The Hunt: The Best Machine-Washable Tops for Work
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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. Plus, when you’re a working mom, the focus often becomes machine washable clothes and kid-friendly fabrics and prints. In CorporetteMoms’ “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
A few weeks ago we rounded up modern blouses for under suits over at Corporette, and there were so many great machine washable options, I thought I’d round them up specially over here! What kind of shirts, blouses and tops do you like to wear the most — and do you gravitate towards them because they’re machine washable, easy-care, comfortable, or something else, like nursing- or pumping-friendly access?
Under $100: most below!- Plus Sizes: J.Crew Factory, Vince Camuto, Foxcroft, J.Crew
- Tall Sizes: New York & Co., Ann Taylor, ASOS, J.Jill
- Petite Sizes: New York & Co., Express,
- Maternity Sizes: Isabella Oliver, Loyal Hana, Loft, ASOS, H&M (don’t forget to check out our entire guide to maternity workwear!)
- Nursing-Friendly: Loyal Hana, Savi Mom, (don’t forget to check out posts on nursing clothes for working moms)
Under $100: most below!
This scalloped edge tee is indicative of an entire style that I’ll call “elevated t-shirt” and hands down is my favorite thing to wear to work, whether it be with blazers, cardigans, or more. It’s dressy and appropriate but also suuuuuuper easy. There are no buttons. There’s no ironing. If it’s slightly too tight, just give it a little yank. Admittedly, it’s time to retire the shirt from the workwear rotation when it’s lost its shape, has stains, or otherwise no longer looks crisp — but in my experience that happens many, many wears after the initial purchase. Talbots has a whole line of scalloped items right now that are really nice; this one comes in regular, petite, plus sizes, and plus-size petites and is $27-$35 today; also keep an eye for this style of elevated tee at the usual suspects like Ann Taylor, Loft, J.Crew, and Banana Republic. (If you’re a fan of neutrals check out our recently updated guide to white tops for work, including a ton of elevated tees like this…)
A synthetic popover blouse like this one is another reader favorite for a super easy top to wear to work — it’s usually fine without ironing (unlike similar silk options), but the fact that you don’t have to worry about gaping buttons or fussy collars makes it very versatile. The pictured top is from J.Crew Factory (and comes in multiple colors and prints right now for $19-$35); also check out these options from Hinge and Express.
Mixed media blouses can be the best of both worlds — they’re usually a polyester on the front and a jersey knit (like a t-shirt) on the back. They’re stretchier, and they wash well — but in my experience they look a bit worse for wear sooner, possibly because I’m more inclined to put them in the dryer (whereas with synthetic blouses I always just hang them up to air dry). The pictured one is $59 at Loft (and today they have a stacking promotion, where the more items you buy the higher your discount).
If you’re looking for easy-care blouses, don’t automatically discount the super traditional button-front dress shirts because many of them are machine washable and can look great with the right dryer/airdrying combination (15 minutes in the dryer to get the wrinkles out, then hang to dry). In my experience, the ones that are no-iron or have a high component of stretch works the best if you’re trying to iron your clothes less — the pictured one is from J.Crew, but also check out Brooks Brothers, Ann Taylor, Foxcroft, and Express. Another idea to consider here, particularly if you just want to layer a collar beneath dresses or sweaters: the dickey or collar. They’re making a comeback, with high and low end options to choose from.
Readers, how about you — what are your favorite machine-washable tops to wear to work like blouses, dress shirts, and elevated t-shirts?
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Sales of note for 9.10.24
(See all of the latest workwear sales at Corporette!)
- Ann Taylor – 30% off your purchase
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything + extra 20% off
- Boden – 15% off new styles
- Eloquii – $29 and up select styles; up to 50% off everything else
- J.Crew – Up to 50% off wear-to-work styles; extra 30% off sale styles
- J.Crew Factory – 40-60% off everything; extra 60% off clearance
- Lands’ End – 30% off full-price styles
- Loft – Extra 40% off sale styles
- Talbots – BOGO 50% everything, includes markdowns
- Target – Car-seat trade-in event through 9/28 — bring in an old car seat to get a 20% discount on other baby/toddler stuff.
- Zappos – 26,000+ women’s sale items! (check out these reader-favorite workwear brands on sale, and some of our favorite kids’ shoe brands on sale)
Kid/Family Sales
- Carter’s – Birthday sale, 40-50% off & extra 20% off select styles
- Hanna Andersson – Up to 50% off all baby; up to 40% off all Halloween
- J.Crew Crewcuts – Extra 30% off sale styles
- Old Navy – 40% off everything
- Target – BOGO 25% off select haircare, up to 25% off floor care items; up to 30% off indoor furniture up to 20% off TVs
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And — here are some of our latest threadjacks of interest – working mom questions asked by the commenters!
- The concept of “backup care” is so stupid…
- I need tips on managing employees in BigLaw who have to leave for daycare pickup…
- I’m thinking of leaning out to spend more time with my family – how can I find the perfect job for that?
- I’m now a SAHM and my husband needs to step up…
- How can I change my thinking to better recognize some of my husband’s contributions as important, like organizing the shed?
- What are your tips to having a good weekend with kids, especially with little kids? Do you have a set routine or plan?
I absolutely love the Angela wrap top from Amour Vert (true wrap, so you can use it for nursing). I do have to wear a cami under it. I have a very similar wrap top from Ann Taylor Factory, of all places, which is a true wrap but somehow perfectly draped on me and I don’t have to wear a cami underneath. Both machine washable, knit, and don’t need to be ironed.
I’d love any recommendations for machine washable cowl neck or draped neck tops.
Where do you buy work tops that are: 1) natural fabrics and 2) possibly cost less than $50? Loft has been my go-to for years now (with sales and discount codes) but it’s time to upgrade. I think I saw on the main board yesterday that I should try J Crew again?
Love the Boden Carey Top (also known as the Boden Gathered Neck Top at Nordstrom in solids). Washable silk blend. I have it in two colors and wear at least once a week.
Question for you moms.. my husband and I are not parents yet but planning to try soon. We both drive sedans and have two dogs so have been talking about upgrading one of our cars to a larger crossover or suv. Does anyone have advice around buying a car around babies? Should we try to get the expense and stress out the way pre-baby or wait post-kid and hope it’s in the budget. Maybe this isn’t even such a big deal, but I imagine car shopping on top of first baby stress is a lot. It would be my primary car for whatever that’s worth. Both of our current cars at 10 years old but running fine. We will just run out of space rapidly with dogs and kids.