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Fashion - Women > Shirts

100% silk in a playful leopard print, this Dolce & Gabbana blouse is beautiful.

I love the balloon sleeves paired with a flowing body, and how the blouse is semi-sheer to reveal whatever you happen to be wearing (or not) underneath. Side slits add versatility, so you can leave the shirt out or tuck it in.

The button down placket leads up to a pointed collar, which is so small it almost looks mandarin in style.

An easy answer for wardrobe worriments, you can dress it up or down (how sweet would this look with skinny jeans and ballet flats?)

Dolce & Gabbana leopard print blouse, $1095, eLUXURY.com

Fashion - Women > Shirts

How surprised was I to find Mischa Barton wearing one of Matthew Williamson’s designs and not Sienna Miller?

Very.

Leave it up to Mischa Barton to change her hair colour and her signature style; she stepped out in Matthew Williamson’s pearlescent cluster top, pairing the animal-printed silk number with a pair of wide-leg black pants.

Paired with skinny pants or worn with a cinched waist over a pencil skirt, I think a woman could make this top work wonders, but pairing Williamson’s wild top with those pants reads more 70-year-old Grandma than 70s glamour.

While I don’t love how Mischa Barton worked the silk shirt into her wardrobe, I do love how Williamson left the gold-tone back zipper completely exposed and how he designed the raised round neck.

Would you ladies be caught out on the town in this top?

Matthew Williamson pearlescent top, $1675, Net-A-Porter.com

(Photo of Mischa Barton via InStyle.com, by Phillip Massey/FilmMagic)

Fashion - Women > Shirts

Today over at online fashion community Coutorture, Jenny Flevin — the Senior Editor for Harper’s Bazaar – is acting as guest editor. Accordant with the release of Harper’s Bazaar Great Style, Coutorture is featuring tips and advice on personal style. Since my personal style is classic (with a twist), today’s post is dedicated to the classic white shirt.

I love a crisp white shirt. It’s arguably the most classic piece of clothing a woman can own (next to the LBD, of course). A clean cut, collared white button-down is an essential element in a woman’s wardrobe. Most of the women I spoke to regarding this very post own at least 2 variations on the classic.

Though the white shirt has been around for ages, Audrey Hepburn really helped popularize the look. Along with her signature capri pants and ballet flats, Audrey set trends and styled a look that would become timeless. Whether shooting a movie, posing for promotional photos, or working with UNICEF, the white shirt was ever-present in Hepburn’s wardrobe.

The late Princess Diana was another fashion icon who always styled classic, and frequently did so wearing a white shirt. From her early days as wife to Prince Charles to her time spent working with the Halo Trust in Cambodia, Princess Diana used the white shirt to put together ensembles that were effortlessly elegant; ensembles that were copied by women the world over.

So how do you incorporate the white shirt into your wardrobe and style it your own? I have 3 key tips:

1. Pick a shirt that you know you’ll wear. Some women opt to wear an actual mens shirt, others opt to wear something fitted. It depends on your personal style; take a cue from what’s already in your closet.

2. Wear it with variety in mind. One day wear it tucked in, one day wear it over a tank or under your favourite sweater. Try popping the collar and folding up the sleeves.

3. Be wise, accessorize. The right accoutrements can take your white shirt from the office to the club (or wherever it is you hang out after hours). Buy a skinny belt and cinch it around your shirt. Try tying a colourful scarf around your neck or layering on a few strings of pearls.

My favourite pick for the classic white button-down, hands down, is this cotton shirt from J.Crew. It’s designed with long sleeves, a point collar, and a shirttail hem; it’s a must-have for your wardrobe (READ: If you don’t have one already, head over to JCrew.com and purchase one).

Fashion - Women > Shirts

Whatever the reason, second-skin blend cotton/silk/wool wears just as well as cashmere, while maintaining an similar look.

Choosing to wear it in a crewneck style, and in a classic hue, I’m taken back to the days when paparazi were following Audrey Hepburn’s every fashionable move — from Los Angeles to Lisbon.

For a similar — and affordable — look, check out this high-quality sweater from Banana Republic, with 3/4-length sleeves and a ribbed trim.

Crewneck Sweater, $58, BananaRepublic.com