Ruffle Blouses

Ruffle Blouses

Ruffle, Frill or Flounce?

The three words are often used as if they mean the same thing, but each describes a slightly different detail. A ruffle is a strip of fabric gathered or pleated along one edge and sewn onto the blouse, so the loose edge falls in soft waves. Most shops use the word for almost any gathered trim, which is why a ruffled blouse can look quite different from one label to the next.

A frill is usually smaller and narrower, a light edging at the collar, cuff or placket. A blouse with a frill tends to look neat and a little old-fashioned in the nicest way, the kind of detail seen on a school collar or a Sunday blouse. In British shops the word frill is common, and a womens frill blouse search often means the same garment an American shop would call ruffled.

A flounce is the fullest of the three. It is cut as a curve rather than gathered, so it hangs in deeper, rippling folds, often at a hem or across the shoulders. Flounces look dramatic in soft fabric and suit occasion wear more than everyday dressing.

Knowing the difference helps when you read a product title. A narrow frill adds interest without changing the outline of a blouse, while a deep flounce changes the shape entirely.

Modern Ruffle Blouse Styles

Many of today's blouses with ruffles keep the detail in one place. A ruffle that edges a V neckline is one of the most popular versions, because it softens the opening while keeping it open and flattering. Paired with a half sleeve, it looks fresh from spring through early fall.

A tiered hem, with two or three layers of ruffles at the bottom of the blouse, gives a relaxed, breezy shape that sits well over slim jeans. A smocked or elasticated neckline with a short ruffle above it has a gentle, peasant feel, while a single ruffle running down the placket adds movement without extra volume at the sides.

Ruffle sleeves are another modern choice. A short ruffle at the cuff of a half sleeve moves as you talk, and a layered flutter sleeve covers the upper arm softly. For more detail on where a ruffle sits on white fabric, the white ruffle blouses page covers collars, fronts and sleeves.

Ruffles in Color and Print

A ruffle in a solid color is the easiest to wear, because the shape of the gathers carries all the interest. Soft shades such as lavender, cyan, blush and pale yellow make ruffles look light and springlike, while navy and deep red give them a richer, grown-up tone.

Stripes and ruffles are a lively pairing. The stripes follow the folds of the fabric and bend as they fall, which gives a crisp pattern a playful edge. The striped blouses page shows the pattern on simpler shapes as well.

A small floral or leaf print on a ruffled blouse looks romantic and summery. Choose a print with a light background if you want the ruffle to show, since busy prints can hide the gathers. Larger prints suit a single ruffle better than several tiers, and a collection of floral blouses gives an idea of how scale changes the look.

Ruffle Blouses at Work

A ruffle can work at the office, as long as it stays modest in size. A narrow ruffle along a V neckline or down the placket looks polished under a blazer, and it shows neatly when the jacket is open. A soft ruffle at the cuff also works, peeking out from a jacket sleeve.

Keep large ruffles, deep flounces and several tiers for weekends and occasions. At work, one ruffled detail in a calm color reads as feminine and professional, while three or four can start to look like evening wear. Pair a ruffle blouse with tailored trousers or a pencil skirt, and let a plain jacket or cardigan frame it. The work blouses page has more ideas for office-ready shapes.

Soft or Crisp Ruffles

Fabric decides how a ruffle behaves. Chiffon and georgette make ruffles that fall softly and float as you move, which gives a romantic, flowing look. The chiffon blouses page covers that light, airy fabric in more detail.

Cotton and poplin make crisper ruffles that hold their shape and stand slightly away from the body. They look fresh and tidy, suit daytime wear and keep their outline through a long day. Crepe sits between the two, with a gentle drape and a little body.

Soft ruffles suit evening wear and special occasions, while crisp ones feel at home at the office or on a weekend lunch. For a subtler effect, a soft fabric in a quiet color keeps the ruffles gentle. For more gentle, feminine details, the romantic blouses page is a good next step.