Sequin Blouses

Sequin Blouses

All-Over Sequins or Sequin Detail

A sequin blouse can sparkle all over or only in a few places. An all-over style is covered from neckline to hem, usually stitched onto a mesh or knit base, and it makes a strong statement for evening. A blouse with sequin detail keeps the shine to the neckline, the cuffs, a yoke or a scattered pattern, which feels softer and easier to wear.

All-over sequins are heavier than they look, so a loose, simple cut hangs better than a fitted one, and a V neck keeps the shine away from the chin.

Sequins come in different forms. Standard sequins are small flat discs sewn through a center hole, lying close together like fish scales. Paillettes are larger and attached near one edge, so they swing and shimmer as you move. Some blouses use metallic yarn or glitter-coated fabric instead, which gives a gentler, more even sheen with no discs at all.

For a first sparkly blouse, sequin detail or a metallic knit is the easiest to style and the most comfortable to wear. More polished occasion pieces appear among our dressy blouses.

Wearing Sequins in the Daytime

Sequins have long since moved beyond evening wear. The trick for daytime is contrast: pair sparkle with relaxed, matte pieces. A sequin blouse with straight jeans, loafers and a camel coat looks fresh for a holiday lunch or a gallery visit.

A chunky knit cardigan over a sequin top softens the shine and adds warmth, while a denim jacket makes it feel casual. With a plain midi skirt and ankle boots, it works for a festive day at the office. In spring, a sequin-trimmed blouse in pale pink or silver with white jeans feels bright but relaxed, suited to a birthday lunch.

Smaller sequins or a deeper color, such as navy, burgundy or dark purple, keep the sparkle subtle in daylight. For after-dark ideas, browse our party blouses and holiday blouses.

Keeping Sequins Comfortable

Sequins can scratch, especially under the arms and on the inside of the sleeves. Look for a blouse that is lined, or that has a soft knit or mesh layer between the sequins and your skin. A thin long-sleeve top underneath also helps with sensitive skin.

Check the seams too. Sequins trimmed away at the seam allowance feel smoother than ones folded into it. Bag straps, seatbelts and knitted scarves can catch loose sequins, so a clutch or a handheld bag is kinder to the fabric. For long dinners, sequins on the back press into chair backs, so front-only detail is often more comfortable.

Wash sequin blouses by hand, or inside out in a mesh bag on a gentle cycle, keep them out of the dryer and dry them flat. Iron only from the back on a low setting, since heat can melt or dull the discs.

Gold, Silver, Black or Champagne

The color of the sequins changes the mood. Gold looks warm and festive and flatters warm skin tones, especially with cream, camel and burgundy. Silver looks cool and bright, suiting cool undertones and pairing well with navy, gray and black.

Black sequins are the most versatile: the sparkle is there, but from a distance it reads as subtle texture, which makes black the easiest to wear to dinners and work parties. Champagne and rose gold sit between warm and cool and suit almost everyone. Multi-color sequins, mixing shades such as pink, gold and blue, look playful and belong at parties more than the office.

Deep jewel tones, such as plum or reddish purple, give a rich, velvety shimmer in winter. Our purple blouses and evening blouses show more of these deep shades.