The poet blouse is having a moment this spring, and I love how it lends a boho vibe to an outfit without being too hippie.
This one from Old Navy is nice in that it’s not too voluminous, and it also has a modest neckline. (Sometimes they can be really low-cut.)
It’s made of a soft, double-weave crinkle-textured cotton, and it has raglan blouson sleeves with a subtly curved hemline. This top runs true to size, and it also comes in pink, blue, and black.
I styled it with my Mother Insiders in the Dancing On Coals wash. I feel like the flares play well with the boho-chic styling of this peasant top. (Peasant top, poet blouse… they’re pretty much one and the same.)
These were my first pair of Mother Insiders, the ones that started my obsession with these jeans. (They’re also part of the Shopbop sale, but sizes are limited. You can also find them at Saks, Bloomies and Nordstrom.)
The chewed up hems are a bit much for some, and I get that. I honestly feel a little silly wearing them sometimes, but overall these jeans are so comfortable and flattering, I’ve decided to embrace the hems as well.
The Mother Insider comes in lots of other options, if you like the crop flare but want to look a bit more polished. Girl Crush is the most similar to mine in the color of wash and fabric composition. And if you want a lower priced option, J.Crew does a similar pair.
For this first look, I’m wearing strappy slides with an espadrille wedge heel. I like how these elevate the look, and they’re in keeping with the summery vibe. These sandals are comfortable, but they run narrow, so I recommend sizing up half.
I love how cognac accessories warm up a cool color palette, so I added a leather hobo style handbag in a similar tone. I also wore this Victoria Emerson Cairo cuff bracelet and rattan earrings to incorporate an earthy touch.
To make the outfit slightly more casual, I swapped out the wedge sandals for braided flat slides. I also changed bags to match the more muted color palette, and I gave the top a front tuck and added a belt.
I flipped my bracelet around because the other side of the textured leather band is a smooth oatmeal color. I don’t think it’s intended to be two-sided, but I wear it this way sometimes when I want a more muted tone.
And for some reason, this is the best picture we got of these slides. Did I mention, it was cold? My toes were numb by the time I got back to the car.
Anyway, I love these. They have a molded footbed, so they’re good for those with finicky feet, but they also run narrow. I’m wearing the 8, and I often wear 7.5 in slides.
I’ve been trying to wear belts more, so I recently ordered a few of my favorite brand (B-Low the Belt) in different color combinations. I don’t love this ivory and gold with this outfit, but I didn’t have a better option. It’s also a little wider than I’d prefer, but it does the job.
Now that I look at this outfit, I’m thinking a braided straw belt would be a better fit. Or maybe one of these rattan stretch belts. That would tie in nicely with the rattan earrings.
Adding straw or rattan elements add to the summery vibe and play well with the boho-chic styling of this look.
I’m carrying my Louis Vuitton Graceful PM, a birthday present from a few years back. I carry this bag a ton during the spring and summer. You can also find them used on Fashionphile but it’s not much of a cost savings.
I’ve had a few people ask about the sizing of this bag recently. I love the PM size; it’s perfect for everyday. (It also comes in a larger size, which I tried, but that felt huge to me.)
I really should have changed jeans for one of these looks, but I just brought a change of shoes and bag. Still, I think it shows how easily you can dress this top up or down, and I’ll be styling this top with other bottoms as soon as it warms up here in Philly!
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photos: Alison Cornell
20 Responses
The white poet shirt is a must-have. I bought a similar one last year, and the first time I wore it I got 3 compliments. And I love chewed and/or raw hems, along with other distressing, It adds visual interest. I like a unique look!
I’m wearing my ON poet blouse today! I ordered the first time you showed it & have been waiting for warmer weather so I could finally wear it.. I’m so glad a good nude bra works under it so no cami is needed. It’s definitely a good little blouse.
I bought this blouse in the white and although I haven’t had a chance to wear it yet.. I like the ways you have styled it.. I too like the frayed or chewed hems ! Adds a little fun ..
Enjoy Florida and safe travels!
Have this shirt and love it! I would love to see a post on how to style belts. There are so many options out there, not sure where to start. Thanks!
Love the belted looks the best! I have several boho-type tops and blouses that I really enjoy wearing! Love the flowiness and ease. Thanks for the style options. Have fun in FL, hope to see some pics on your Instagram stories!!
I bought this blouse in white when you first styled it. Love it but waiting for chance to wear it. I thought this week, but we got an unexpected snow in NW Oregon. We got 6” yesterday and snowing some this morning. Ugh. I’m ready for Spring and this is the latest snow we’ve had and record in inches for this time of year. Infact we hardly ever get snow. Suppose to be doing this through Thursday. Have you washed your blouse yet? Anyone? How does it wash up? I won’t dry mine so wondering how the material looks out of the wash. Enjoy your trip. Will you be spending Easter there?
I nearly always wash my clothes, especially tops, prior to wearing because sometimes the dyes or other manufacturing chemicals irritate my skin. I washed this one on cold and tumble dried for about 10 minutes before hanging to finish drying. It came out beautifully!
Thank you Jane……good to hear. Appreciate you commenting back.
I haven’t washed mine yet so glad to see that Jane had a good experience.
I love that blouse. I picked it up a few weeks ago. It is good quality and nice material. I’m going to wear it with black walking shorts in the Spring, if it ever arrives in NH. 😃
That sounds perfect!
Love the top – planning to order it today! I have a question about the Graceful PM. I happen to have the same bag and love it, except it’s very floppy and won’t stay closed; the magnetic closure doesn’t do much. I got an organizer, hoping that would help holds its shape, but I don’t think it’s tall enough. Have you had this issue and if so, any tips? Many many thanks!!
Hey Sarah, I carry it a lot and don’t have that issue. Maybe because I don’t carry a lot of stuff? I have seen organizers for this bag and had a hard time picturing that. Maybe if it is more full, the magnet doesn’t hold as well?
I bought a similar top at Loft a year ago and have yet to wear it. I thought it was pretty but it does lean a little boho and I do tend to wear modern classic. The thing is, I have always loved a boho top, maybe because I grew up in the 70’s. Anyway, thanks for the inspiration, and hopefully I can wear it soon!
Love the poet blouse look. I’d like to throw out a request for some summer sandals. You provide a good selection of over 2.5 inch wedges and sandals and slides, but I rarely wear either. Over 2.5 inches is too high to be comfortable for long and my feet need more support than slides offer and often I walk right out of them. I’d love to see some sandals more in the 1 – 2 inch range……..Thanks for considering!
Enjoy Florida! Your daughter is going to have a great time, and hopefully, y’all will too! I bought this top, but haven’t had the opportunity to wear it. I may try to for some spring family pictures in a few weeks. I also got those wedges, and even though I’ve only worn them around my house, I really like them!
Would you consider the W&W gauze top you recently shared to fit into the same category as this top? I received it in the lavender today and really like it. I have put the Dolce Vita slides on my wish list.
Yes, totally. What color did you get?
I got it in the lavender. I can’t wait to wear it, especially after seeing how you styled this top.
Love both these looks!!