Women's Shirts Buying Guide

Women's shirts buying tips

Style: Trendy and classic women's blouses are available in a multitude of styles. Women's long sleeve shirts include dress shirts with elegant sheer sleeves or comfortable knit tops for cool weather. A long sleeve tee shirt is an essential layering piece. Expand your style options with women's short sleeve shirts featuring a 1/2-length sleeve, 3/4-length sleeve or cap sleeve (also called a flutter sleeve). Browse Overstock.com's selection of appealing women's sleeveless shirts for warm weather tank tops or flirtatious babydoll blouses. We even have tailored sleeveless shirts to wear alone or pair with a jacket. Casual clothing options include colorful print women's t-shirts, halter tops, and all-American polo shirts. Of course, no single system will fit every woman, so we also offer fashionable juniors shirts, plus size shirts, and petite shirts, carefully proportioned to fit differing body types.

Necklines: Women's dress shirts generally have a collar and are often tailored; this is the traditional style for career clothing. Pointed, angular collars flatter a short neck or round face while round collars soften a long face. For a universally flattering style, choose a V-neck shirt. The V-neck, on a collared blouse, halter or a tee shirt, will compliment long or short necks and all bustlines. Rounded necklines include the crewneck (which comes right to the base of the neck) is popular for tee shirts and sweat shirts. The scoop is similar to, but wider and deeper than, the crew neck. The boatneck forms a horizontal line from shoulder to shoulder. A turtleneck, with its fitted 2-inch to 3-inch fold over the neck, is a great for layering under a blouse or jacket. So, which us the right neckline for your shirt? The one you like and are most comfortable wearing.

Women's shirts components

Carefully consider fabric when choosing a new shirt. Fabric and weave affect the style, formality, fit and care of your clothing. To assist your shopping, every Overstock.com clothing description includes the fabrics.

• Cotton: A natural fiber that is most often used in making shirts, it is also popular for summer casual clothes. Cotton oxford or broadcloth is often used in tailored dress shirts.
• Crepe: A lightweight woven fabric with a crinkled texture; often woven from silk or rayon.
• Crepe de Chine: A fine, often sheer, crepe fabric. Shirts made with silk crepe de chine have a graceful, loose drape.
• Knit: A fabric made from only one set of yarns that all run the same direction. Knit fabrics have a slightly bumpy texture and are a good choice for casual or career clothing.
• Linen: A natural fiber produced from the stem of the flax plant. Stronger, stiffer and more lustrous than cotton, it is resistant to deterioration. Linen cloth wrinkles easily, requiring more maintenance than cotton. Linen is the classic fabric of summer.
• Poplin: A finely corded fabric with a ribbed texture. Silk and cotton poplins are popular fabrics for shirts.
• Satin: A fabric with a glossy finish and a slick texture; can be woven from silk or synthetics.
• Silk: The finest natural fabric, nothing comes close in luster, warmth, strength or durability. Silk is also more expensive and more difficult to maintain than other materials. Silk is a popular fabric choice for dressy blouses, suits and designer clothes.
• Acrylic, Nylon, Polyester, Rayon: Synthetic fibers, which are easier to clean, but lack the durability or appearance of wool or cotton; natural/synthetic blends show off the best of both worlds.

Women's shirts terminology

• Babydoll: A shirt that is modeled on a popular negligee style. The babydoll has a flowing blouse that hangs from the neckline or upper bodice.
• Bodice: The section of a shirt or dress that fits over the bust and torso.
• Cap Sleeve: A very short sleeve intended to cover the shoulder and a small section of the upper arm.
• Collar: The section of a shirt or dress that encircles the neck. The shirt collar often folds or rolls to show distinct points.
• Empire Waist: A waistline, often banded, of a blouse or dress that fits just under the bust instead of at the natural waist.
• Flutter Sleeve: A flowing piece of fabric that covers the shoulder and a small part of the upper arm, but not the under section of the arm.
• Halter Top: A neckline formed of two straps of fabric that are set at the waist or bust and fasten behind the neck. The halter is a popular design element in casual women's shirts and evening dresses with plunging necklines.
• Peplum: The flared band of fabric at the hem of fitted women's blouses or jackets that covers the top of pants or a skirt.
• Ruching: The gathered section of a garment that forms a softly pleated drape in the fabric. Ruching often emphasizes the waist, bodice seams or bust of a shirt.
• Shirring: A decorative detail that uses parallel stitching to gather fabric.
• Strapless: A shirt style that lacks both sleeves and straps.
• Wrap Shirt: A shirt that fits by wrapping around the body and crossing in front to close. The wrap shirt is often secured with ties and features a deep V neckline.
• Yoke: The fabric placed at the back shoulders of a shirt that connects the collar, sleeves, front pieces and back pieces together.

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