Long Blouses

Long Blouses

What Is a Long Blouse Called?

A long blouse goes by several names, and the right one depends on how long it is and how it is cut. Longline is the general term for any top that runs past the hips, from a blouse that just covers the seat to one that reaches mid-thigh. It is the word most shops use for this length.

A tunic is a longline top cut loose and straight, usually pulled on over the head and often slit at the sides; the tunic blouses page explains how tunics differ from blouses. A long blouse that buttons all the way down and reaches the knee may be called a shirt dress, since it can be worn on its own.

A duster, a name borrowed from coats, is a very long, open-front layer worn like a light jacket. A long female shirt with a full placket and a shirt collar is often called a boyfriend shirt or an oversized shirt, especially when it is cut wide in the body.

When a title simply says long, the body length in the size chart, measured from the shoulder to the hem, shows where the blouse will fall on you.

How to Wear a Long Blouse

A belt is the quickest way to shape a long blouse. A thin belt at the natural waist lets the fabric pouf over it slightly and turns a loose shape into a defined one, while a wider belt looks more structured. Worn over slim trousers or straight jeans, a belted long blouse looks polished.

Leaving it open is another option. Unbuttoned over a tank or a fitted tee, a long blouse becomes a light layer that falls in a long vertical line, which makes the whole outfit look taller. This works especially well with soft, button-front styles like many of our button up blouses.

With a full skirt, a long blouse usually adds too much fabric. A slim skirt, a straight slip dress or narrow trousers suit it better, so the blouse can be the one relaxed piece in the outfit.

Shoes help the balance too. Ankle boots and loafers suit a mid-thigh length, while a slight heel lengthens the leg under a longer blouse.

How to Make a Long Blouse Shorter Without Sewing

The easiest trick is a front tuck. Push just the center front of the hem into your waistband and let the sides and back hang loose. The blouse looks shorter at the front, shows the waist and still covers the seat at the back.

A knot works well on button-front blouses. Undo the lowest two or three buttons, take the two front corners and tie them at the waist or slightly above. The tie front blouses page walks through knots that suit this.

For pullover styles, gather the hem at one side, twist it into a small knot and tuck the end under; a hair tie hidden inside keeps it secure. Another method is the belt lift: fasten a belt at the waist, then pull a little of the blouse up through it all the way around, so the fabric falls over the belt and the hem rises by a few inches.

For a single day, rolling the hem under and fixing it with two small safety pins on the inside gives a neat, temporary shorter length.

Long Blouses for Tall Women

Tall women often find that regular blouses stop at the waistband and that sleeves end above the wrist. A long blouse solves the first problem at once: a length that reaches the hip on a shorter frame lands at the right place on a taller one, and it stays down when you reach or bend.

Check the sleeves as well. On a tall frame, a long sleeve should cover the wrist bone with the arm relaxed at your side, and a 3/4 sleeve will look closer to elbow length. Longer tops also look especially good with wide-leg trousers on tall figures, as the two lengths balance each other. For sleeves long enough to reach the wrist, see long sleeve blouses.