A good shirt or blouse is one of the most useful pieces in an old money wardrobe. It works tucked into tailored trousers, under a sweater, over a swimsuit or with a skirt for dinner. Here are the six shirts and blouses every woman should own, how they should fit and what to wear them with.
What makes a shirt or blouse look old money
- Natural fabrics. Crisp cotton, soft oxford cloth, linen and silk.
- A relaxed but neat fit. Room in the body, sleeves that end at the wrist, a collar that sits flat.
- Quiet colours and classic stripes. White, cream, ivory, light blue, and thin blue or navy stripes.
- No logos. Mother-of-pearl buttons are the only detail you need.
The 6 old money shirts and blouses every woman should own
1. The crisp white shirt
The most important one. A white cotton shirt goes with everything: beige trousers, jeans, a navy skirt or a tweed jacket. Roll the sleeves, open the collar and tuck it into a high waist.
2. The blue striped shirt
A thin blue or navy stripe is the classic weekend shirt. Wear it with white jeans and loafers, or over a swimsuit at the beach. It is relaxed but always looks put together.
Try our Striped Cotton Shirt.
Shop the look
3. The light blue oxford shirt
Borrowed from men's wardrobes, a light blue oxford shirt is soft, slightly thicker and very easy to wear. It looks best a little oversized, with a cashmere sweater over it or on its own with tailored trousers.
4. The silk blouse
For evenings, a silk blouse in ivory, champagne or navy replaces the cotton shirt. Tuck it into a midi skirt or wide trousers and add pearl earrings. Nothing else is needed.
5. The soft day blouse
Not every blouse needs to be silk. A blouse in fine cotton or soft crepe with a small collar, a round neck or a loose bow works for the office and lunch. Choose ivory, cream, pale blue or navy, and keep the details small: covered buttons, a soft cuff, no ruffles.
6. The linen shirt
In summer, a linen shirt in white, sand or pale blue keeps you cool and looks elegant even when it creases. Wear it open over a swimsuit or tucked into linen trousers.
What to wear them with
How to wear a shirt or blouse the old money way
- Tuck it in. A shirt tucked into high-waisted trousers or a skirt always looks more polished.
- Roll the sleeves twice. Neat, not scrunched.
- Layer it. Let the collar show under a crew neck sweater.
- Keep it pressed. A creased cotton shirt looks careless. Linen is the exception.
For more ideas, see our guides to old money T-shirts and polo tops, old money pants for women and old money color combinations.
FAQ
What is the most old money shirt?
A crisp white cotton shirt, followed closely by a thin blue striped shirt.
What is an old money blouse?
A simple blouse in silk, fine cotton or soft crepe, in ivory, cream, pale blue or navy, with small details and no logos.
Should an old money shirt be fitted or oversized?
Somewhere in between. Relaxed in the body, but with shoulders that fit and sleeves that end at the wrist.
What trousers go with a white shirt?
Beige or navy high-waisted trousers, white or dark jeans, or a navy midi skirt.
Where can I shop BLENIN shirts?
In our women's shirts collection and the quiet luxury edit for women.
