Blouses for Ladies
From LoveToKnow Womens-Fashion
With shells and camisoles gaining popularity, more traditional blouses for ladies have lost some ground in recent years. A good blouse remains one of the best pieces to wear as part of a well-coordinated work outfit, however, and both classic and contemporary styles can be found to suit you.
Origins of Blouses for Ladies
For most of Western fashion history, women wore dresses. There may have been several components to the costume, but the blouse as we know it really didn't become part of ladies' wear until the Victorian era. The clothing reformation movement promoted more practical clothes for women, so many women began wearing blouses over long skirts with matching or contrasting jackets as daywear.
Once blouses were introduced, allowing for both more variety and simplicity in a wardrobe, they became hugely popular. A blouse could be washed overnight much more easily than a dress and a skirt would last longer because it didn't require washing as frequently. Blouses, also called shirtwaists in their early days, were simple yet attractive. They were also easy to get in and out of, as they buttoned down the front. Getting dressed was a much less cumbersome affair than it had been.
From the 1920s through the 1940s, blouses were an integral part of every woman's daytime wardrobe. Short or long sleeved, heavy in winter and light in summer, often with ruffles or a tie at the neck, a blouse worn with a skirt and under a jacket or cardigan was the typical outfit. In the 1950s, there was a trend towards blouses that buttoned up the back (these can be seen in some postwar clothes as well). This allowed for more décor in the front, but required either help or dexterity for getting dressed.
Shopping for Good Blouses
Basic blouses for ladies really haven't changed much. Whatever you like, you can usually find. Blouses with darts in the bosom and waist tend to be the most flattering, as they shape a figure nicely. Many plus size women choose straight blouses to hide their curves, but if they opt for something that nips in at the waist, it enhances the figure very well.
If you have a dress suit that requires a blouse, it can help to wear that suit when shopping. You want to be sure the blouse is long enough to tuck in and that the jacket goes over the sleeves comfortably.
Try to opt for quality, even if it means paying a bit more. If you take good care of a blouse, it will last a long time, so it is worth the investment. A quality blouse will always look and fit better and if it's the part of your outfit that will draw the most attention, you want it to look good. Better boutiques and department stores will have good blouses and if you hit them at the right time, you can get some great deals in sales.
Online Shopping
Buying blouses for ladies online can be tricky unless you are familiar with a given brand and are sure of your size. Most shops will give exact measurements, but you still can't be sure the blouse won't stretch across the bosom or pinch under the arms. Shopping online is great, but in this instance, you definitely want to opt for a store that has a good exchange policy.
Of course, vintage blouses can be even more flattering and fun than modern blouses, and they are more easily found online. Most vintage shops will not accept returns, so measure an existing blouse that fits you well and check its measurements against the one in which you are interested. Very few tailors can alter a ladies' blouse properly, so you want to be sure it's going to fit before you buy. But once you have it, you'll keep it for life.
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This page has been accessed 3,162 times. This page was last modified 16:00, 23 April 2009.
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