Now and Forever Blouse 2.0, $175, available at Dai
The technical stretchy jersey fabric Dai uses in its Now and Forever Blouse is like nothing I’ve ever touched before. It’s super soft, perfectly smooth, breathable, and stretchy — it looks impeccable, and I wish more of my clothes were made from this fabric. The cut of the shirt is also unique with its wide, stiff cuffs that bell out gracefully and fold up nicely; the subtle black silk tie that you can wear any way you wish; and the classic blue and white color combination. It felt so comfortable when I put it on, I forgot I was wearing a fancy dress shirt.
I have two criticisms, though, one being the price, which is sky-high at $175, and the other being the length — this shirt is not made for petite women. The sleeves are about three inches too long on me, so I had to fold them up and the length is also too long even when tucked. In other words, petite sizing would be very, very welcome! —Malarie Gokey, Insider Picks senior editor
The Now and Forever Blouse is up there with Ministry of Supply’s Easier Than Silk button-up and MPG’s now sold-out Milano Technical Dress shirt for the best work shirts I own. And, to its credit, it’s readily available as well, while those other two fluctuate widely in inventory. It’s also considerably more stylish.
I wish it wasn’t $175, but if that’s not a deal-breaker for you, you should be really happy with the purchase. The stretchy technical jersey is supple and cool to the touch, and it drapes beautifully, plus it tucks into pants and skirts without adding bulk. The detachable bowtie, contrast cuffs and collar, and mother of pearl buttons are all great style upgrades to the classic office blouse. The back yoke panel and box pleat — combined with the stretchy jersey — create a better fit on my 5’7 frame than nearly all non-custom blouses I own. I often choose to wear it on days that end in happy hour because it translates well to after-hours.
All in all, it’s expensive, but if you choose to swing it, it’s likely to become a hero style in your work lineup. —Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter