The Men of Florence

I just wanted to say how much I am loving the men of Florence right now. The recent photos the Sartorialist has posted are just wowing me...

The older gentlemen in white denim(?) - (see Winter White, 3/25) is amazing. I love how he has classic pieces, like the blazer (w/pocket square), matching trouser socks (which I think are a highly ignored piece of an outfit), and saharas - and mixes them with white jeans and a gorgeous scarf. This is such a great semi-casual look that a man could rock at any age.

And then there are the "Manly Men" of Florence (3/17). I love these guys...they take the outdoors look that I love on what I like to call 'New England mountain men' - mostly college students and 9-5ers who hike/climb/whatever on the weekends - and turn it into Italian elegance. The beards, the hair, the tailored suits, and especially the sweater and herringbone jacket combo...men of Boston, take note.

One of those little things...

While it may not seem important, I was in need of a sugar bowl. I drink a lot of coffee and tea, and so always lugging the bag out gets a bit tedious. My style tends to be pretty simple, but I love vintage items...so I checked a few places, like Anthropologie. But I just couldn't find one, even with all the beautiful patterns/designs, that I was in love with.

What I ultimately ended up with was an adorable set of a sugar bowl and creamer, from Crate & Barrel (a decidedly simple set). I love the way they imitate little milk cartons. I have to admit - I've had them for a few months now, and have never actually had cream/milk in the creamer - but it's a great spoon holder!

The White Blouse, Part 2 (Finally!)

It's taken quite a while, but I'm back, and ready to write the next piece, so here it goes...

The Casual, Individual and sometimes Quirky White Blouse

This basic is less about a singular style or shape, and more about your lifestyle and what you are looking for the shirt to do for you. If you work in a corporate environment, and have to wear blouses all the time, you'll probably be looking either a quirky designed blouse that's still appropriate for the office, or a very avant garde/artsy version that looks nothing like the blouses you wear all week. So even though its still a white blouse, you can utilize one that has a unique design to give an outfit a slightly more classic feel.

There are a few basic categories that these blouses will break down into:

1) White sleeveless blouses - While these can be used under a jacket during the week, they can be completely appropriate over shorts in the summer, with a denim jacket, or over a pair of jeans to keep them feeling crisp. Some great examples of these are Equipment's blouses, found on a number of websites like shopbop.com. This old brand has renewed itself, and is finding a new generation of fans - shirts like their Signature Sleeveless Blouse are great for summer, or even for winter with a cardigan thrown over them. Elizabeth and James also carry a similar shirt, the Sleeveless Boyfriend Shirt, which is a bit more sheer. Other stores that carry this type of blouse at a more reasonable price are Gap, who had a whole line of them for the spring/summer, most of which are now on sale, Anthropologie, which is a great place to find any number of unique and/or handmade items, and J.Crew, who has a great selection of blouses, even though they tend to be a bit dressier.

2) The mixed media blouse - This blouse is usually made of a number of different elements; it might be beaded or sequined, might have lace insets, or might have pieces attached as aesthetic elements. Anthropologie is again a great place to find such blouses. Stores like Urban Outfitters are also good for blouses like this, especially if you're looking for a more casual feel. Although not specifically a blouse, 'crossover' items like a lace tee can be dressed up or down - so anothe place to look is American Apparel for their selection of well-priced lace tees. Piperlime.com also has a number of brands with mixed media shirts, and though they are not cheap, they carry a wide range of designers to suit anyone's personal taste.

3) This category is for pretty much any other white blouse you might find - there are a whole lot out there, and because it's such a staple, we know it'll always be around, and people will always be working on ways to reinvent it. No matter what your style, you should be able to find at least one white blouse that suits you. Since this is especially subjective, I'm just going to share a few of my favorites with you. Anthroplogie carries a number of tops I love, like the billowy summer top, the Friendly Competition blouse, the Victoriam undergraments-inspired Vintage Lace Chemise blouse, the Archeologist Button-up, and the beautifully feminine Anthurium blouse. I also love Madison Marcus' Radical Top, which is a take on a tee turned blouse with some lace insets, Elizabeth and James' Betty Shirt which is a cropped 'romance blouse,' and Free People's Snap Out of It Tunic, all of which can be found on shopbop.com.

The choice of blouse may also depend on climate - living in a warmer climate means that sleeveless tops with detail on the back or shoulders will get more exposure - if you live in, say, New England, a sleeveless top may only get to show off its details a few times a year (due to jackets, sweaters, etc.) So even though you might find a really great piece, think about how you'll be wearing it - if most of the details are on the back or shoulders, and you usually wear a jacket or cardigan, is it really worth investing in the blouse? That being said, sometimes just knowing the fun little details about a blouse, even if no one else can see them, can make you feel good.

The White Blouse, Part 1

First, a bit of background on the white blouse. This item has been a staple of women's wardrobes since separates became popular. It has traveled oceans, ridden the Oregon trail, and been reinvented numerous times. And it's not just women's shirts - one of the most used sexy images is a woman in a man's button down.

Thankfully, today we have a myriad of styles, colors (who knew white, off-white, pearl, and cloud could look so different?) and price points to choose from, as well as a million and one ways to wear The White Blouse.

The Classic White Blouse

Traditionally, White Blouses have been button-downs, fit for the office or a GAP ad. I have a classic White Blouse on my list because it can be so versatile in a woman's wardrobe. Throw it on with a pair of jeans, and you have one of the most classic American styles. Wear it with a pencil skirt, and you're all business. Tie it at your waist and wear with a laidback skirt for that effortlessly cool preppy chic look. Or use it as a layer over a cami or summer dress. Or, as in one of my favorite red carpet moments, pull a Sharon Stone - take a man's classic White Blouse and wear it open just so far, tucked casually into a couture Vera Wang skirt.

