One of the Cannes Film Festival’s most memorable fashion moments this year was when the stars of Pedro Almodóvar’s Strange Way of Life attended the film’s photo-call. Actors Manu Rios, Jason Fernández, and José Condessa all showed up in sleek Saint Laurent blouses. Rios opted for a plunging evening shirt in cream, while Condessa wore one in ab-baring black. Fernández, meanwhile, selected a silky sleeveless top with a pussy-bow detail. These were not your standard dress shirts—they’re decidedly more modern and sexy in feel. I was instantly intrigued.
The provocative men’s blouse is a huge trend on the fall runways as well. Designers have incorporated unexpected, though elegant, touches that instantly elevate your everyday button-up. At Saint Laurent, the white cotton tops had big bow neckties; Willy Chavarria and Tanner Fletcher showed sheer black blouses with bows; Jacquemus even had tanks with peplum hemlines. These pieces have reimagined the top as something that can feel formal and like a statement entirely on its own—no blazer or accessories needed. The look feels totally fresh, especially in the menswear space.
The question is, however: Is this something that only celebrities or models can pull off? Or can a regular, non-A-lister like myself easily rock the blouse as well? Tiptoeing into the world of silk, chiffon, and pussy-bow tops, I decided to put the trend to the test. Below, I swapped my button-ups for a week in favor of much more fanciful tops.
The big-bow shirt
It’s day one, and I’m slipping into Tanner Fletcher’s crisp white long-sleeve shirt, which has a big bow at the neckline. I pair it with black dress pants—it doesn’t need much else! Sadly I have nowhere fabulous to wear it today, so I take it for a spin around the block to my favorite coffee shop. You’d think I was Beyoncé when I walked in: Half the store whipped their heads around at me. “I love your top,” says the barista. I certainly don’t get this response when I wear a solid button-up. Still I can’t help but feel this top would work better for evening. I envision wearing it to a wedding—are white shirts allowed?—or a formal gala, with no jacket.
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The sleeveless pussy-bow blouse
For day two, I decide to push the limits even further. It’s sweltering outside, so I opt for a sleeveless silk-muslin blouse by Saint Laurent. It’s polka-dotted with a pussy-bow neckline. I first try it with jeans, but it doesn’t feel right. Instead, I go back to my black dress pants. I’m learning that when you rock a statement top, you have to pare back everything else. It’s a work-from-home day for me, so I take it for a walk to get coffee. Given it’s sheer and sleeveless, it feels extremely breezy—it’s a dream to wear. I barely got a side glance this time. But come nighttime, I slip a black blazer on top and take it out to dinner. “I love your top,” says the hostess at a chic downtown restaurant. Noticing a trend?
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The silky ruffled top
For day three, I experiment with more of a dressy look. I love how romantic Tanner Fletcher’s silk ruffle shirt feels—especially in the deep blush shade. It’s semi-reminiscent of the ruffly shirts worn in Dumb and Dumber (but more elevated, of course). Again I pair it with black pants. When you’re covered in shiny ruffles, you can get away with basic styling. I’m seeing a friend for dinner, so I wear it out for a night on the town. This one’s super easy to wear—it feels like a regular silk button-up—but has that much more pizazz. I feel like I’ve thrown together a statement look without doing much work at all. I’m always here for lazy dressing hacks. You throw it on, and you’re good to turn heads.
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The slinky jersey top
I end on a more subtle note—well, if you consider a totally sheer top subtle. I admit having my nipples out is not totally comfortable, but this is about stepping outside my comfort zone and trying new things, after all. Saint Laurent’s jersey wrap-over top comes with a plunging neckline, so I pair it with a high-waist black dress pant to counteract this. With a heeled boot, I—dare I say it—feel kind of sexy in this one. It would be the perfect look for a date night (if the date is worthy of such skin bearing). It also totally ties into the whole stealth-wealth movement going on in fashion at the moment. The silhouette is interesting and a stray from the norm—but you have to squint to notice the details. Turns out less is more.
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While the four different tops were all vastly different in feel, I was struck by just how easy they were to wear. They’re a great investment piece for when you want to wear a bold look with minimal to no effort. The styling of them is super easy, so there’s no excuses there—simply pick a streamlined pant and a sleek dress shoe, and you’re good to go. Not convinced? Take it from me, an initial skeptic: It’s not as scary as it sounds. Take the plunge already!
