The Art of The Blouse

I have always had a love/hate relationship with blouses. They are so delicate looking, yet so high maintenance (read: dry clean), so alluring yet so expensive (usually); and you have to be careful not to wear your favorite blouse too often or it will be noticeable (or at least more so than if you were wearing your basic tees).

Nevertheless, a blouse can liven up an outfit and give it an undeniable touch of femininity. Blouses can be worn for the office, for a casual weekend outing with the friends, for a fancy dinner with the parents, and they even can save you when you have a dressy event to attend and you're clueless as to what to wear.

Perhaps because it is because of this that Shopbop.com recently started sending its usual newsletter sponsoring "Equipment", a new French brand which is trying to reinvent and bring back the blouse into our wardrobes. Take a cue: blouses aren't for "older women" or "secretaries" anymore.

The blouse is an art, and quite possibly my favorite piece of an outfit. Because of this reason I decided to post some of my favorite blouses out there and show you how a blouse is more than capable of being a versatile, stylish and wearable piece, regardless of the occasion.

Blouses for college:

Go for the more simple ones you can find, preferably sleeveless or with short sleeves. These will look great paired with your casual jeans and some flats, along with your iPod and your books.

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Trend: The Statement Necklace

Oh, the old statement necklace! Few things in life will make a women look as glamorous and put together as a great statement necklace, gracing her neckline and drawing attention to her neck and her décolletage .

Although the statement necklace is making a comeback as a trend, I think it should be considered as timeless as the 'LBD'. This is an accessory which can successfully make a simple t-shirt and jeans outfit stand out from the crowd.

Especially now in the heat of summer, statement necklaces prove to be a great alternative which will undoubtedly make you look professional and polished while allowing you to breathe without having to wear suffocating blouses and/or the traditional blazer.

Speaking from a college student's point of view, (one who has just started an internship, mind you), an extravagant and elegant necklace can prevent you from having to buy tons of new shirts or professional tops to wear to work. By having four basic tops and four statement necklaces, you will be able to have a versatile wardrobe by varying the outfit combinations while getting compliments on your original necklace!

The statement necklaces can be found at any price range. Here are some of my favorite options:

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Trend: Neon for summer

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Trend: Feed me some Oxfords

When models first walked down the runway wearing oxfords, I was not surprised, but I wasn't ecstatic either. To me the oxfords seemed like a very boring and masculine type of shoe that would soon go out of fashion.

Which is why, as I write this, I cannot help but feel slightly confused as I stare at the gorgeous Silver Madden silver oxfords that I bought recently.

For some reason, during the last couple of weeks I went into an oxford frenzy (which is weird enough, considering that the most extravagant shoes I currently own are leopard flats). Nevertheless,the oxfords grew on me, and I felt identified with this type of shoe. The oxford represents the ultimate stylish, preppy, and boyish shoe that a sort of awkward and book-worm type of girl would wear.

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