The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens Review: 3 Styles On a Curvy Grown Woman
Have you heard of The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens? It's a garment that I had heard of for years, even tried one a few years ago, but came back into my life at just the right time. I wrote a The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens review back in 2019, but then I was a different person (weren't we all PrePan?).
Now, in 2025, I am an owner of a new The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens and felt it made sense to update this review based on my PostPan, 50-year-old soft curvy current me. Spoiler alert, I don't know whether it's me or the product but this review is far more positive in 2025.
What is The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens?
Rochelle Behrens and I have two things in common: we have large busts and we have lived in Washington D.C. While Behrens grew up in California, she moved to D.C. in 2004 and became a lobbyist. Here, she realized that a buttoned-up K Street work wardrobe didn't work with her buxom figure.
Behrens resorted to safety pins to keep the placket of her shirts closed over her curves, but noticed that her female colleagues with a range of body types were also dealing with shirts gaping over the bust and when seated.
Behrens began spending her night trying to design the perfect button-front shirt for women. No gaping, not too low of a neckline but not frumpy, and of the quality and design that was classic, elevated, and on par with menswear. She had no fashion training, but Behrens had gumption, finding a pattern maker, sourcing fabrics at NYC's Mood, and getting a patent. The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens was featured on NPR in 2008, but didn't become famous until 2011.
In 2010, following in the footsteps of Sara Blakely of SPANX fame, Behrens sent one of her shirts to Oprah. Oprah included it in her 2011 list of Favorite Things, which put Behrens and The Shirt on the map. That same year, Behrens was profiled in the New York Times and Glamour. In 2014, designer Tory Burch featured Behrens in her popular blog, and by 2016, Behrens was included in Inc.'s famous 30 Under 30 list.
The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens Review
Back in 2019, a member of the Wardrobe Oxygen Community asked if I had tried The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens. I hadn't heard of it, but liking that it was a DC-based woman-founded company and geared towards busty women like me, I was down for ordering a couple to provide an unpaid honest The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens review
In 2019, I found the fabric of The Shirt excellent – a subtle sheen, tight weave, just the right hint of stretch for comfort and fit without clinging or losing a professional effect. The quality was the same for solid and print. On both shirts, the buttons were black. Even with stretch, these were crisp shirts that looked polished tucked or untucked, buttoned up or the neck open, sleeves down or rolled up.
Both shirts had the patented No Gape Technology, which was a placket of standard buttons exposed on the front of the shirt, but hidden in the placket were more buttons in between, keeping the shirt from gaping over curves or when sitting.
The Short Sleeve Shirt from Rochelle Behrens
When I was asked about The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens, the Short Sleeve Shirt was specifically mentioned. The community member noticed that even with slender arms, the sleevees looked snug on the model. As someone who has always had arms a bit snug in shirts, I looked at the size chart and decided to go up one size from what was recommended.
In 2019, The Short Sleeve Shirt was 75% Cotton, 20% Nylon, 5% Stretch and made in Portugal. I am pleased to say in 2025, The Short Sleeve Shirt is still of the same composition and made in the same country and factory.
The Short Sleeve Shirt was as I feared – going up one size made it too big almost everywhere, but the sleeves were just too snug for the size of my upper arms. I couldn't fully bend my arm and felt a smaller size wouldn't have even fruit. I found this disappointing, as many people born with large breasts also have fuller upper arms.
The Icon Shirt by Rochelle Behrens
The Icon Shirt is long-sleeved; I chose a print to compare the quality and composition to a solid. In 2019 and still in 2025, The Icon Shirt is 97% cotton and 3% spandex and made in Portugal. For this shirt I chose an XL, which the size chart recommended for my frame.
This shirt fit far better than the Short Sleeved Shirt. The shoulders were in 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. I didn't keep either shirt.
Why I Came Back to The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens
I am a member of ShopMy, an influencer company. Similar to the better-known LTK, ShopMy offers an easy way to access affiliate links for products. It also offers storefronts for our members, paid opportunities to partner with brands, and numerous gifting options. And I was offered a shirt from The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens, no strings attached.
Recalling my original review, I decided to accept a shirt to see if the brand had improved in any way. Also, recalling how I found the sleeves of The Icon Shirt and The Short Sleeve Shirt too narrow, and considering that my body is not only older but also softer in 2025, I decided to try The Boyfriend Shirt, which offers a more relaxed fit. Looking at the size chart, I determined I was still a size XL with the brand.
I decided to go with a blue and white stripe because I already own a blue and white stripe boyfriend shirt size L from Old Navy and wanted to see if a $142 shirt was really that much better than a $40 shirt. Gentle reader, the difference is so ridiculously obvious, I don't know if I can ever shop Old Navy again. And the quality of The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens is just as good as it was PrePan.
The Boyfriend Shirt by Rochelle Behrens
I wore The Boyfriend Shirt on the 4th of July. It was very hot in Maryland, and I went to a day party where I spent 90% of the time outside in the sun and 10% of the time inside which wasn't much cooler. I tied it at the waist, rolled the sleeves, popped the collar, and paired it with this Lands' End white poplin midi skirt. It looked so crisp and fresh… and it looked crisp and fresh five hours later. I was comfortable in the heat; sure I sweated but it didn't affect the look or structure of my shirt (while my skirt grew and I wish I had bought the smaller size).
Not only are there hidden buttons in The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens, the buttons in general are closer together than on my Old Navy Boyfriend Shirt. This meant I could better customize the neckline; I often safety pin a neckline because two buttons is too high and three is bra-exposing territory. I know this element increases production costs but also increases my confidence while wearing.
