Guest Post: Feminine and fun – the tie bow blouse

The name might sound old fashioned, but the style is bang up to date. High street stores and designer labels are selling a wide range of floaty, luscious tie bow blouses that let you strut your stuff in the office or just bring an element of vintage style to your weekends.
A tie bow blouse incorporates ties that enable you to create a bow at the neckline. The size of the bow is up to you, and with many blouses coming with very long ties, you can choose to make your blouse more formal by tying a large bow, or less obvious by just looping the ties over each other. Whatever you choose, you have the flexibility to work the bow to suit the occasion. These blouses tend to be made with sheerer fabric and delicate detail, so they are perfect for adding glamour to an office outfit or for wearing on an evening out.
Because they ooze vintage class, there are some very structured, formal ways to wear your tie bow blouse. Pairing it with well-tailored trousers or a high-waisted pencil skirt will give you a flattering silhouette and give you an instant elegance boost. Choose patent shoes with killer heels to complete the look. Remember that many of these blouses are made from fine fabric, so it’s worth investing in a silk camisole or vest to wear underneath if you want to protect your modesty.
On the other hand, you can lift a casual outfit by adding a well-chosen tie bow blouse. You don’t have to pay designer prices to get this look – these blouses are available on the high street and online, making it easy to choose and easy to shop. Team a sleeveless blouse with tailored shorts and boat shoes for a summer party, or wear over skinny jeans and add ballet flats and a tailored jacket to roam round town on a Saturday. Worn with confidence, these tops are real head-turners.
If you’ve never considered adding a tie bow blouse to your wardrobe, perhaps now is the time to try it out. With a range of styles and designs on the market, you could find just the right thing to jazz up your work outfits and to add some charm to your leisure time. And with affordable prices, great fabrics and plenty of ways to wear them, this could easily become one of your favourite pieces of clothing.

Mike is a stylist and infrequent blogger. You can connect with Mike on Twitter @FashiondudeMike