Top it off
"Fashion fades, only style remains the same."
-Coco Chanel
Today my subject is the blouse. The ideal blouse to invest in should go from polished to casual with little or no effort. It should also make you look on trend, not trendy. Its a staple piece, that never looses its luster. Its classy, not kitschy. Its darling, sexy, sweet, and has a business edge.
Of course from time to time, we all fall for those over-the-top extreme trend blouses. The fun, flirty, and expensive. But the fact is, we typically wear it 3 times and then retire it to our thrift store donations bag. So lets reflect how we can combine these conflicting tastes. The heart vs. the mind? Never! Lets compromise this Spring, heart and mind as one.
First up...
Color Block Blouse Trend
Avoid the temptation to buy blouses of the type below.
They will be in the bargain bin by mid Spring, and will quickly look dated.
These two examples are muted versions of this same trend.
They, however, will retain their appeal for many years to come.
They manage to look fresh, yet retro at the same time.
A look which one never grows tired of.
The Peplum Blouse Trend
This is a difficult one for me, because I love this trend.
I was very pleased that peplum made a triumphant comeback.
And yes, it will be here through summer.
But don't spend a lot of money on versions with glitzy details.
They will leave as swiftly as they came back.
Here are some examples of the peplum that is polished and chic.
They are work ready, yet pretty enough to wear during the day.
When the peplum leaves the runway,
these beauties can take a nap for one season.
But don't be scared to break them out later
once the memory of this fierce trend has dried,
because this look is timeless.
The Polka Dot Trend
Polka dots are always cute.
That being said, there are a few looks to be weary of.
One of those looks is mixed pattern polka dots.
This is going to look icky very quickly.
Also the over-sized polka dot can leave you looking quite the eye-sore.
The no-collar blouse is going to be big in the summer
and you will see it with polka, beware...
I realize ruffles aren't for everyone.
But when you pair ruffles with red polka dots it really amps up the charm..
Here also is a boat neck, polka dot example.
This is a nice replacement for the big dotted, no collar look you saw above.
Both of these looks can be dressed up or down
and can be worn in the years to come.
The Kitschy Pattern Trend
So this look has been around for the last 5 years or so. People love it.
We will be seeing a lot of bow print and the animals trend will be fading.
My thoughts are that people will continue to wear blouses with
dogs, owls, and foxes regardless.
Eventually, they will leave.
Especially ones of the below variety.
When buying funky patterns, I think you should stick to bright contrasted colors and basic shapes.
Don't spend over $30 on a top that has a very specific ironic image, EVER.
Here are some examples of fun, fresh and flirty looks that last.
There are several more trends to be alert to, the bow neck blouse is still out and about, also the sheer blouse look is going to be huge this spring. I will have to write about those another day!
I hope your weekend went well! The 'project' is still selling about 1 item per week. I am toying with the idea of starting a vintage 'Gadgets' section...hmmmmm
I have revamped my Etsy store, my Facebook page, and my About page. Check it out if you have the time my friends!
Take care & stay classy,
Kary J.
High Hat Couture is Upfront
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