In Allison Bornstein's Wear it Well book (highly recommend btw), she describes a category of clothes as "love to buy, hate to wear," e.g. things you think you should like but actually don't suit you. For me, that's a classic white button-down shirt—I've bought many over the years, but they never look right on me, they rarely fit me well, and they just feel a little...boring. That said, I like the idea of a classic white shirt, but I finally figured out that for me, that looks a little different. Instead, I love a lacy white blouse. It's like a classic white shirt with a little more personality. It's softer, more feminine, more interesting. It has a free-spirited, '70s vibe with a little bit of French girl thrown in. (For the record, my Three Words are Classic, French, Rock-and-Roll). I own quite a few lacy white tops and tend to buy at least one new one every spring; at this point, they can hardly be considered a trend, but this is my trend guide and I'll call it what I want! Read on for deets on my latest purchase.
As I noted in my newsletter earlier this spring, Gap is looking really good lately, and they are particularly doing the boho thing well this season. I am super happy with this blouse, which sadly is no longer available in white but the black is now an extra 40% off, which is quite tempting. Anyway, it's giving Isabel Marant, who happens to be my favorite designer (more on that later), and the quality is there: the fabric is really soft and lightweight (although I should note it's a bit sheer), the lace insets are subtle, the sleeves are dramatic but not overdone, and perhaps most importantly, the buttons do not gape, which is one of the reasons I tend to avoid button-down shirts (why oh why can clothing brands never get this right?!). I am wearing a size small here; I'd say if you're between sizes, go down (I fluctuate between a small and medium at Gap, depending on the fit of the garment). To me, this is about as perfect a white button-down shirt as I can get, trendy or not, but read on for more of my favorites this season.
OUTFIT DETAILS: Gap Puff-Sleeve Lace Blouse | Madewell Triple Keeper Belt | Mango culotte jeans (current version here) | H&M fringed suede loafers
More lacy white tops
1. This is similar to the blouse I'm wearing above in that it buttons along the front and has lace insets, but it's totally different because the lace insets are vertical versus horizontal. In other words, I need both, right? (This one also comes in black too.)
2. Zara is one of my favorite places to get lacy white tops for spring and summer—they always have a ton of them, they're usually cotton (note: do not buy synthetics here—you will sweat!), and they're priced reasonably. This one is a top contender for 2025; I like that it's a pullover versus a button-front, and the crochet inset is so pretty.
Zara Woman Collection Combination Mesh Top $41.94 (currently on sale!)
3. H&M is another good place to find lacy white tops—I tend to not want to spend too much money on them because anything white is going to eventually get grungy, so you're not going to have it in your wardrobe forever. This one is a pretty cotton gauze, and I like the placement of the lace trim.
H&M Lace-Detail Blouse $27.99 (on sale)
4. If you're willing to spend a little more (and want better quality), & Other Stories is also a good option (it's also owned by H&M). This top feels really similar to the one I'm wearing in this post (keep scrolling for a better look) with its guipure lace inset, but it's also different with more exaggerated puff sleeves, so clearly I need this one too, right? ;)
& Other Stories Embroidered Puff Sleeve Blouse $109
5. Confession: I have never bought anything from Boden before, but I know a lot of people rave about the brand (I've heard it's like a higher-quality J.Crew) and this pretty button-front blouse looks like a strong contender with its combination of tonal embroidery and lace.
Boden Embroidered-Panel Blouse $155
6. In case you haven't noticed, we're getting more expensive as this post goes on, so we're finishing with an investment pick from my favorite brand, Isabel Marant. I tried this top on in black and it is REALLY cute the way the lace is placed (it's bra-friendly but still a little bit sexy). TBH, I am waiting for a sale, although this one is currently 25% off at SSENSE through the 28th—very tempting.
Isabel Marant Valmira Blouse $490 (plus 25% off through 4/28 with code SHOP25)
1 comment
I really like the idea of a lacy white blouse versus a white button-up! Your's is so pretty and I love all of your picks too, especially the one from Zara!
Jill - Doused in Pink
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