Have you heard of The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens? After years of dealing with shirts gaping at the bust and needing safety pins to keep it closed, Rochelle Behrens designed The Shirt and it soon became one of Oprah's must-have items, Behrens was profiled in the New York Times, and Inc. included her in their 30 Under 30 list. In the WO2 Community, Lisa asked about The Shirt. I decided to order two different styles of The Shirt and provide an unbiased The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens review.
For reference, I am 44 years old, 5'3" tall, a 36F chest, and in shirts and dresses, I usually wear a Large or 14, petite when available. I lift weights which gives me broader shoulders but thinned my arms from when I was a non-lifting size 14.
What Makes The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens Unique?
The Shirt has a very detailed size guide; it's a good idea to look at the chart and choose a size based on your measurements, not what size you usually wear in other brands. Based on the size chart, I wasn't sure if I was an XXL/16 or an XL/14 so I ordered both. For this review, I ordered The Short Sleeve Shirt in Black, size XXL and The Icon Shirt in Black Floral, size XL. My order arrived promptly via UPS in a brown paper mailer, each shirt carefully folded in a cellophane bag.
The fabric of The Shirt is excellent - a subtle sheen, tight weave, just the right hint of stretch for comfort and fit without clinging or losing a professional effect. On both shirts the buttons were black. Even with stretch, these are crisp shirts that will look polished tucked or untucked, buttoned up or the neck open, sleeves down or rolled up.
What makes The Shirt unique is the double-layer placket down the front. Between the traditional buttons, there is a smaller button that has a buttonhole only go through the bottom layer of the placket. This keeps the shirt closed even across the bust while maintaining a classic shirt effect. The Shirt patented this No-Gape Button Technology and I must say it's pretty brilliant.
How Does The Short Sleeve Shirt Fit?
Lisa specifically asked about this style of The Shirt. She noticed in the promotional photo for it that the sleeve was quite snug on the slim model. She wondered if that was styling/pinning it for a slim fit or if the shirt sleeve was truly that snug. As someone who has always had arms a bit snug in shirts, I chose to try this shirt in XXL which is a 16. The Short Sleeve Shirt in black is 75% cotton, 20% polyamide, and 5% elastin and made in Portugal.
The XXL is too big for me. It fits, but not the way it's supposed to. The shoulder seams are dropped, the back buckles above my rear, and the front hangs practically straight from my bust making it hang away from my body like a tent. That being said, the sleeves are extremely snug at the cuff. So snug, it's uncomfortable when I bend my arms. I doubt I'd be able to slide a smaller sized shirt over my elbows. This is unfortunate as many women who were born with large breasts have fuller upper arms; I can't imagine this shirt, especially in larger sizes, fits well on busty people.
How does The Icon Shirt Fit?
The Icon Shirt is long-sleeved; I chose to get it in Black Floral which is more of a pink and orange floral with a hint of black peeking out between the blooms. I picked this shirt to get a good gauge of the collection and to see if the sleeves fit differently. The Icon Shirt is 97% cotton and 3% spandex and is also made in Portugal. It feels a bit heavier and stiffer than The Short Sleeve Shirt. For this shirt, I chose an XL.
I am an XL. This shirt fit far better than the Short Sleeved Shirt. The shoulders were I the right place, the back didn't buckle, the shirt skimmed my curves showing my shape, yet it didn't pull across the bust. That being said, the sleeves were again too slim. They were very fitted, straining when I bent my arms (thank goodness for the stretch), and downright uncomfortable when the sleeve was rolled up.
Speaking of which, as a petite woman, I found the sleeves way too long. However, the sleeves have a single button on the cuff making it easier to have The Shirt altered by a tailor. I also found the collar too high for my petite self, the edges constantly brushing my jaw.
The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens Review
I think The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens is worth the hype. The quality of the fabric and the construction is excellent. The variety of styles, colors, and prints is perfect for a traditional as well as a creative workplace. The No-Gape Button Technology is genius and truly does keep your shirt from popping open without any visible details or need for gadgets.
However, The Shirt may not be the best choice for those who are petite. The sleeves are too long, the shirt doesn't curve in at the back in the correct place, and the collar sits too high for a shorter neck.
The Shirt is not the best choice for those with larger upper arms. While The Icon Shirt was snug yet fit, The Short Sleeved Shirt was visibly too small and uncomfortable when the elbow was bent.
Unfortunately, The Shirt is only available in sizes 0-16 and there are no petite or tall options. You can find The Shirt's size chart at this link.
Where To Buy The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens?
The Shirt is available at the-shirt.com. This is where you will find the largest selection of styles, colors, and prints. The-Shirt.com also has extensive customer reviews to help you find the right size and style for your figure. The Shirt is also sold at Simply Soles and Tuckernuck (this is the only affiliate link on this page; this link shares how do blogs make money).
What is The Shirt's Return Policy?
Shipping is free on all US orders. Returns are a breeze with The Shirt as long as the shirt is in saleable condition with tags still attached. I went to the-shirt.com/returns, entered my order number and zip code, selected which items from the order to return, and a label was created that I could print out at home. To use their mailing label, $4 will be deducted from your return. Returns are processed within 2-3 days after they have received the order back.
Exchanges are easy and free; email The Shirt at [email protected] to get the process started.
Does The Shirt Ship Internationally?
Yes, The Shirt does ship outside the United States. Shipping fees are determined by the shipping service, the weight of the package, and what country you live in.
