With the recent popularity of ladylike, feminine fashion, women's blouses have become more popular then ever. After being nearly eclipsed by masculine-style tailored shirts over the past decade or so, soft and flowing blouses are now a common sight in department stores and exclusive boutiques alike. While classic blouses in neutral colors like black and white are almost always in fashion, some of the newest styles feature bold prints such as plaids, graphic florals, and optical patterns.

Women's blouses can work for weekend or weekday wear, as well as for evening or daytime ensembles. Whereas a cocktail dress used to be required attire for a fancy event, now it's often entirely appropriate to wear a beautiful blouse with a skirt or an elegant pair of pants. For evening, blouses embellished with sequins, embroidery, or other delicate details can be a terrific choice.

Many of the new blouses feature ultra-feminine details like layers of ruffles, and even incorporate Victorian elements such as high, frilly necks, lots of small buttons, and lace. These blouses are easy to dress up, but many of them also look equally great paired with jeans or a casual skirt.

Depending on your work environment, you might want to keep the details on your blouse more simple and classic. A blouse with ties at the neck, for example, can be a feminine yet professional style, and one that tends to flatter the neck and collarbone of just about anyone. With so many cuts, colors, and types of blouses to choose from these days, many women want to have a blouse for every occasion.