Buying women’s shirts and blouses for the office

There are so many options for buying women’s shirts to wear to work that it can be quite overwhelming. There are a wide variety of different styles of shirts, most of which come in a range of patterns and colors and price ranges, from buttondowns to dressy blouses to designer tops. Women also want to be conscious of accentuating their best features and hiding others, and choose the right fabrics. Here is a guide to help choose a new shirt to add to your work wardrobe.

Shirts for business

The purpose for the shirt should probably the first consideration when shopping for a new one. If it is for the office, anything too low cut or of the midriff style will be considered inappropriate by colleagues – or human resources! Professional situations require a bit of a conservative approach to keep the focus on the job and the responsibilities of it rather than on who’s getting the most attention by the water cooler. Appropriate professional women’s shirts would include buttondowns, sweater sets, simple pullovers and other blouses. Buttondown can be traditional in the style of men’s versions – basic colors, simple buttons and a fitted style. Sweater sets or twin sets are also very classic and can range in styles from cable knits to angora or even short-sleeve cotton sets in warmer weather. Twin sets can substitute for a blouse and jacket and still be very professional. Blouses, which cover a wide range of looks and designs, can be conservative to trendy while still being appropriate – the type of industry should be considered. Bankers probably won’t wear large graphic prints of orange and purple although they’d be completely right for a high-end art gallery.

Blouses for the Office

Dress Shirts

Dress shirts are perfect for the office, church, formal events and much more. Dress shirts can also be a quick fix to looking and feeling good. Beaded shirts are very beautiful and add a touch of glamour, but if there is too much beading then it can look tacky. Beaded neck and bust lines draw attention to necklaces and the face. Elegant shirts are great for the office if worn under a jacket or with a skirt. Elegant shirts that are lacy and flow away from the body are very flattering to women who are trying to hide their midsection. Sheer shirts look very feminine and look amazing on anyone. Wrap tops are dressier than casual shirts because they are usually made out of nicer fabric and come in a wide assortment of colors. They can make women look a little larger than they actually are, but can define the waist if worn with a belt and give women that classic hourglass figure.

Beaded Shirts

Designer Shirts

Many women wonder how much is too much to spend on a shirt? Designer shirts can be pricey and exclusively wearing designer shirts can be a bit much. Choosing designer shirts that will get worn with multiple pieces in your wardrobe is key. Some designer shirts are unique and worth the high price tag, while others are massed produced and go out of style quickly. Buying a designer shirt that has a classic look will give you the most for your money because chances are that it won’t go out of style within one season and can be layered with other staples in your closet.

Designer Shirts

Shirts That Flatter

There are shirts that will conceal problem areas and accentuate your best features. Knowing how to choose the right combination to create a flattering look is quite simple. These quick tips will help any woman feel more confident and comfortable in her own skin. Certain colors flatter different skin tones. Red and green looks amazing on darker skin tones, while they wash out really pale skin. Neutral colors like black, white and grey look great against all skin tones. Pastels are quite tricky and should be worn with caution. Shirts that flow away from the body, such as like empire waistlines, are great for concealing love handles. They don’t cling to the body and reveal too much. Smaller women should opt for shirts that are fitted so they don’t look smaller than they actually are. Smaller women who wear baggy clothes will appear smaller because the shape of their body becomes lost. Fitted shirts will also enhance smaller busts. V-neck shirts can help detract from broad shoulders. Shirts that fall just above the hip will also help by elongating the torso and drawing less attention to the shoulder area. Women can also appear taller by wearing fitted shirts that rest at the waist to make their legs appear long and lean.

Elegant Shirts

Wearing Patterns

Everyone can wear patterns, but they have to be worn the right way. Petite and smaller women should stick to smaller prints because large prints will add weight and bulk to small frames. Larger women should wear larger prints because they distract from problem areas and large print minimizes women who are top heavy.

Going Day to Night

Casual shirts can be taken from a day look to night by pairing them with dressy shoes, a cute clutch purse or changing your earrings. The key is to change up the accessories to make this shirt a bit fancier. Dressy shirts can be worn for the office during the day and then paired with a skirt and high heels and worn out to a club or on a date during the evening.

Fabric Choices

Casual shirts are usually made out of cotton or jersey because those fabrics are really comfortable, breathable and don’t wrinkle while on the go. Choosing a pre-shrunken t-shirt is a good option if you notice that most of your shirts shrink after the first wash. Certain fabrics like wool might make some women itchy and can be uncomfortable to wear on hot days. Fabrics like silk, cashmere and chiffon feel divine against the skin, but many of these shirts have to be taken to the dry cleaners or hand washed. Follow the washing instructions on your shirt in order to keep colors vibrant and looking new. Also note drying instructions in order to prevent any unwanted shrinking.