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Battle of the washable silk shirts: The $70 Quince vs. the $150 Everlane
Our style editor put these sleek silk button-downs to the test to see which easy-to-clean style is best.
As much as I love the look and feel of a luxe silk shirt, let’s be real — I’m not a fan of those pricey dry-cleaning bills that come with them. They seem to sneak up on you and really add up over time. Because of that, I tend to save my silk pieces for special occasions to keep costs in check. So when I stumbled upon the idea of machine-washable silk, I was intrigued, to say the least.
I did a bit of digging and came across two popular options: Quince's Washable Stretch Silk Notch Collar Blouse and the Must-Have Shirt in Washable Silk from Everlane. Together, they’ve racked up nearly 3,000 five-star reviews, which had me sitting up and taking notice. Still unsure of which one to go with, I thought, Why not order both and see how they compare? After all, it’s all in the name of important investigative journalism, right? Stick around to see how these two beautiful tops measure up.
The matchup
Eco-friendly, lightweight and luxuriously soft, this crepe silk button-up quickly became one of my go-to fall tops. It can be easily dressed up and down and has a slightly longer hemline that lets me do my fave French tuck.
- Very versatile and easy to style
- Has a slightly longer hemline
- True to size
- Luxe crepe silk fabric that feels great
- Easy to layer
- Available in 10 sizes
- The white style is sheer
- Expensive
This super shiny, buttery-soft piece has a notched lapel and a comfortable fit. It drapes beautifully and looks sleek and stylish when fully tucked in ... though looks a bit bulky when I try a half tuck.
- Pretty affordable
- Shiny and smooth silk fabric
- Very comfortable and easy to style
- Runs true to size
- Available in only five sizes
- Doesn't button all the way to the top
Material differences
The Everlane is 100% silk and has a lovely crepey feel. It's part of their eco-conscious clean silk collection, which uses energy-efficient materials and machines to reduce CO2 emissions, and Bluesign-approved dyes that are safer for everyone involved, which I love. The fabric feels sturdy, and while it doesn’t have much stretch, it moves with you comfortably without feeling restrictive. Plus, it’s luxuriously soft and lightweight and feels delightful against the skin. However, it's pretty sheer, which I don't mind but I know can be an issue for others.
The Quince is mainly made of mulberry silk, giving it that classic shiny, smooth texture you think of with traditional silk, but it's also 10% spandex, which offers a bit of stretch. Is it soft? Oh, it's soft! It bears mentioning that it’s a little more opaque than the Everlane, but not so much that it'll conceal a dark bra. I am, of course, talking about the white version; I don't think you'd have sheerness issues with other colors.
Style points
Both of these classic, chic numbers can be dressed up or down — a dream for someone who appreciates versatility. If you're like me, which one to wear on any given day could just depend on your mood. If I’m feeling like a little shimmer, Quince would be my pick; if I'm going more understated, Everlane's crepe is perfect. I’ve mostly been wearing them tucked into my favorite jeans, often with a couple of buttons undone and paired with flats or sneakers for a laid-back yet chic vibe. But they also work wonders for the office and can easily be styled with skirts or tailored trousers.
Now that the weather has been cooling down, I’ve started buttoning them up and layering them under my fave sweaters, letting just the collars peek out for a preppy yet polished vibe. They're both incredibly lightweight, so they don't feel bulky underneath fitted sweaters, and breathe enough to prevent overheating. I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve gotten on both styles!
As you can see, above, the Everlane and the Quince have round hemlines, so I can wear them loose or tucked in. One point of departure? The former buttons up all the way, while the latter only goes as far as the cute notched lapel, which is equally nice and stylish!
Another thing they have in common? Lots of style options! The Quince is available in 15 timeless varieties, mostly in solids but there are also some adorable stripes. Everlane offers 11, including solids, stripes, and even fun polka dots! I’m seriously considering adding a few more of both to my wardrobe.
I'm happy to say they both wear like a dream! The silk fabrics drape so beautifully on my figure, and the sleeves hit right at my wrists. This is usually a sticking point for me — sleeves can often come up short on my arms. I also love that both have buttons on the cuffs, so I can roll them up.
I found the main fit difference was that the Everlane has a slightly longer hemline, which is super handy. It lets me do a nice French tuck in the front while leaving the back out for that relaxed look. With the Quince, I found that the shorter silhouette looked a bit clunky when I tried the tuck, so I usually wear it either fully out or tucked in completely.
Worth noting: The Everlane offers 10 sizes in all, from 00 to 16, while the Quince can be had in only five, from XS to XL.
Washability
Now for the big test: Are these silk tops actually machine-washable? I have to admit, even after reading the glowing testimonials about how easy it was to toss them in the washing machine, I was a bit skeptical. So you can imagine my delight when they both came out perfectly intact! I washed them together in cold water, and when I pulled them out to air-dry, I was genuinely impressed — neither of them shrunk or showed any signs of damage! Sure, they were wrinkled (they are silk, after all), but that was an easy fix with my handheld steamer. (Both brands mention that you can also iron them, but I didn't test this de-wrinkling method.) Overall, I’m super psyched that I can regularly wear these luxurious silky pieces without a hefty dry-cleaning bill hanging over my head.
My verdict
Reader, I love them both and have been wearing them consistently since I got them. They fit true-to-size, feel soft and comfortable, and are so easy to keep clean. You really can't go wrong with either choice! It really just comes down to whether you prefer a shiny silk look or the more understated crepe silk. There is one veryimportant consideration, though: The Everlane costs more than twice as much as the Quince. So, all other things being pretty equal, when I’m ready to add another to my collection, I’ll definitely lean towards the more budget-friendly choice.
