topic Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses? in Fashion

Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

Greeneyedlady21 — Sun, 20 May 2018 17:42:12 GMT

I think they went away when suits became less popular for women. When workplaces became more casual.

I've been looking for one in black to go under an emerald green suit that has a rounded neckline and rounded lapels. The lapels have pleated detail on them, so the shell should be perfectly plain.

I'm talking about washable silk, poly, rayon, or blends. Short sleeve shells. When I worked at Marshalls many years ago they had racks full of them. They sold suits back then too.

I want short sleeve, not sleeveless. Sleeveless are more plentiful. Thinner and silky, for good fit under a jacket. You can layer those under so many things other than blazers or suits.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

ALRATIBA — Sun, 20 May 2018 17:59:20 GMT

@Greeneyedlady21

Check out one of SG's essentials items ... lots of colors.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

ECBG — Sun, 20 May 2018 18:04:39 GMT

Talbots has them. Also check Dillards. They sell quite a few suits in the Antonio Melani brand which is beautiful quality.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

StylishLady — Sun, 20 May 2018 18:10:12 GMT

I like them especially in leather. It's not easy to find them in colors beside black these days. Maybe next fall/winter.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

qbetzforreal — Sun, 20 May 2018 18:51:33 GMT

try penneys or sears

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

chrystaltree — Sun, 20 May 2018 19:25:32 GMT

The b&m stores like Neiman's and Saks might have what you are looking for but no one is calling them shells anymore. That comes from the 80's and perhaps that is why you cannot find what you are looking for.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

Greeneyedlady21 — Sun, 20 May 2018 19:59:42 GMT

@chrystaltree Yes they are still called shells, you can type that in Google and all kinds of sites still call them that. Cheaper sites, more expensive, and everything in between.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

VaBelle35 — Sun, 20 May 2018 20:26:39 GMT

You can find them in the lines for Calvin Klein, Ellen Tracy, Karl Lagerfeld, Nine West in the suit department at Lord & Taylor and other department stores who carry these lines.

I sometimes find them at Stein Mart and Marshalls.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

VaBelle35 — Sun, 20 May 2018 20:27:35 GMT

I still wear a suit for certain meetings and trips to our corporate HQ.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

BirkiLady — Sun, 20 May 2018 21:35:29 GMT

@Greeneyedlady21 I still wear suits to church in the winter months, to political meetings, funerals and weddings in cold weather. They are appropriate for so many situations. I like the Linea whisper knit short sleeve (round neckline) top if unable to find a good silk shell. Keep an eye out for his tops; he changes colors from year to year (black is a staple). Just purchased a couple of LDO's short sleeve tops (a deep red and a forest green) for this fall. Very well made, comfortable and classic styling.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

Regal Bee — Sun, 20 May 2018 22:13:33 GMT

Blouses are still out there but you have to really search for them.

I do online searches and still wear them to dressy events and church.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

ceekay — Sun, 20 May 2018 22:20:19 GMT

@Greeneyedlady21 I used to buy them many years ago (like 30) from a company called Royal Silk. I just googled and it appears they are still in business. Silk shells in many colors and about $45. They are machine washable although I always washed them by hand. I just gave them all away a couple of years ago (along with my suits). royalsilkusa

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

Andreatoo — Sun, 20 May 2018 22:30:43 GMT

In my vocabulary shells are sleeveless. As for blouses they seem to really be trending right now but I don't think you're going to find a lot on the Q since generally speaking they're woven and thus not stretchy and easy to fit

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

insomniac2 — Sun, 20 May 2018 22:59:44 GMT

This is a most valuable thread! I've worn shells for decades (I'm not a trendsetter): they are perfect for me. I too have been on the lookout.

I checked out the Susan Graver items someone referred to. Hers would do, but they remind me too much of T-shirts, and I'd rather have something smoother than a knit.

The person who mentioned Royal Silk, though. . .THANK YOU. Those look exquisite, and I'm sure they would feel wondrous. (This company still uses the word "shell" to describe what I'm looking for.)

Thank you to all who commented--and to the OP for bringing it up in the first place!

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

shoesnbags — Mon, 21 May 2018 00:00:58 GMT

@Andreatoo wrote:
In my vocabulary shells are sleeveless. As for blouses they seem to really be trending right now but I don't think you're going to find a lot on the Q since generally speaking they're woven and thus not stretchy and easy to fit

@Andreatoo

This is what I was thinking, too. I thought a "shell" was by definition sleeveless. Hmmm.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

Greeneyedlady21 — Mon, 21 May 2018 00:26:57 GMT

There is a term short sleeve shell. When they were popular for under suits sleeveless was not popular like it is now. Plus a working woman back then wasn't going to take off a blazer and wear sleeveless in a professional workplace.

I want short sleeves because my arms aren't in shape like they used to be. If I want to take the jacket off in hot weather I don't want sleeveless. In certain situations it's still not appropriate by my standards. Don't care what anyone else does.

I've found so many nice ones online-Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, etc. They're all sleeveless. I don't want something that looks like a t shirt. The Linea whisper knit shells I could find are all sleeveless too. Will check out that silk company.

Amazon doesn't even have any short sleeve shells or crew neck blouses that worked for me.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

sandy53 — Mon, 21 May 2018 01:10:43 GMT

I prefer sleeveless shells to wear under casual jackets and they are hard to find, too. I don't like tank tops because I prefer a higher crew neckline. This spring I finally just cut the sleeves out of a couple of long-sleeved white knit shirts and used those. It solved my problem for now. I know I can buy some online, so I will do that when I need more.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

Greeneyedlady21 — Mon, 21 May 2018 01:12:49 GMT

@BirkiLady I found the Linea short sleeve whisper knit top. Is it too warm for hot temps under a suit? Just for being outside for any length of time with no ac.

The suit is lightweight, it's a Le Suit that I got from Macy's for $55. I just have to get the skirt taken in.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

Kachina624 — Mon, 21 May 2018 02:05:29 GMT

They're still around but now they make them longer and call them tunics.

Re: Whatever Happened To Shell Tops/Blouses?

tototwo — Mon, 21 May 2018 12:07:37 GMT

Interesting.... to me, if they're sleeveless, they're called tanks. If they have short sleeves, they're called shells.

Back when I wore a suit to work every day, I bought my shells from Blair catalog. Durable silky, washable fabric in every color imaginable. I still have a few of them in my closet today. Is Blair is still around?