Buy a statement blouse and you’ll keep it for years, trust us

Image courtesy of Sezane.

No clue what to wear? A blouse is your answer. For work, going out, and everything in between, I can’t have enough of them.

Lottie Franklin

30 September 2022

You can never have too many blouses in my mind. Over the years I’ve bought one or two a year that have become staple, pieces in my wardrobe.

Important day at work? I’ll pick a bold blouse and wear it with some smart jeans or wide leg trousers.

A night out with that ambiguous smart casual dress code? My go-to is a statement blouse with dark wash jeans or a black leather mini skirt and heeled boots.

Packing for a weekend away? I’ll make sure I’ve got a pretty blouse or two for wearing out to lunches and dinners, whether you’re at a cosy pub for Sunday lunch or somewhere smarter, as you can dress them up or down.

Get it right and a beautiful blouse will win you lots of compliments. And yes, you’ll be able to wear them again and again. To the extent I once got a message from one of my best friends asking if I was wearing the star blouse, as she knew exactly what one I’d be wearing for an extra confidence boost that day.

They’re a key item for styling into your winter work wardrobe, and don’t forget you can layer them underneath a knitted tank top too for extra warmth.

Of course, there’s lots of choice on the high street and sometimes the best blouses out there will catch your eye out of the blue, but to make life easy I’ve narrowed it down to a selection of the best to buy now and which brands should be on your radar:

Best for work blouses: COS

If you’re a minimalist dresser at heart, COS is the dream shop, where you’ll find one of the best selections on the high street of monochrome and block colour separates for layering into tailored looks. Their choice of blouses for work does not disappoint, striking a great balance between quality, polish and personality, with dramatic-shapes in the mix such as balloon sleeves and puff sleeves.

Best for pretty blouses: & Other Stories

Where cool-girl chic meets pretty details and preppy-ness, & Other Stories has some of the best blouses around. There’s neck ties for putting into statement bows, frills and heart polka dot prints for day to night, and desk to dinner, outfits.

Then, for something more playful, I love this sheer tie blouse, which takes summer’s popular sheer trend into winter months. Struggling to know what to wear underneath? Take a look at our styling tips for wearing anything sheer.

Best for going out blouses: Warehouse

Brimming with prints, personality and added sparkle, we love Warehouse for party outfits and an extra special party blouse.

Best for blouses on a budget: Reserved

Yes, all these Reserved blouses are £25.99! But they look so much more expensive. That dramatic bow? I’m sold!

Best for investment blouses: Sezane

If you’re prepared to spend a little more, I do love a Sezane blouse. For pretty prints, broderie anglaise and that effortless je ne sais quoi (and “where did you get that blouse?!” remarks) this French brand sure know how to make a blouse that’s destined to become your signature one.

Best for responsible blouses: Seventy + Mochi

Striving towards creating fabrics in a slower, more sustainable and circular way, Seventy + Mochi have a collection of beautiful blouses.

The check Phoebe blouse is made with 100% organic fabric that’s handwoven on traditional looms, while the Valentine style is made from cradle-to-cradle certified indigo denim, using a blend of organic cotton and pre-consumer waste recycled cotton.