Blouses

Nobody remembers a blouse that was merely fine. They remember the one that made jeans look deliberate, carried you through a meeting and a long lunch, and still looked crisp at five o'clock while the rest of the office wilted. That is the standard behind our women's blouses: pieces that look smart without trying too hard and work with what is already hanging in your wardrobe.

V-neck blouses frame a necklace. Checked and striped styles give a tidy line for the office, knitted blouses step in on cooler days, floral prints add lightness, and asymmetric cuts bring some movement to a plain outfit. A few matching sets pair a blouse with wide-leg trousers, for mornings when you would rather not think at all. White and pale blue lead the colours, with pink, green, black and grey close behind, so you can build from the quiet end or the bright one. Sizes on most styles run all the way from S to 3XL or more.

Tuck one into our trousers for work, wear it loose over jeans at the weekend, or add a blazer when the day asks for more polish. When you need smart blouses for women who have a full diary, the checked and striped styles do it best. Ladies blouses earn their keep away from the office too: a printed one is all you need for a family lunch or a theatre matinee. If you would rather keep things relaxed, our tops and shirts offer softer, easier shapes.

Women's blouses are small decisions that change the whole outfit, which is a very good return on five minutes in front of the mirror, especially on a Monday. Start with the print you keep coming back to; a plain one will be glad of the company.