A popular, pretty and never outdated top to wear with skirts, pants and shorts is the beautiful and feminine top known around the globe as the blouse.
A blouse is a loose-fitting upper garment that can be either gathered at the waist or hang loosely over the wearer’s body. Blouses come in various styles, patterns (floral, print, solid color) cuts and are made from a variety of fabrics. Some common material for blouses is cotton, lace and silk cloth, and blouses may or may not include a collar and sleeves.
Blouses run the gamut from standard, no nonsense, professional attire all the way to frilly, lacy, fancy apparel. Many blouses resemble men’s dress shirts in the way the blouse buttons up the front, has a firm collar and long sleeves that button at the wrists.
Blouse is a French word meaning “dust coat” and has become a common word in the English language. Blouses were rarely a part of the fashionable woman’s wardrobe until the 1890s. Before that time, blouses were popular for informal wear in styles that mirrored peasant or traditional clothing. A simple blouse with a plain skirt was the standard dress for the female workforce in the 1890s. In the early 1900s, elaborate blouses, such as the lingerie blouse (heavily decorated with lace and embroidery) and blouses with tucks and pleats became immensely sought after for both office and evening wear.
Tailoring can provide a closer fit to the wearer’s shape. This form fitted look is achieved with sewing of features such as princess seams or darting in the waist and/or bust. I think that tailored, form fitted blouses look real nice with plain skirts or either high waisted or hip hugger pants.
Generally a front button up blouse should be worn with the top button or two top buttons open, for better comfort. This look wears real well when the blouse is worn as the sole top, or when the blouse is worn underneath a blazer or a jacket. A striking necklace or choker to decorate the neck and open chest area when added with the blouse creates a stylish, feminine look.
Other cuts of blouses zip up the side, slip on over your head or button up the back. Many of these blouses are fancier to look at compared to the standard shirt blouse, and they can dress up and doll up your outfit merely by their divine elegance. Sheer blouses and lace blouses are ultra feminine and sensual. These blouses can be worn with dress slacks and skirts to create a fancier look, or they can be worn with casual or denim slacks, skirts and shorts to give off a more youthful, yet alluring vibe.
A blouse is by far a nice, comfortable flowy shirt that is much more classy than a shirt.
Tip for wearing a long-sleeved blouse on a warm day: Roll up the sleeves to above the elbows. I think rolled-up sleeves is a great, fun look! Not only does it allow you to wear the blouse even in warm weather, but it emits a cute, cool, fashionable image!
If earrings and/or a necklace were added to this ensemble, this outfit could be taken up a notch, depending on your mood or where you are going.
Blouses are elegant, pretty and always in style.
So whether your tastes run more casual and sporty, or more girly girl and dolly, there are numerous styles and types of blouses to satisfy your particular, unique fashion sense.
From sensible to sensational!
From practical to prissy!
Blouses make any outfit better!
Nancy Mangano is an American beauty/fashion/style influencer, fashion journalist, screenwriter and author of the Natalie North murder mystery book series. Visit Nancy on her global online fashion/style/beauty magazine Strutting in Style! at https://www.nancymariemangano.com, her Facebook page Nancy Mangano at https://www.facebook.com/nancymmangano/ Twitter @https://twitter.com/nancymangano and her author website http://www.nancymangano.com
