There are a few tips for choosing the right size for a women’s dress shirt. First, you want to be able to fit two fingers between your neck and the collar of the shirt to give yourself extra space as it expands when you breathe. When you stretch out your hand straight in front of you, the long sleeve should land just shorter than your wrist and the cuff should be tight enough so that you can take them off without unbuttoning them.

There are four main types of women’s long sleeve dress shirts: the oxford fit, the slim fit, the oversized or boyfriend fit, and the collarless fit. Women’s blouses also come in different long and short sleeves including set-in sleeves, cap sleeves, flutter sleeves, bell sleeves, balloon sleeves, and more.

Women’s blouses are a simple and effortless staple for any wardrobe. You can layer it with a blazer or wear it as a dressier top in place of a white tee with a pair of jeans. When on vacation, you can also wear it over your swimsuit for a chic, boho style.

For women’s dress shirts, cotton is a popular fabric because it's the most breathable, durable, and comfortable. Another option for women’s blouses is silk, which tends to feel lighter and smoother than cotton. They can also be a cotton and polyester blend, which is commonly more affordable than 100% cotton or silk because polyester is synthetic and can be mass-produced.

How you care for your dress shirts depends on the fabric. If you have a silk shirt, you will have to wash it by hand. Otherwise, whether cotton or a blend, you can have your shirt professionally cleaned or do it at home. Make sure to use cold water and color-safe detergent, keeping lighter colors separate from darker ones. Line dry and iron your shirt while it’s still slightly damp with a hot iron. Make sure to iron the color away from the points to avoid creasing.

Women’s blouses can be worn in any type of setting, making them a staple piece to have in your closet. If you’re going out for a casual dinner and drinks, you can pair a dress shirt with any pair of jeans or shorts. If you’re planning on running some errands, you can even pair a dress shirt with a pair of biker shorts or leggings.

When wearing a woman’s blouse or dress shirt in a professional setting, there are a few ways you can wear it. You can pair it with a matching pant-suit or you can wear it alone on the top with a pair of dress slacks or a skirt. For a professional look, make sure no buttons are undone below the first one under the collar.

Many times, women find that they purchase a dress shirt and have to have it tailored, whether it’s lengthening the sleeves, cinching the waist, or hemming the bottom. At Sarah Alexandra, we create dress shirts and blouses that are made for every woman. Our blouses and shirts were designed to serve a new generation of women with exceptional taste who appreciate timeless style and demand extraordinary quality.