These are just a few of the ways you can utilize your classic White Blouse. Once you start experimenting with what you can do other than the office look, you'll find your own way of dressing up or down your classic White Blouse.

Many brands make a good classic White Blouse, running the gamut from extremely fitted to relaxed and from cotton to linen to silk. I love linen/cotton and cotton/silk blends, as I feel they elevate the style and feel of a shirt. Of course, fabric choice is very personal, and will vary depending on how often and in what way you'll be wearing the shirt.

• Women without the time or inclination to iron may want to consider brands that make a no-iron shirt, typically made of cotton blends or cotton that has been treated.


• If you'll be wearing your classic White Blouse more casually, or live in a warmer climate, cotton and linen will be the best fabrics. They will tie more easily, and will tend to have a less dressy look than silk or silk/cotton blends.


• If you want to wear your classic White Blouse casually, but are looking for a slightly heavier material, oxford shirts can be a great option. They are a heavier, typically cotton shirt with a tight weave, and tend to look more casual on the whole. Think of monogramed school uniform shirts.


• If you're looking for that glamorous office look (or just want to really elevate a pair of jeans), a silk or cotton/silk blend may be right for you. The sheen of silk tends to look more polished, although cotton shirts can be made with such a sheen.
  

Where/What to Buy

If you don't already have a classic White Blouse, or are looking to update your closet, here's a few suggestions of where to get them. If you're looking for your classic, cotton or sateen, fitted button-down, there are countless options and price points (denoted by the number of asterisks, explained at the bottom).

A good place to start is at depatrment stores, but be careful of the fabrics - always check labels. Great for their basic fashions and partnerships with high fashion designers, Target (target.com) can provide the classic White Blouse, such as Merona's Poplin Shirt (97% cotton, 3% Spandex) in both long and short sleeve versions. Old Navy (oldnavy.com) also offers a Poplin-Stretch Dress Shirt at a great price in 100% cotton.

Now that Sears has a partnership with Lands End (landsend.com), you may be able to find items such as their Long Sleeve No Iron Pinpoint Blouse or their Regular Original 3/4-sleeve No Iron Pinpoint Split-neck Shirt, both 100% cotton and on the lower end of this price point, in stores.

GAP (gap.com), Banana Republic (bananarepublic.com) and J.Crew (jcrew.com) are carring numerous white shirts this season, but still continue to offer their basics, such as the White stretch fitted shirt (100% cotton) at GAP, the Non-iron fitted sateen shirt and Elbow-sleeve stretch shirt (97% cotton, 3% Spandex) at Banana Republic, and the Solid three-quarter sleeve stretch shirt and Slim stretch shirt (both a cotton/stretch blend) from J.Crew.

For oxfords, I would recommend going with brands such as Lands End and LLBean (llbean.com) - their dedication to classic American style means that they always offer this basic. LLBean carries a wrinkle-resistant version, the Wrinkle-resistant Pinpoint Oxford Shirt, Long-sleeve and Lands End carries one that has been softened, the Original Long Sleeve Washed Oxford Shirt. Both of these are 100% cotton, under $40.00, and are perfectly acceptable business casual or weekend wear.

Inspirations & Splurges

Then there are online stores that carry higher end versions, like shopbop.com. They carry Elizabeth and James' New Cohen Shirt(100% cotton) with a button back. Read: you can button it for a fitted look for the office, or unbutton it and go for a slightly slouchier look on the weekend. So while it's an investment, it really serves as two shirts in one. Banana Republic has their own version, the Cotton button-back shirt, which may be a more realistic option for most women. Shopbop also carries Theory's Ornetta Top (92% cotton, 8% viscose), a striped, short sleeved version of the classic White Blouse. Gap has their own version, a white boyfriend-fit shirt, that is currently only available in stores.

I also like NET-A-PORTER for their interesting and wide-ranging selection. One of my favorites for summer is Bottega Veneta's Sheer linen shirt, which would be great over a cami in the office, but could also do double duty on the weekends, or even triple duty at the beach. Another take on the classic White Blouse is Carven's Cotton-poplin bodysuit, which is just what it sounds like - a blouse turned onsie. While not practical for most, I can see where it would be a good idea.

The beginning...

This really isn't the beginning of my thoughts on fashion, basics, and how the average woman can find her style and still afford to eat. Don't get me wrong, I am in love with fashion and would jump at the chance to buy some of my favorite designers' pieces (Dries Van Noten, Balenciaga, Chanel to name a few), but really, how can the average American (or any woman for that matter) afford to dress in designer pieces like those in Elle and Vogue?

The Goal:
My goal is to give people my perspective on what exactly you can do to build a wardrobe that won’t make you go broke, will take you through the seasons, and will make other women stop and think, “How does she do it?”

The Blueprint:
So to begin, I’m going to lay it out there – my blueprint for the basic wardrobe. Some of the items on my list might not apply to every woman (does the stay-at-home mom really need a suit? does the college student need to invest in an evening gown?), or every climate (winter coat in Phoenix?), but most of the items are geared towards learning to mix and match the basics with more individual pieces that inspire you, so that they’ll work in any climate.

The Plan:
Take one item a week and discuss what makes it essential, how it can be worked into your wardrobe, and companies that make the item at a reasonable price. I’ll also discuss how to find that basic, but make it your own – a cardigan with an offset closure, over-sized button-down, etc. And I’ll also give my inspirations and dream pieces. So here it goes.