Hello Ladies,

A few weeks ago, former Saturday Spotlight Campbell & Kate were having a sample sale for some of the button-fronts from their initial product launch, and I was able to score one for $35 including shipping.  Since these shirts usually run upwards of $120, I was incredibly excited to find a wonderful deal.  For those of you not familiar with the brand, Campbell & Kate is the brainchild of Darlene Campbell, who also runs the fab blog Hourglassy.  With so many fashionistas and style gurus advocating the white button-front for its versatility and basic design, many busty women are left on the fashion fringe because no one designed tops with their unique needs in mind.  Darlene hopes to change all of this with her classic and classy designs, high quality fabrics, and sharp tailoring so that fuller-bust women have an option.

After providing Darlene with my measurements (40.5/41″-28″-41″), she recommended I try the 6L to give my bust enough room.  What can I say?  Darlene knows her product:

One of the buttons pulls a teensy bit, which I expected since my bust measurement is more in the 8L or even 10L range; however, the stress on the button does not cause the shirt to gape.  Compared to my former faves from J. Crew, the Campbell & Kate top has nearly double the buttons—all of which are arranged tighter together.  This close grouping means less stress is placed on any individual button by allowing the adjacent buttons to compensate for any pulling to keep the shirt closed.  Even from the side, you can see that I am still covered by the shirt.

Aside from the fit at the bust, I wouldn’t mind if the waist was slightly snugger, but Darlene mentioned that newer versions of the shirt are taken in more at the waist.  Furthermore, I love how the shirt does not pull at the shoulders, and the sleeve length is flattering.  Ordinarily I need to size up to find something that will button, so it is unusual for me to have the shoulders sit in the proper spot.  Also, I must have short arms because I always struggle with sleeve lengths that are too long for me, but this one fits comfortably.

The darts on the shirt work perfectly to tailor the fit to your body and shape, and I imagine they would also provide great framework for a seamstress if you still needed the waist taken in an inch or two.  Usually, I’m forced to tuck all my button-fronts into my skirts out of necessity, but my Campbell & Kate can be worn by itself without making me feel like I’m modelling a tent.  Even from the back, you can see the shirt really narrows at the waist:

Finally, I adore the feel of the fabric.  There’s a nice crispness to it, but the hand feels softer and more luxurious than many of the shirts I’ve tried in the past.  Since this is an expensive piece, I think it’s important to evaluate the quality, and I feel like I will have this top for years.  The stitching is precise and sturdy, and after wearing it, I don’t notice any problem areas.  Not to mention, the design is very classic.  There’s nothing edgy about this style, which works for me.  I think the classic element will ensure you can not only wear the top from year to year without it looking dated, but it also allows the shirt to blend effortlessly with your entire wardrobe.  Work, play, or weekend—this shirt does them all, which means you will drastically decrease the cost-per-wear within the first months of purchasing it. My only real quibble with the shirt is that I feel like the fabric is a touch sheer; however, this is a white shirt after all.

Overall, I would highly recommend Campbell & Kate shirts, and I hope that Darlene comes up with some new colors in the future too.

A Word from Darlene

As I mentioned, this is not one of their newer designs and is, in fact, from their first run.  As a result, Darlene has provided me with some additional information about the new style to include with the review.  First, they have taken in the waist more on the sizes to accommodate curves better, which I think is fantastic.  Second, the fabric has been changed to one with a sateen finish.  According to Darlene, this gives the fabric “more vertical than horizontal threads . . . [which creates] a nice surface luster that reflects light and looks more opaque.”  Check out her friend modelling the newer version:

This does decrease the crispness of the fabric somewhat, but the opacity is increased, which I think is a positive change.  If you’re in the market for a white button-front, please be sure to visit Campbell & Kate!

Erica

P.S.  I’ve worn mine like four times now and love it.  Yeah, I’ve basically worn it twice a week since I bought it because I love it that much!