You might want to add it to your list to check out. Looks like she’s moved into jersey too since last I looked….
I have two dresses from the line — both for weddings that required lots of travel — and they came out looking as good as when they went in.
The designer started off doing costumes for the ballet, so she understands how movement and flow matters. I will say that some of the prints and/or items with multiple materials can be a bit…much, ha!
http://tinyurl.com/Komarov-at-Nordstrom
metscan – thank you! Your compliment means so much!
Vix – that’s an interesting line too. Some of those dresses would be great for weddings or other summer parties!
And you never have to iron it! Mega bonus!
i so love the look and style of babette, too! one teeny note of warning, however..i have noticed that the fabric reacts to the body in a way that um, retains an odd mixture of odors. and due to that, i find i am not wearing her shirts as often as the design of them would otherwise dictate..