The Hunt: The Best Blouses for Work
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Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.
I've been busy in the background updating some of our top picks for stylish blouses for work for our Wardrobe Essentials for Work page — I also thought I'd do a mini-hunt for seasonal prints and of-the-moment blouses. Below you'll find our top picks for popovers, blousy t-shirts, sleeveless shells, silky button-front blouses, and crisp button-front blouses — they're all pictured in white but they all generally come in at least black as well as other basic colors, often just solids. Minor note: there are SO MANY SILK BLOUSES out there at the moment — perhaps we'll do a post on how to take care of them at home, since so many are washable.
(I love all of the ones above; if you do also then act fast since (unlike the other picks in white) these are likely to be unavailable for sale within a month or two.)
Meanwhile, some of our top picks for seasonal blouses are above — which are your favorite blouses at the moment, readers? What styles and fabrics do you like best? What stores and brands do you trust the most for stylish blouses for work?
Pictured on square image on home page: gray & blue / white / rosy pink
A few quick notes on the stylish blouses for work pictured above:
- Ann Taylor – This mixed-media top is a reader favorite and comes in a ton of different prints as well as solids. It's $59, but today there's a sale for 40% off. It's available in regular and petite sizes XXS-XXL. (We featured two other prints in our most-bought roundup for February.)
- Chaus – I haven't featured anything from this brand in SO LONG but they have some really cute tops out there right now. This particular top is $49, available in 7 colors or prints in sizes XS-XL. It's polyester, so it's machine wash/tumble dry.
- Boden – This is a jersey top that I'm totally squeeing over. It's $85, comes in 4 colors, petite and regular sizes 2-22.
- L'Amour Vert – There are 10 lovely prints available in this sustainable, washable silk blouse. They're $148 and come in sizes XXS-XL. (They have a ton of sustainable workwear, actually!)
- L'Agence – At the moment this brand would be among my top picks for droolworthy, stylish blouses for work — they have a ton of silk options, many in solid colors as well as fun prints. The pictured top is $380, available in sizes XS-M at Nordstrom; you can find it in more sizes (up to XXL) at L'Agence's website.
{related: the best plus-size workwear blouses}
Hunting in general for blouses in pretty prints? As of 2025, some of the reader-favorite brands include L'Agence, Equipment, Smythe, and Tucker NYC. On the more affordable side, check out NYDJ,* Halogen*, Loft,* and Kut from the Kloth. For plus sizes, check out Catherine Gee (and the asterisks)!
The Best Popover Blouses for Work
These can be great if you want something that's easy care and doesn't have gaping problems — these also often look great untucked. Note that all of these pictured come in a TON of colors and seasonal prints.
Looking for a great popover blouse? As of 2025, reader favorites include Ann Taylor's mixed media blouse, NYDJ's pintuck blouse, Vince Camuto's rumple blouse, and a number of blouses from Amazon seller Milumia — you can also often find them at J.Crew Factory, Talbots, Tuckernuck, and J.Crew.
The Best Blousy T-Shirts for Work
Blousy t-shirts can be great for work — they feel just a bit more polished than a t-shirt, but are as easy to throw on with almost any work outfit.
As of 2024, some of our favorite blousy tees for work in general include those from CeCe, Halogen, Vince Camuto, and Amazon seller Milumia. For silk options check Quince and Cuyana.
The Best Sleeveless Tops for Work
Know your office before you wear these without a cardigan or other topper — bare arms are still against some office dress codes (yes, even now). My $.02: no matter what, spaghetti straps are highly suspect if you want to take your cardi/blazer off at work unless your office is super casual.
Going sleeveless at the office is still a know-your-office situation, but much more accepted than previously. As of 2025, some of our favorite sleeveless tops include ones from Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Amazon seller Milumia, and Vince Camuto — Elie Tahari's silk one is also lovely.
The Best Silky Blouses for Work
Hunting for silk button-front blouses for work? As of 2025, readers love Boden, Everlane, M.M.LaFleur, Club Monaco, and Lilysilk. For more affordable options check Quince ($69!) and Grana; for fancier options check L'Agence, Equipment, and Vince. We've also rounded up other kinds of silk blouses (tanks, popovers, etc.)!
The Best Crisp Button-Fronts for Work
Hunting for a crisp, collared button-front blouse? Some of our longtime favorites as of 2025 include Ann Taylor and J.Crew; iron-free options from Brooks Brothers and Foxcroft, and we'd splurge on Boss. Also check out our DIY options for gaping blouses — and note that if you just want a collar beneath a sweater, you can always go for a fake collar instead.
So do tell, readers — which are your favorite blouses at the moment? What styles and fabrics do you like best? What stores and brands do you trust the most for stylish blouses for work?
Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!
Pin image via Stencil.
Just a quick addition to this: Lands End has a bunch of good short-sleeved blouses and sweaters that go nicely under a jacket. I just ordered a pile because I’m refreshing my suit wardrobe and needed tops to go underneath. I prefer short sleeves to sleeveless for shells because I often take my jacket on and off and I’m not a sleeveless in the office person. (NB: I don’t think it’s inappropriate, even for a business formal office; it’s just not my preference.)
Has anyone else noticed the increase in price and decrease in availability of basic work blouses the past six months? Low quality shirts start at $70+ while high quality shirts are $150-$300 each
Stunning pics! I like all designs of outfit and Thank you for sharing fashion tips and I follows those tips to be a fashionable.
Great recs ! I would like to add that one of the best crisp white shirts I have (almost too perfect) is from Brooks Brothers, they are not expensive and they are fitted (they have two models I think and also in light blue and blush colors). Is by far one of the best purchases I did and I have used it for all my interviews.
Nice guidance! You are sharing such nice guidance about choosing the best outfits for winter. I will definitely follow your blog. Thanks a lot for sharing.
Stunning pics! I like all designs of outfit and Thank you for sharing fashion tips and I follows those tips to be a fashionable.