I untied it and unrolled it, and it was a bit creased but not so bad that if I hadn't sweat in it, I could have hung it up and worn it a second time before laundering.
This collage shows the different fit of the two boyfriend shirts. Both are a relaxed cut, but the Rochelle Behrens one still has the shoulder seams relatively near my shoulder. Both, I unbuttoned three, buttoned three, and unbuttoned three to tie in a knot. Both I rolled the sleeves three times the width of the cuff and then pushed up. Both I tried popping the collar. Both were worn after washing gentle cycle, line drying, and then ironing.
The back of the Old Navy Boyfriend Shirt has a pleat and a locker loop; the back of The Boyfriend Shirt by Rochelle Behrens has two seams that start mid ribcage to the hem to offer shaping without making it fitted. One could say the pleated back of the Old Navy shirt is to give it a true “boyfriend” fit, but that detail with the extremely dropped shoulders made it so big I had to go down one size and likely could have gone down two.
Details About The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens as a Brand
The fabrics for The Shirt are sourced from a family-run mill in Spain and produced in a female-led factory in Portugal by a local team of artisans. The Shirt has worked with this same factory since the company started.
The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens is opaque, silky, high quality, and designed with care and the curves of a woman's body in mind. While you will find the largest selection of this brand on the company website, The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens is also found at online and in-person boutiques such as Tuckernuck, North Carolina's Poppy & Pink, Michigan's Paula & Chlo, and Maryland's own Sassanova.
The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens is available in sizes XS/0 to XXL/16. However, as someone who usually needs to buy a 16 for her bust and shoulders, the size chart should be used on the specific shirt as Rochelle Behrens carries Tailored, Drapey, and Oversized fits.
If you are outside this size range, check out the button-front shirts from Universal Standard. Not as thick of fabric and hidden snaps instead of buttons, the brand also has a manner to prevent gaping and its quality far exceeds Old Navy or even higher-end mall brands.
Final Verdict on The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens
I am a fan. I am such a fan, I am considering getting another one this fall. In my closet are five white shirts, most gifted to me by brands, and most with tags still on them because they're not quite right. If this striped Boyfriend shirt continues to impress, I may buy one in white and donate the rest.
I think my soft curves are too bodacious for the trimmer cuts of Rochelle Behrens' shirts, but I would feel confident ordering another Boyfriend Shirt or try the Signature Shirt.
Quality, not quantity is the name of the game for us grown-ass women style seekers. No need to buy one of these shirts now, but if you are looking to add or replace a button-front shirt in your closet, I think it's worth your time and money to check out The Shirt by Rochelle Behrens.
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I read an article years ago that addressed the issue of women’s shirts/blouses/tops that button over the bust area. There are two simple (but maybe not cost-effective?) solutions that make a huge difference for almost all bust sizes. One, place the buttons so that there is at least one right where the fullest part of the bust is, which looks like what Rochelle Behrens does. Duh! And two, make the buttonholes horizontal instead of vertical, which means especially on fuller busts, the pull of the fabric when you actually move doesn’t “pucker” the fabric the way it will with a vertical buttonhole.
Great review. I will never understand why some manufacturers skimp in the arms. So frustrating.
Maxine
I have ordered the shirt found the shirt is sent all wrinkled in an envelope and had a hard time getting them out. I tried contacting by e-mail no response. Friends compliment me but I’m embarrassed to tell them because of the condition they arrive in.
Have you ever checked out the Bravissimo brand dedicated to women with bra size D and above? It’s a UK company but they have a US site, just like Boden. Unfortunately, they don’t go up to plus sizing but do have some XXL items.
https://www.bravissimo.com/us/
Thanks for the review – always a struggle finding a good fitting button down shirt when larger busted and even more so for us Petites …. that being said Boden used to over on it’s shirtdresses – the no gap button system and it was wonderful – however this year I’m pretty sure they changed that up – likely in a corner cutting effort. That became the end of my Boden shirtdress obsession.
How can I thank you enough!!! It won’t work for me with my arms, but I am thankful for the review. Sorry it didn’t work for you either!! Thanks for saving me money!
Glad it worked for you. Bought one per sizing suggestions thinking ‘this is IT, finally a shirt that will fit! I’m 5’4. 155 and 32DDD. Nope, was like a sack. Was soooo disappointed.
I don’t think this blouse was designed for busty women, contrary to several comments. Apparently, non-busty women have problems with blouses gaping, at least that’s the conclusion I draw from visiting their website, where I saw nothing but size 0, relatively flat-chested models.
With that out of the way (!), I’ll say I always just stitch the blouse closed between the two offending buttons. It takes about a minute. Yes, I then have to take the blouse off over my head. It’s no big deal.
I do the same thing!!
I had not heard of this brand but I appreciate the review. Even from the pictures, one can tell these are well-made of nicer fabrics. My problem on shirts is that I do have large upper arms but I am also very small breasted. Shirts that fit my upper arms are always too blousey in the bust. I never wear sleeveless so I purchase shirts to fit my arms and then “deal” with the blousey fit in the bodice.
I was so excited by this review until I got to the part about size 0-16 only. I might fit a 16, but generally order a size up because I like a looser fit. Why would you make a shirt for large-busts and not make a plus size?????
I haven’t looked into the no-gape patent on this shirt, but Old Navy has been doing an inner button on their no-gape shirts for years. Obviously the quality is fairly poor with ON, but I appreciated when it was released because it really does make a difference for us bustier women!