Off The Shoulder Blouses

Off The Shoulder Blouses

What Are Those Off-the-Shoulder Tops Called?

Off-the-shoulder tops go by several names, and each describes a slightly different cut. A Bardot top has a wide neckline that sits straight across the upper arms, leaving both shoulders bare. The name comes from the French actress whose off-the-shoulder necklines became famous in the 1950s and 1960s.

A cold shoulder top keeps the neckline in the usual place but cuts small openings at the top of each sleeve, so only a sliver of shoulder shows. Many women find it an easy first step, because it covers the bra straps and stays put without any adjusting.

A one-shoulder top covers one shoulder and leaves the other bare, creating a diagonal line across the chest. A smocked off-the-shoulder top uses rows of shirring at the neckline, which grips gently and can often be worn either on or off the shoulders.

Peasant-style versions with a gathered neckline often double as off-the-shoulder tops too, and the peasant blouses page explains that shape in more detail.

What Body Type Looks Best in Off-Shoulder Tops?

An off-the-shoulder neckline suits many figures, because it draws a horizontal line across the widest part of the upper body and puts the focus on the collarbone and shoulders. That makes it especially flattering if you have narrow or sloping shoulders, since the line adds width and balance above wider hips.

With a fuller bust, a style with a structured, smocked band and sleeves that reach at least the elbow gives more support and coverage. Broad shoulders can look even broader in a straight Bardot line, so a one-shoulder or cold shoulder version is often more comfortable.

If you like to keep your upper arms covered, look for longer, looser sleeves. They let the shoulders show while the arms stay covered, a combination many women over fifty find easy to wear on summer evenings.

What Bra to Wear and Keeping It in Place

The right bra makes an off-the-shoulder top far more comfortable. A strapless bra with a wide silicone band at the top is the classic choice, since it stays up without shoulder straps. A multiway bra, whose straps can be removed or crossed, is useful if you wear this neckline often.

If a strapless bra feels too insecure, a bandeau or a bra with clear straps is a softer alternative, though clear straps can catch the light. For a smaller bust, a lightly lined bralette without straps is sometimes enough.

Keeping the neckline in place is the other half. Elastic or smocking at the edge is the most reliable, as it grips without pinching. A top that is slightly too big will keep slipping down, so it is worth choosing a snug neckline even if the body is loose.

If the neckline creeps up toward your neck through the day, a strip of double-sided fashion tape at the upper arm holds it down discreetly.

Hair Up or Down With an Off-the-Shoulder Top?

Both work, and the choice depends on the effect you want. Hair worn up, in a low bun, a twist or a loose ponytail, shows off the neckline and shoulders and looks neat for a dinner or a wedding. It also keeps you cooler on a hot day.

Hair worn down softens the open neckline and feels more relaxed. Loose waves falling over one shoulder create an easy, romantic look, while a sleek, shoulder-length cut frames the collarbone neatly. Short hair looks especially graceful with an off-the-shoulder top, because it leaves the neck and shoulders completely clear.

Off-the-Shoulder Outfit Ideas

Because the neckline carries the interest, the rest of the outfit can stay simple. For a summer weekend, pair a striped or floral top with white jeans or denim shorts and flat sandals. For a garden party, a midi skirt in a solid color and low wedges look fresh and polished.

On vacation, an off-the-shoulder top with linen trousers, a straw hat and a woven bag feels breezy and comfortable. For evening, a dark top with tailored trousers and a pair of drop earrings looks elegant without much effort.

Styles with longer sleeves, often searched as blouses off the shoulder with sleeves, work into spring and early fall with a light scarf or a cropped cardigan draped over the arms. For more warm-weather ideas, the summer blouses page has other airy shapes, and boho blouses gather relaxed, free-spirited styles that share the same easy mood. Striped and printed versions sit among our striped blouses as well.