Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Jailyn Apparel Review

I have a new clothing company for larger busts to add to our list!


This is the first style, the Mandarin Collar 3/4 Sleeve Shirt from a new company, Jailyn Apparel! The owner/designer, Jodi Schreiner, has a story we can all identify with: She couldn't find shirts that fit over her bust! So she decided to design her own. Jailyn Apparel is based out of Texas, so those of you looking for more US options will be happy!


The shirt is not super stretchy, so it doesn't cling. It has expert tailoring to ensure it fits smoothly over your bust while highlighting your waist.

I love that for her first shirt, Jodi didn't just go for the same old shirt that many other companies have. She went for a more original design, with flattering 3/4 sleeves and a gorgeous mandarin collar. The color is a lovely dove grey that is more flattering on many people than harsh white. The quality also seems absolutely excellent.


Because the style is sort of dressy/elegant casual, the top is versatile. Pair it with a pretty skirt, or with a blazer for a casual office environment.

The size chart is spot on, I think. I am wearing the size 2 with a waist measurement of roughly 24-25", putting me at the low end of the size chart, and I think that ideally I might go down a size. I don't mind the fact that it's a tiny bit loose at my waist, because it goes with the casual vibe of the shirt. But the shoulders are just a teeny bit too big for me, as you can probably see. I like the fit, but I think if there was a size down it would be completely perfect. :-)


I really like this shirt and I'm so excited to watch Jailyn Apparel grow as a company and come up with new designs! I would definitely recommend giving them a try.

(P.S It's the last day for voting on Star in a Bra USA! If you haven't already, Please please vote for me! Every vote counts and I am super grateful to all of you who have voted already!)

(This shirt was sent to me for review purposes. All opinions and writing in this review are 100% my own!)

24 comments:

  1. Looks amazing on you! Love the cut too!

    Just curious... is the underbust and the waist about the same measurement?

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  2. I love it! It looks great on you and really is quite versatile. I looked up the website and the shirt is a little out of my budget :(

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  3. Wow! I love this! And the color would work so well with my wardrobe. >:)

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  4. That's a beautiful shirt, and yes, it looks terrific on you. Will have to look into it. I like that it's fitted—I always dress vintage/retro, and despite the mandarin collar (not *really* vintage in a low neckline), I think it would work very well with some things!

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  5. That is really lovely on you. And I agree that it's refreshing to see an original design. Ms. Schreiner hits the sweet spot between "workplace-appropriate" and "imaginatively designed." This is quite tempting ... it looks like something I could wear year-round.

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  6. This looks fantastic on you! And hooray for American based companies selling curvy clothes! Still horribly expensive though. :(

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  7. Looks great and I would love it. But there is no way I would get it, not for THAT price!

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  8. Looks great... I wonder if they'll ship to Poland ;-)
    (Oh, and I already voted :-) )

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  9. I was all excited until I looked at the size chart. Topping out at a 42.5 bust doesn't work for me. I'm an athletic 34 waist/44 bust. I'm sad to pass on this. Maybe the size range will expand in the future?

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  10. I hear what people are saying about the cost of this shirt. It is more than you'd pay at H&M, Gap, Target, etc., but if you look at other companies that make button-front shirts tailored to busty women -- Carissa Rose, Rebecca & Drew, Campbell & Kate -- a Jailyn Apparel shirt is fairly priced.

    Plus, a button-front shirt in a neutral color is something that I'd wear a lot, so the cost per use would be reasonable. Finally, I'm willing to pay a little more for something that's flattering, well-designed, ethically made, and made in the U.S. (always a plus, as Rachel Lewis says!).

    P.S. I hope I don't come off as Judgy McJudgerson here. I would never dismiss someone else's concerns about whether they can afford a shirt (or anything else), esp. in this economy! I just wanted to offer another point of view ...

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    1. I wouldn't say it isn't fairly priced, but I just can't afford it. I think it is lovely, it is just far far outside of my price range. Even if it was within my size range, I wouldn't be able to afford it.

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  11. Ann M. SkowronskiMay 24, 2012 at 8:06 PM

    For full disclosure, I am the fitting model for the largest size. However, I wouldn't be commenting if I did not like the shirt. It's a game-changer for me.

    I have a professional job, and it is so nice to have a shirt that does not spread open at the bust--and it fits my waist. Even better: I don't have to tuck it in. I despise the bunching of tucked shirts.

    I'm also a big cheapskate with clothes. But, when I compare the fit of my nicer dress shirts (Foxcroft, about $70) to the fit of this shirt, it's not hard for me to bump up to the next level.

