The Frill of It All

A high neck that looks like a choker, ruffles, black and gold floral print and sexy see-throughness tick all the boxes on the state of blouses for the season. From Suno’s fall 2016 runway collection.

Eating is not recommended when wearing either of these. Left, Massimo Dutti’s boat-neck blouse with pleated sleeves and decorative bow in the back ($89.50, massimodutti.com). Right, Chloe’s diaphanous crepe blouse, seen on the fall 2015 runway, is trimmed with ruffles and finished with a black velvet neck tie.

Left, H&M’s interpretation of the lacy blouse with a stand-up collar, buttons at back and long sleeves with wide cuffs. ($49.99, hm.com). At right is Amy Smilovic’s runway lace blouse for Tibi fall 2016.

Left, Frame’s silk crepe de chine blouse with bow in fresh-looking navy is versatile — to wear casually with denim or with wide-leg pants for the office. ($270, netaporter.com). Right, Michael Kors’ 2016 fall collection ruffled silk blouse with French cuffs is veddy Victorian.

Left, dress up cropped pants with Kate Spade’s peplum lace top. ($328, katespade.com). Right, floral print blouse with tie-detail at the cuffs ($125, us.topshop.com).

Left, insouciant attitude required for wearing Cuyana’s crepe de chine blouse ($185, cuyana.com). Right, chic navy blue and black oversized tunic with a touch of metallic should make what to wear for holiday parties a snap decision. ($330, aliceandolivia.com).

BLOUSES ARE BACK and big for fall fashion 2016. Just like that, we’re swooning over ruffles, bows, lace, satin, see-throughness and impossibly long sleeves. Sooo feminine, romantic and yes, a little Victorian.

The styles shown on the runways of Chloe, Tibi and Michael Kors are, admittedly, extreme examples of the trend, but we’ve hunted down several just for you. You’ll want to add at least one to your wardrobe.

Here’s why we think you’ll find them handy: You can go bold and pair a ruffly, endlessly long-sleeved blouse with velvet pants (to channel Prince?) and/or have a sure bet in your closet to wear for the holiday circuit of cocktail parties, charity galas and dinner dances. Too froufrou, you say? Take down the drama a notch by wearing one of these romantic confections with jeans or a pencil skirt. Good to go for weekends or work.

— Janet Kelly
Janet Kelly is the editor of MyLittleBird. She recently wrote about how to wear velvet this fall.