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With Spring in the air, we're after floral pieces to channel the season's lightness. This Bellatrix Floral Chiffon Blouse caught our eye for doing just that in a breezy, flowy silhouette with a sweet flowered print. It's easy, feminine, and relaxed enough to wear in or out of the office, depending on how you choose to style it up. But really, the added appeal is the $68 guilt-free price point for a piece we'll wear all season.
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Hot, sticky Summers call for cool counterparts, so I'm scouting out breezy pieces with a little sex appeal to complement my skinny cargos and denim staples. My eyes immediately fell on this sheer Rachel Roy V-Neck Blouse ($695), thinking I'd found the winner, until I noticed the pricey tag that came with. Undeterred, I set off in search of fashionable reinforcements.
To see the look for less, read more
.xlarge/i/Trend-Alert-Romantic-Blouses.jpg "Trend Alert: Romantic Blouses")
Live your own Summer of Love in romantic blouses. Influenced by the free love era of the '60s, these light and flowy tops are the perfect way to jump start a sunny day. These bohemian-inspired staples are extremely versatile and available in all shapes and sizes — see Roberto Cavalli's long tunic at left. I'd pair mine with a pair of wide-legged jeans, fire up some incense, turn some vinyl and groove to the Beatles. "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away..."
A top with too little fabric is a bad idea for a number of reasons. A top with a too much fabric, like this BCBG Chiffon Tie Front Blouse, $106, isn't quite right either. I'm beginning to feel a bit like Goldilocks here, but you really do have to have it juuust right.
I mean, I'm all for layers of chiffon, but when they're on a top like this, the nice feminine shape that should be accentuated is hidden underneath all the fabric. What about you: are you lovin' this top, or leavin' it?
Last week I showed you a debatable bow tie blouse, and I'm still on the fence about this style in general. Maybe you can all convince me to love bow tie blouses. They are definitely in masculine-feminine turf, and I love a perfect bow now and again, but something about them makes me feel...claustrophobic. I dunno. The way to wear these is with some trousers and kick ass peep toes, and hark! You are an English poet!
I've always been a fan of Chloe's hippie chic vibe, so the muted psychedelic pattern and cute Peter Pan collar on this See by Chloe Silk Print Blouse, $420, are all groovy if you ask me. The thing that's not so groovy is the price tag: $420 is a bit much, silk blouse though it may be. What about you...are you feeling the shirt's vibes?
To post your selections go to the Love It or Hate It? group. And if you want to learn how to do a blog post click here.
If you're a Wild Thing, do your inner animal a favor and consume this Banana Republic Silk Leopard print top, $68. What makes this blouse a stand out is that it's so feminine and tame compared to some of the more randy animal-print styles out there. The gathered scoop neckline, the capped sleeves and the muted colors give this effect. This blouse will satiate your inner animal and Glamour Girl all at the same time!
I am not a big fan of puffy blouses. In fact, I usually find them atrocious. But as I was doing my daily online shopping, I found myself strangely drawn to this BCBG Max Azria Dandy Stripe Blouse, available for $178 here. Objectively, I understand that this striped, rust-colored shirt is sort of ugly, and the gathered elbows on the billowy sleeves aren't exactly conventional. But for some reason, I just can't help but love it. I think it would look especially great with a pair of distressed jeans and a leather motorcycle jacket. Do you agree or beg to differ? Tell me below if you love it or hate it!
.xxlarge/i/Trend-Alert-Romantic-Blouses.jpg "Trend Alert: Romantic Blouses")
