How to Wear It

A White Oscar de la Renta Blouse

by Francesca Belluomini on May 18, 2011 at 03:32AM

After many years of working in retail, Florentina H. is finally retiring. She first worked in New York, where she met her husband, and later moved Miami, after she and her husband had had it with winter. Having worked the last six years in the Oscar de la Renta boutique in Bal Harbour, her "uniform" rack is pretty hefty. She owns an impressive collection of sophisticated georgettes, polished cashmeres, unique Ikats, and silks.

But now that she's retiring, the last thing she wants to do is being reminded of her working days. “I have worn those outfits every day, weekends included, and I know they are worth a lot, but I will need some help to wear them with a different perspective,” she says. To get some perspective, she submitted an elaborate de la Renta creponne sleeveless top for the How to Wear It treatment.

The blouse buttons in the front like a shirt, but the collar ends with an unfinished shawl that drapes in the front. An grey three-inch elastic belt adds some levity to the complex piece, making the otherwise dressy blouse a perfect fit for day. A rouched “tie” is appliquéd on the front right side, adding even more complexity. We worked together to “break the spell” of the uniform, imagining an entire day spent wearing the blouse to different occassions.

Morning Glory

For the first outfit of the day, we combined the blouse with a pair of Ralph Lauren white distressed jeans, flat sandals and an oversized woven beach bag. She doesn’t necessarily have to go to the beach, but she's retired so why not? No matter where she goes, in this outfit she'll look very French Riviera chic.

Lunch @ Cecconi's

A full black taffeta skirt by Oscar de la Renta, kitten heels by Marc Jacobs and a floral Lilly Pulitzer hat, just to add a playful nature to the look and brighten the black and white. The blouse helps bring the skirt down to day-wear, making it perfect for lunch at an upscale bistro.

Dinner and a Movie

A quick change into a pair of silk flat-front pants by Max Mara, silver flats by Giuseppe Zanotti, an asphalt grey pashmina by Loro Piana, and Florentina is ready for a romantic dinner with her husband. The outfit can be worn with or without the hat, but we do think it makes the look more intriguing.

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About the Author

Francesca Belluomini has got style, class and sass. In How to Wear It, she offers fun and funky style solutions for your most troublesome wardrobe pieces. When she's not writing, Belluomini designs jewelry. Her collection draws from the colors, textures and aromas of her native Tuscany. See it at www.francescabelluomini.com.