    The next bump up from these specialty shirts is a tailored shirt, which will run $150++ (here in Austin). I'm just not willing to go there.

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  12. Nice shirt and I love how it looks with colorful skirt, The shirt looks good with jeans, but the skirt outfit is definitely a winner.

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  13. Great shirt! I remember you've said earlier that since you are a young artist and student, crisp white shirts are not so needed, but this is really great! Very appropriate for you, I think. Like Virago just said, "workplace-appropriate" and "imaginatively designed.".
    I am very sized out by them, though, none for bust measurement of 47". Maybe they'll expand when they make more pieces? I hope.

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  14. The shirt looks great on you! There is nothing worse than those boxy, too short shirts that make the tiny waist and curvy hips (I have these features too but my bust is much smaller than yours:D) look optically the same size.

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  15. I just found your blog today and I wish I could have had all this information 8 years ago. I don't know what happened to me, but after I got married, my boobs went haywire. I went from a large C to going into an F in a little less than a year. To be honest I probably would have needed bigger then, but I didn't know how to get the right fit. We lived in Hawaii, and the only option we had was Fredericks of Hollywood. Then I got pregnant, afterward when I was nursing I made so much milk which attributed to me getting even skinnier than I was going from a 4 to 00. I had to deal with wearing 34FF & 34G (it's such a science at these sizes dealing with different companies. But at that time I had to order them from Europe, there wasn't that I could find much of a selection in the US) I had one coveted 32GG but even that was too big in around. I really needed a 30H, but I just got so tired of trying to go to stores and ask them if they had it, and when there response was "what is that" I just said never mind. It was an incredibly depressing time. I hated having big boobs. However, It's nice to see that there are more option now. It's surprising how far they've come in relativly such little time. As of now My breats have suffered a lot from breastfeeding. They're very saggy, but I check out your measurment guide, and according to it I'm supposed to be a 30F but I'm temped to try an E just because I think I have more loose skin than breast tissue. What are your thoughts? Also do know how the fit is with Gossard bras? I've heard that they run really big in the band and small in the cup?

    Thanks so much!
    I love your blog!

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  16. Congrats on being in the top 10!!!

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  17. I know you're in NYC (Have a great time, by the way. Being in the top 30 with you and Criss was a blast!), but a question for when you get back: do you know if anyone makes 28 & under bands in t-shirt bras (with G+ cups) or at least ones that don't show through clingier materials? I am used to wearing more fitted clothing because it tends to look best on my body, and I often find that the material is somewhat see-through, especially with summer tops. I've been wearing the Fantasie smoothing bras for a while in a 30G (the smallest band they've got) and started having chronic shoulder pain about a year ago. What with the SIAB competition, I realized I hadn't been fitted in a bit (ok, so it's been 5 years. I do know better, really I do) and decided to measure myself for a starting point... and found that I measure 26.5-27" around the ribcage- it's no wonder my straps have been digging in! If you've got any tips or ideas I would be so grateful!

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  18. In case anyone reading knows how to sew, the Kwik Sew 3199 blouse pattern should allow to make similar adjustments for bust + small waist since it has an empire waist seam. The price tag of the Jaylin shirt is certainly aproppriate for what it is, but sadly out of my price range, too.

    Mona

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  19. This is great to know! I tried Carissa Rose and the shirt was lovely, and of high quality, but they assumed if your bust was big, your waist would be too. I am a 34DD (39" bust) but my waist is 25", and NO button-down shirts fit. Thanks so much for suggesting this retailer (and for starting this site in general)!

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  20. why dint i come across your blog much earlier:( you're fantastic.

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  21. I am totally buying this shirt in a month or two, when I've finished saving up for it. I'll try three sizes, because I'm right in the intersection of those three sizes. She charges for shipping, but return shipping is free, which is kind of weird. I did sign up for the newsletter, so I got a coupon code for free shipping, which is why I want to order three sizes at once.

    Anyway, just a long-winded way of saying, thanks for the review! I've been looking for such a shirt without a collar. Most of these small back/full bust shirts have the typical pointy collar, which is too busy for my taste.

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  22. As with all these sites I don't quite fit into any of their categories. I'm always told there's an error, they don't carry my size, or to go up or down a size. (29.5 waist and 40 bust). It also doesn't take into account athletes... I have large arms, shoulders, back, etc.

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    1. OMG! Same! 41" bust, 29" waist, 39" hips and I'm an athlete so my shoulders, back, arms are pretty ginormous. I've had some luck with men's wear.

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