Balancing feminine charm and corporate authority, the ruffled blouse takes over offices

  • Alex Mill’s ‘The Ruffle Oxford’ shirt became a hit after its release in 2021
  • Similar versions of the shirt are being produced by other labels like Tuckernuck, Veronica Beard and J.Crew
  • Demand for ruffled shirts has surged on luxury resale site The RealReal by 113% year over year
  • The shirt’s popularity is attributed to its balance between femininity and professionalism

In 2021, Alex Mill released a fresh take on the classic button-up shirt with frills along the neckline and cuffs. The ‘Ruffle Oxford’ became an instant hit and now anchors the brand’s core collection. CEO Mickey Drexler calls it one of their top three best-selling pieces. Similar versions are being produced by Tuckernuck, Veronica Beard, and J.Crew, with similar sales surges. The shirt’s appeal lies in its balance between femininity and professionalism. It offers a mix of softness and corporate assertiveness, allowing women to appear strong on their terms. Demand for ruffled shirts has increased by 113% year over year on luxury resale site The RealReal.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and objective information about the popularity of ruffled button-up shirts among women in the workforce, citing sales figures from various brands and interviews with customers and industry experts. It discusses the reasons behind their appeal, such as balancing professionalism and femininity, and includes data from a luxury resale site to support its claims.
Noise Level: 4
Noise Justification: The article discusses the popularity of a specific type of shirt in women’s fashion and provides insights from various individuals on why they find it appealing. It explores the balance between professionalism and femininity that the ruffled Oxford shirt offers. While it does not delve into broader societal or economic trends, it does provide some interesting perspectives on the appeal of this particular clothing item.
Public Companies: Gap (GPS), J.Crew (JCG)
Private Companies: Alex Mill,Tuckernuck,Veronica Beard,Maje,Joie,The RealReal
Key People: Mickey Drexler (CEO of Alex Mill), September Rinnier Votta (Founder of Tuckernuck), Shirley Fu (Investment Banker), Kate Leslie (Head of Merchandising at Alex Mill), Rachel Glicksberg (Fashion Lead at The RealReal), Whitney Waitsman (Architectural Student and Teaching Assistant)

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Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the popularity of a specific type of women’s clothing item and its impact on sales for certain fashion brands, but it does not directly mention any financial markets or companies being impacted by this trend. It focuses on consumer preferences and how the ruffled shirt has become a popular choice among women in the workforce.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event in the text.

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com