Holiday Blouses

Holiday Blouses

Holiday Blouses for Every Event of the Season

The holiday season is really a run of different events, each with its own dress code. A single blouse can cover several of them if you change what goes around it, but it helps to know what each occasion asks for.

Thanksgiving dinner is usually relaxed and long. Choose a comfortable fit with some ease through the body, a warm color and a fabric that will not mind a busy kitchen. Dark jeans or soft trousers finish the look.

The office holiday party sits between work and celebration. A blouse with one festive detail, such as a plaid, a lace cuff or a rich color, feels right among colleagues while still looking professional. Our party blouses have more ideas.

Concerts, church services and nights at the theater call for something a little more formal. Tailored trousers or a midi skirt with a deep-colored long sleeve blouse suits all three, and our evening blouses are made for these occasions.

Christmas itself has its own colors and prints, which we cover in our Christmas blouses. New Year's Eve is the dressiest night of the season, so pick the blouse you feel best in and pair it with something you can dance in.

Smaller gatherings fill the gaps in between: a cookie exchange, a school concert, a neighbor's open house. A printed blouse with jeans and a cardigan is right for all of them, and it saves the dressier pieces for the big nights.

How to Accessorize a Holiday Blouse

Accessories are what turn one blouse into several outfits. Pearl earrings and a fine chain feel classic for a church service or a family lunch, while larger gold or crystal earrings add sparkle for a party.

A silk scarf knotted at the neck brings in extra color and warmth, and it can change the mood of the same blouse from one day to the next. A brooch pinned near the collar is a charming vintage touch for a plain blouse.

A thin belt over a looser blouse defines the waist for an evening look. A small clutch or a structured handbag keeps things polished, and a wool coat or wrap in camel, black or cream sits well over almost any holiday color.

Keep a balance: if the blouse has a busy print or a lace collar, choose simple jewelry. If the blouse is plain, the accessories can do more of the festive work.

Long Sleeve Dressy Holiday Tops

Long sleeves are practical in winter and look more finished in holiday photos. Look for sleeves with a little detail, such as a lace section, a gathered cuff or a small button placket, so the blouse feels festive rather than office-like. Our long sleeve blouses offer many of these.

Long sleeve dressy holiday tops pair best with smooth, simple bottoms. Black trousers, a dark velvet skirt from your wardrobe or a midi skirt in wool make the blouse the focus. For more occasion wear, see our dressy blouses.

Plan for the weather between venues. A long sleeve blouse under a tailored coat keeps you warm from the car to the door, and you can take the coat off indoors without feeling underdressed.

Holiday Tops and Sweaters

Sweaters and blouses both have a place in the season. A sweater is warmer and more relaxed, perfect for a tree-trimming afternoon, a walk to see the lights or a cozy morning at home. A blouse is lighter and dressier, better for dinners, concerts and parties in warm rooms.

The two work well together. Holiday blouses under a fine cardigan give you warmth outside and a smart look inside once the cardigan comes off. A collar or lace cuff showing from under a sweater adds a festive finish to a knit.

Themed sweaters with reindeer or snowmen are fun for a playful party, but they tend to suit only one or two days a year. A blouse in a winter plaid or a warm color feels festive for the whole season and goes on working in January.

If you only pack one for a holiday visit, a long sleeve blouse with a light cardigan is the most flexible pair. It covers a formal dinner and a relaxed morning, and our winter blouses have more ideas for cold-weather layering.