Seventies inspired blouses have started to hit stores and although it’s far too cold for me to wear them right now, I can’t wait to sport some of those “new” shapes. Since we’ve been starved of fabulous blouses for a while, I’ll be making up for lost time while it’s a blouse season.

Obviously, what makes a blouse 70’s inspired is the design detailing. Here are some of the looks that we can look forward to this year.

  1. Elastic Waistband and Batwing: Don’t have a allergic reaction to this silhouette. Try one on with a pencil skirt, slim cut trousers, boot cuts or flares first before you say no thank you. It’s a very comfortable and breezy style for hot days, and great at camouflaging mid section extra bits.
  2. Smocking and Embroidery: I wore so much smocking and embroidery as a child in the 70’s it was ridiculous. Off the shoulder smocked blouses are very 70’s, as are smocked and embroidered panels down the centre front.
  3. Peasant:  Billowing sheer blouses with dainty pintucks, gathered sleeves and shoe-string neck ties might ring a bell.
  4. Ruffled Empire Cuts: This mixes up peasant looks with bohemian flair. I’m still friends with ruffles but not at all thick with the bohemian vibe. Yet I’m in love with this blouse. Not my fashion persona at all, so I must be mesmerized by the colour.
  5. Stripes: Jailbird stripes in soft sheer fabrications are so pretty.
  6. Lace Insets: This detailing is kind of vintage looking too, especially in white and cream.
  7. Halter Neck: We see this silhouette every season and it’s particularly pretty on those with dainty shoulders and a small bust line.
  8. Pussy Bow Blouse: We talked about this style recently so remember that the neck tie needn’t sit high on the neck. V-neck pussy bow blouses do exist.
  9. Bell Sleeves: This type of sleeve flares out like a bell at the hem. Sometimes a bell sleeve flares out and is hemmed just like what you see in the photo. But bell sleeves can also be gathered back in on the wrist for a “poufed” effect.

The examples below are just one visual for each of the looks I’ve described. We’ll see many, many interpretations of 70’s design detailing as the season unfolds. I have a hunch that there is a lot to look forward to. Also, armed with a discerning eye you’ll probably be able to thrift quite a few of these 70’s looks.

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