Dressing Room Diary – Soft Blouse Outfits
Happy Tuesday ladies. This is our last week in Vancouver before we head over to Vancouver Island, and it’s been a drizzly one. Luckily my shin is recovering so I’m still able to carefully explore the city. I stopped by Nordstrom yesterday and tried on a few new things that will easily transition to fall so today I have some soft blouse outfits with cozy sweaters and jeans.
If you’re new here, welcome. Dressing room diary is when I go into stores and try on new merchandise so you can see how it looks on a woman over 25. For reference, I am 5’4″ and am probably up a few holiday pounds from my usual 136. I’m an inverted triangle body shape with broad shoulders and straight hips. I have a long torso, high rise, long arms, and very few curves. I often wear one size larger on top than the bottom.
As always, you can click any red text link for more details and to shop for each item.
This blouse is a flowy piece you can wear out or tuck. With my broad shoulders, I am better off showing some waist definition or I just look blocky. It has a placket front and 3/4 length sleeves. It comes in 3 prints, sizes XS-XL, and runs large, so size down. This is M and it’s swimming on me.
These are the Marilyn NYDJ straight jeans. I’ve owned, worn, and loved this style jeans for years. With classic 5 pocket styling, a nice high rise, and lots of stretch, these jeans are great! They come in plenty of washes, including white, and are very flattering. They come in petite and regular but the petite has a slightly shorter rise, so I buy the regular and hem the legs shorter. These stretch so I always buy mine snug and go down one size.
Related-How to Shorten Your Jeans and Keep the Original Hem
For those who still love their skinny jeans, these Relaxed Skinnies by Kut From The Kloth are a great option. They have a nice high rise, a very dark wash, and tons of stretch. They’re more relaxed through the legs than most skinnies so you get the best of both worlds. They’re a super dark wash and are available in petite or regular, 00-14W. They run TTS (true to size).
The Puff sweater is the prettiest coral, and also comes in ivory. It’s not that flattering on my broad shoulders but will look great on women with narrow or average width shoulders.
*Another option to try if you want to ease into the straight leg leans areĀ these Sheri Slim jeans which are slimmer than a straight but not a tight as a skinny.
More soft blouse outfits
These slim-yet-slouchy boyfriend jeans are more feminine than many because they have a bit more shaping. The faded wash is fun for casual days and they’re really comfy. They have a 9 1/2″ rise which is mid on my long torso. With the cuffs on these jeans doing all they can to visually shorten the look of my leg, I tucked this blouse in to try to mitigate the cuff effect. They come in petite and regular and fit true to size. My cuffed jeans from J. Jill have a higher rise so help my legs look longer:)
The crepe blouse comes in 20 different prints, sizes XXS-XL and plus sizes here. I am wearing Peony Promenade in a small. These blouses are incredibly popular and are very easy-care.
These little cardigans are great pieces to wear now and later when the weather starts to cool down. The website often says sold out on these but they’re not so be sure to check the color and size you want. They’re available in 10 colors, XXS-14W. I’m wearing a small in heather grey and purchased the Titanic teal in XS so they run generously.
The square-necked striped tee seems to be sold out in black and white but is available in softer striped and solids. It runs small so I suggest you size it up. It has nice elbow-length sleeves and lots of stretch so it’s a great layering piece.
This bright cheery blouse is a popover style with a placket front and is quite roomy. It has 3/4 sleeves and a curved hem so you could wear it untucked but I prefer voluminous things belted or half-tucked to give me some waist definition.
This lightweight cardigan comes in regular and petite, (plus sizes here) in 7 great colors for now and fall. This burgundy color would look great over white jeans and a tee for now and also be fab in the fall. It’s very thin and lightweight but has a tiny bit of cashmere for extra softness. It runs true to size, I am wearing a small in regular.
The long steeve striped top is a tissue-weight layering piece, I would not wear it on its own but see it under lots of pieces going into fall. It also runs close to the body so size up.
This mock neck sweater comes in 5 colors, XXS -16W. The yarn is soft and cozy with a mix of stitches. I love the asymmetrical faux button seam up the front and uneven border. Each side of the front seam has a different type of stitching. It runs large so size down, I am wearing a small and it is roomy plus I folded the sleeve cuff up. It’s made with an eco soft blend that’s sustainably produced using pulp made from renewable wood sources.
