Shirts & Blouses

Women's shirts and blouses

A crisp shirt or a soft blouse is the fastest way to make a pair of pants look like an outfit. This collection brings together Forcast button-up shirts, satin blouses, wrap shirts and shirt dresses in sizes 4 to 18. It is built for women who dress for work most days and want tops that hold their shape from the first meeting to the last.

Shirt or blouse?

There is no rulebook, but there are tells. A shirt has a proper collar, a button front and buttoned cuffs, and is cut to follow the body — the Morgan Collared Shirt and Samara Cotton Striped Shirt are the textbook examples. A blouse sits looser through the body and is often finished with a pleated neck, a V-neck or a ruche instead of buttons, as in the Claudia Pleat Neck Blouse. Sleeve length is not the deciding factor; both come short, long and sleeveless.

How to wear them to work

A white cotton shirt tucked into a pencil skirt is the most reliable outfit in corporate dressing. A printed or spotted satin shirt worn with a pair of black pants gives the same outfit more personality for no more effort. For interviews and board days, layer one of our work blazers over a tucked blouse; the jacket comes off and the sleeves roll up once the meeting is done.

Off duty

An oversized cotton shirt half-tucked into jeans looks considered rather than casual, and a satin blouse does the same job with a midi skirt at night. Worn open over a plain tee, a longer shirt becomes a light layer for transitional weather. The same pieces move easily between the office and dinner, which is why they sit at the centre of most workwear wardrobes.

Fabric and fit

Cotton and poplin give the crispest finish and take a press well. Satin and chiffon drape instead, so they fall softly over the hip and suit a looser cut. If you tuck, choose a style that is cut with enough length through the body to stay put when you move.

How to shop the range

Shirts and blouses are listed in sizes 4 to 18, with measurements on our size guide. Start with the neckline you wear most, then decide on sleeve length and fabric. To finish the outfit, browse work pants or the matching jacket, and add a fine knit for the days when the air conditioning wins.