You know how you sometimes think: ‘I could do with some oomph in my wardrobe. I’ve had it with plain and useful. I want to walk out of my front door wearing something that feels a bit “wow”.’
And it’s at this point you remember a ‘wow’ item is not that easy to wear. If you’re looking for just enough oomph — not party levels or blow-the-doors-off amounts, more like an eye-catching statement that’s still as easy to wear as your jeans — then what exactly is it going to be?
Well, as of this moment, it’s the super blouse. The blouse with extra attitude, flounce and bounce is the answer to your prayers if you’re a woman looking for a one-hit shortcut to spicing up your wardrobe. And who isn’t?
Marel Zoel (pictured) recently wore the power blouse trend on the catwalk of a Dolce & Gabbana show teamed with trainers and leggings
This blouse is quite full on, there’s no denying it. But, like the friend who seemed to be too much at first, and then turned out to be a lifesaver, the super blouse is just the tonic your wardrobe needs.
It starts with — it almost has to have — over-the-top statement sleeves, the more ballooning the better. It nearly always has a high neck with a ruffle, or a pussy bow, or both.
Sometimes it comes in a striking print or colour, though it could equally be cream with an extra big pussy bow or pleated epaulettes.
Occasionally it has a frill around the yoke, or a scarf attached — possibly a long neck tie embellished with rhinestones.
You get the picture. A super blouse is basically a blouse that thinks it’s a fabulous dress, and that’s what makes it so very useful.
This blouse will work when a dress is called for, but you’re not in the mood for one. It’s the perfect solution if you want to wear trousers but also look feminine and special.
When a sweater is too casual, a shirt too boring, and your party top makes you feel ‘Christmas 2018’, the super blouse is there to save the day. And of course, when you’re going to be sitting at a restaurant table so only your top half is on show.
Amal Clooney (pictured) dazzled in a power blouse paired with a matching midi skirt and button detail jacket while out in New York
You may be thinking: ‘Great, if you’re 21, but this blouse with its bows and foofy sleeves sounds like mutton dressed as lamb’. Fair enough, but you would be wrong.
The right super blouse is luxurious, elegant and ladylike (they work best in silky fabrics) and would look as good on Catherine Deneuve as on Cara Delevingne. The fact that it’s a blouse, and not a dress, means it’s just enough of a good thing: you can quieten it down with smart tailored trousers, high-waisted jeans or a slimline midi skirt.
Providing you don’t cram it under your old black suit jacket, anyone of any age can try it. How you wear it is key, of course. Cate Blanchett is already wearing it, Gucci-style, with a snakeprint jacket and green PVC trousers.
That’s the maximalist high-fashion version. Your twenty-something daughter is wearing it with jeans and high-top trainers. The one she’s hoping to get for her birthday is Ganni’s broderie anglaise blouse (£170, ganni.com), but for now she’s making do with her silky floral Topshop version with the bow-tied waist (£29, topshop.com).
We are wearing it one of several ways. Either as a party top, in one bright block colour, with wide-legged trousers: Essentiel Antwerp’s tangerine neck-tied blouse (£125, essentiel-antwerp.com), or Zara’s ultra-balloon-sleeved burnt orange blouse (£39.99, zara.com) would do the trick.
Alternatively, we might wear it flourishing in front of a jacket with cropped jeans or tucked into a midi skirt. Good options are Zara’s purple silk turtleneck blouse (£79.99, zara.com) or Ganni’s georgette, frill-fronted red-and-black spotted blouse (£110, irisfashion.co.uk).
As a rule it’s better not to cover up a super blouse, but some work well under jackets and bring trouser or skirt suits bang up to date.
Otherwise, play it safe with an easy-to-wear biscuit and cream animal print blouse by & Other Stories (£49, stories.com) which you can wear with anything. Even less super blousey, but still in the zone, is its red silk ruffle collar blouse (£79, stories.com).
And failing that, there’s always good old, easy-peasy leopard or snake print, with or without ruffles. See, no excuse.