Reviews: Embroidered Thicket Blouse, Grown-In-The-Shade Top, Strewn Leaves Blouse


This is another beautiful shot from the December catalogue. It perfectly frames the neckline of Floreat’s Embroidered Thicket Blouse ($88).


Two things I immediately thought about this blouse: 1 – it’s cut for someone petite in stature; 2 – it’s cut for someone with a bust below a C cup. It’s not that I hated the top, I just felt like I was a 16-year-old trying to fit into my 12-year-old clothes. I tried on my true size 6 but discarded it almost immediately as too tight over the bust so I moved on to the 8. The photos are the 8.

The front of the blouse was pulling up due to my chest filling out the top more than it’s meant to be filled. There was strange puckering at the sides of the bust due to extra material yet it was still pretty tight directly over my bust. And the back was pretty loose. This top was not at all flattering on me. Complete whiff. See it on Kim here.


I moved on to good ol’ RicRac who always comes through. This is their Grown-In-The-Shade Top ($68), a black number with falling flowers all over it. As ever with RicRac I sized down to a small and it fit perfectly. There are two neckties on the shirt which I tucked in. The neckline is a mix of long layered thread with diamond knitwork over it.

Overall this top was great. I’d put a thermal under it, a vest over it and this would be my weekend wear. The jersey is pretty soft and I like the little pouf at the end of the sleeves. It’s like an old standby that’s there when you need it.


I thought this shirt was covered in tiny whales from far away. But Sanctuary’s Strewn Leaves Blouse ($88) is actually covered by tiny flowers. I scrunched my nose upon seeing the sleeves but they totally work on. And the cowlneck is great, just between underdone and overstated. I tried on the small which was a bit loose. So smaller ladies may find themselves sized out of this.

The length on this top is perfect. It hits my hip in just the right spot to create that long, even silhouette I want. The only thing I don’t like about this top is the exposed zipper that runs halfway down the back. That is one trend I want to send right back to whereever (or whenever) it came from.

2 Comments

  1. Stephanie
    December 17, 2009 / 1:27 am

    I had tried the RicRac top on a few weeks, I liked it but I don't think I would buy it at the price, I'm kinda ambivalent about it, it's a nice top though. I also saw Strewn Leaves Blouse, I'm not a fan of the exposed zipper either. I love your blog 🙂

  2. December 17, 2009 / 5:15 pm

    I really like that first blouse. I have been in need of some new blouses. I am a petite and I found some really nice blouses here.


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