These dark floral jeans are Marilyn by NYDJ, which fit like a dream. You can read more about the fit and what makes them one of my favorites, above.
Are flowy blouses part of your wardrobe?
Thanks for reading and remember to wear what makes you feel fabulous.
At first I didnāt like the bold orange multi color top untucked but tucked in it looks really good. I wear so much denim blue and chambray blue til I think it is a neutral for me. I have a friend who thinks red is a neutral for her.
I know when I pull a blue top it will go with every pair of pants I own. Do you feel that way about blue?
The first blouse looks gorgeous on you! I love it with your coloring, the glasses (coloring) and the earrings! I’d buy it in a heartbeat, but I wish it was about half the price. Nice post.
While I really enjoy your posts, it seems to me that the posts are targeted for those who are retired or working in a relaxed environment. I am still working full time in a somewhat conservative hospital setting. Any ideas for those of us? We need to stay hip, but business like.
Many of our lifestyles have gotten more casual cover the last year, so yes I am sharing more casual pieces but can also share more business looks if you need them
I really need to try on some of these NYDJ, especially the dark wash and the floral. Your hair looks shiny and so healthy in the pictures. Are you doing something different?
Love all you tried on. I really liked the stripe shirt and cardigan.
I do think all the jeans are super. Love the white mock sweater. Need to shop for a few flowy blouses with fall colors.
Glad you were able to get around better and enjoy some shopping.
The prints are so pretty, but some reviewers feel the fabric is too sheer on the curves 360 blouse. What did you think, Jennifer ?
I always wear nude lingerie and didn’t feel it was too sheer. The long sleeve Tee was very thin and sheer. I think it would depend on the pattern you chose and how dark the color
I need to buy some flowy blouses! They are pretty, and the printed ones seem to minimize my ample bust. I usually wear this type of blouse out so that the flowy properties can be seen and appreciated. I may need to buy the titanic blue sweater too. What a gorgeous color! You tempt me, Jennifer. Enjoy the rest of your vacation.
I hope you came home with the floral jeans. I wish the cardigans had NO wool. No matter how little I can tell. Ugh!
Jean shopping has always been stressful for me . Just like bra fittings I am very hard to fit. This spring I found a pair of Jeans I love from Talbots . I did feel good in them. Hope I actually wear them. I like the black and white boat neck shirt. Those printed jeans are pretty snazzy as well.
The orange puff sleeve sweater looks amazing on you! Your fair skin and light hair really go nicely with that color. I hope you will try to wear more color in your selections because it really is beautiful on you.
Thank you Anne:) I am experimenting with much more but I do prefer neutrals
I love NYDJ and have worn them for years. That floral pair is pretty.
I hope you bring some rain to the island. We were to get some Sunday but the tiny bit that fell hardly qualifies as rain. We are on water restrictions so no sprinklers just hand watering gardens. Enjoy your Island time, š
Thank you for showing some great looks! I must check out those Marilyn NYDJ jeans, as I’ve been looking for a great straight leg jean for awhile. By the way, I hope you have a really great time on Vancouver Island. It’s been my home now for the last 30 years and I love it. (I live just 30 minutes north of Victoria).
I’m a huge, huge fan of burgundy for fall! I even have two burgundy handbags.
Love the long cardi…
Enjoy Vancouver Island.
What a great selection of jeans ! I definitely need to get out and update. Iām looking at those Marilyn (deep navy blue wash) that youāre showing us and I think Iām going to purchase a black straight leg pair as well.
Need to get to some stores! Trying on is a must do!
I donāt own any flowy blouses except two really winters pieces from last year Anthropologie with some fall jewel colors and velvet touches. Theyāre pretty!
I hope youāre doing well:)
Wow,you really suit white,that sweater and floral jeans look great uo you! Your style choices really inspire me and I really like the looks you choose to try on. I know not all things would suit me but it gives me things to watch out for and maybe try on some different styles. Thank you .
Iām so glad you find inspiration!