A solid neutral-colored blouse is a closet essential because it goes with nearly everything! You can pair it with other basics, or it can be the perfect counterpart to printed and colorful statement pieces. Today I’m showing you different ways to wear a white top, but you can start with a top in any neutral color you prefer!
This top in particular has buttons and a collar to provide visual interest and some character. I love how the loose and fluid drape gives it some movement compared to stiff white button up tops, giving it a more relaxed look. This top comes in 9 colors, which you can see HERE. Find it in plus sizes HERE. I wear it in size S.
There are soooo many ways to wear a white top—the possibilities are truly endless. What is really fun is that it’s like a blank canvas. You can pair it with bottoms in different silhouettes and add accessories and shoes to create different styles and vibes. I’ll walk you through some details of what I mean!
SIZING: I’m 5’6” and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
1. Skirt + Flats or Heels (Casual or Work)
Tuck it into a skirt! The best way to do this is with a skirt that sits higher up, at the narrowest part of your waist, so the skirt and the shirt stay in place better. You can do it with any skirt, like a business pencil skirt for a sharp work outfit, or with a denim skirt like this one for an elevated casual look.
This skirt in particular is very lightweight and stretchy! I also like that it falls straight from the hips rather than tapering in towards the knees. That helps balance out fuller hips. Find it in several washes and in straight and plus sizes HERE. I’m wearing size 6.
PMT Style Club members and SPT students, this is the type of skirt that is in the example for hourglass shapes and pear shapes! Log into the student/members’ area to access the lesson and get a refresher!
If you would like to learn to dress your body shape and discover which types of clothes will flatter your shape, join the PMT Style Club, HERE.
2. Bootcut Jeans + Pumps (Elevated Casual or Relaxed Business Casual)
Pair it with dark wash bootcut jeans for a classy and polished casual outfit! Dark wash jeans look dressier, so they are always a great option to turn to when you want to dress up a top.
These jeans are really, really comfortable! They are super soft and stretchy, and they have an elastic strip in the waistband so you can move around comfortably throughout the day (no matter how big your lunch was 😜)! Find them HERE. I wear size 8 – I size up in these for a looser fit around my fuller thighs. If you don’t have fuller thighs, go with your regular size.
3. Medium Wash Jeans + Flats (Casual)
Here is a great example of how you can change the feel of an outfit by paying attention to details like the wash and the cut of jeans and your shoe choices. This time I’m pairing the white button up top with cropped bootcut jeans in a medium wash. They are slightly shorter than the previous pair, hitting at ankle length, and they have a raw hem. In addition, the denim is a medium wash. All of those things combined give the jeans a much more casual feel. Top it off with cognac sandals with a simple thick strap, and you get a bit of a bohemian vibe rather than the classic style in the previous outfit. The change is subtle but still makes the outfits feel noticeably different. (And we didn’t even have to change accessories to do it!)
These jeans are a recent favorite of mine. They are soft, stretchy, and super comfy, and they have the elastic strip in the back of the waistband to make them extra comfortable. I love their crop bootcut silhouette because it hugs your hips and thighs to show your shape but provides a modern look with the flared bottom. These jeans are typically $78, but they are available for just $44.97 HERE! I wear size 6.
4. Colored Pants – Standard Cut (Work)
Since this is a blouse, it’s easy to pair with slacks for work. You can wear it with standard neutral colored pants, like black or grey slacks, or it can be the perfect complement to any pair of colored pants!
These green pants have a basic straight leg cut, but even with a basic cut, they make a white top pop. BTW, these pants are pretty affordable, especially during one of Kohl’s frequent sales, and they have a bit of stretch and a pull-on waistband. This color is so fun, but they also come in several neutral colors. Find them HERE. Find them in plus sizes HERE. I wear size 6.
5. Colored Pants – Tie Waist (Work)
Now, here is another example of switching up the silhouette of the pants. These pants have more details than the green pants with a basic cut. The legs here have a slightly different shape than the basic straight leg cut, and the pants have a pintuck detail down the front and a higher waist with a tie. Even though both this outfit and the previous one follow the same formula of white top + colored pants, the difference in the details and the silhouette between to the two pairs of pants create variety between the looks.
Find these pants in 3 colors HERE. I wear size 6. One note is that the pockets are slanted and stick out on the side around my curvy hips, so these would be better if you have straighter hips.
6. Colored Pants – Wide Leg Chinos (Casual)
Last up, we’re doing a casual take on the white top + colored pants formula by pairing the top with wide leg olive chinos. (Isn’t it awesome how many outfits you can create with a single formula?) These pants have a different silhouette than both the basic straight leg green pants and the tie-front pink pants above. Plus, the texture of the pants has a more casual vibe, enabling us to dress down this satiny blouse. Finish it off with casual shoes like these braided sandals, and you can create another totally different look from the previous ones!
These pants are comfier than I expected, BTW! They look stiff and structured but are actually pretty thin and lightweight, and they have a good amount of stretch! They come in 6 colors, 3 lengths, and in sizes 0 – 30, HERE. I wear size 4.
These are a few different ways to wear a white top as well as how you can create a variety of looks by playing with different details of the bottoms and the shoes that you pair it with!
Shop the Outfits:
For more posts like this, see my One Piece Many Ways posts!
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