AW16 Trend Update: Cool Collars vs Chic Cuffs

Add a little flair to your everyday blouses with chic cuffs and collars. Which one will you choose?

Words Joy Montgomery

Whether it’s tucked into a tailored skirt for work, dressed-up with statement earrings for dinner, or layered under a leather biker at the weekend, the classic blouse is the staple of every woman’s wardrobe. They’re the sartorial equivalent to a best friend you can call in an emergency. However, as winter closes in these hero pieces become hidden under new coats, statement knits and trophy jackets – but not for AW16.

Thanks to designers such as Gucci and Temperley, the blouse has been given the royal treatment, making collars and cuffs – usually an unnoticed detail – the stuff of dreams. No longer are blouses made to be hidden. Flared sleeves fan out of suit blazer cuffs, pie crust collars trim the necklines of cashmere, and pussy bows offer a statement centrepiece to a winter coat. High street and high-end-alike are offering interpretations on the trend, with brands such as &Other Stories nailing the trumpet sleeve, while Miu Miu’s embellished collar will add designer factor to your classic white shirt collection.

Cool collars or chic cuff: which will you choose?

Scroll down for our edit of the best collars and cuffs. Pick a side and style it up…

COOL COLLARS

From top left: MIU MIU Silk-organza & guipure lace-trimmed denim shirt, £275, net-a-porter.com, SELF-PORTRAIT Ruffle-trimmed guipure lace & crepe top, £200, net-a-porter.com, SONIA RYKIEL Ruffled crepe de chine blouse, £380, net-a-porter.com, MIU MIU Lace-paneled embellished cotton-poplin shirt, £1,370, net-a-porter.com, LANVIN Pussy-bow charmeuse blouse, £750, net-a-porter.com, & OTHER STORIES Shooting Star Blouse, £65, stories.com

CHIC CUFFS

From top left: ELIZABETH AND JAMES Astrid satin blouse, £292, matchesfashion.com, ROKSANDA Truffaut cotton-poplin top, £475, harveynichols.com, REJINA PYO Billie cotton-chambray shirt, £295, brownsfashion.com, TOPSHOP Flared Sequin Sleeve Top, £65, topshop.com, ZARA gingham checked top, £22.99, zara.com, ZARA two-toned lace top, £22.99, zara.com