Style Diaries: Styling This Season’s Tie Front Blouse

It’s a tie front blouse, how tricky can it be? Oh let me tell you. 

Today’s outfit share is a look at what I wore to a mother/daughter tea this past Sunday. I picked this balloon sleeve blouse up a few weeks ago and finally had an opportunity to wear it. A unique lavender/grey color, I paired this boatneck blouse with a wine colored trumpet skirt (a favorite silhouette of mine), and lavender leopard print mules for an extra kick. Wanting the blouse to do the talking, I opted for a classic black handbag and silver toned jewelry to complete the look. 

All was going as planned until I went to tie the blouse. Do I tie it in the front with a bow, back bow or double wrap it with a knot in the front? I continued to fuss with it until I ran out of time and went with the knot in the front – as the salesperson in the store had recommended. 

While taking photos at home later that evening I realized something was off. Not only was my blouse not laying right on my body, it was sliding off my shoulders and flattening out my chest area – not a good look! I’ll admit there have been times in the past when I MAY have tossed an ill-fitting garment into the resale bin out of sheer frustration. But I like this blouse and was willing to mess around with it a bit. I tried tying it in the back – nope. Next, a big bow in the front without wrapping it AROUND the back. Voila! I looked 5 pounds lighter! What just happened? I promise you, these following photos were taken within 10 minutes of each other. I share them, so you can see that at times, all it takes is a little tweaking, to get the look that best flatters YOUR BODY. It’s important to remember that garments are fit on ONE FIT MODEL, who most likely is not your exact shape. I encourage your to experiment with pieces you love…try styling them in different ways. If that doesn’t work, consider alterations. Often a little nip here, or the move of a strap there, can make all the difference in the world!

      Front Knot   |   Big Front Bow

 

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Could you see the difference? Are you surprised the difference a tie can make? I think I even look happier in the photo with the big bow tie, I was certainly more comfortable. That said, your body type might love the knot front. Try it! Experiment! Remember, just because something is styled one way in a store, magazine or blog doesn’t make it so. Nothing is set in stone when it comes to styling your personal look, so go out an make it your own!

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