Sometimes you own a basic piece and, over time, run out of ideas for how to style it.  You Have, You Need helps you come up with new ways to style your must-have basics.  Today, we’re tackling the ruffled-collar blouse.

The Shirt // This ruffled collar blouse from Express is a great piece for any wardrobe.  Banana Republic Factory has a similar blouse in a unique textured fabric.  If you want the cut in a classic cotton fabric, give this Alex Mill blouse a look.  Prefer something sleeveless?  Try this NYDJ top.

Plus-size?  I couldn’t find a shirt in plain white, but I did find the same style in a fun leopard print.  (I’ll keep an eye out for a better one.)  Petite?  The Banana Republic shirt comes in your size.

A Collarless Jacket and Statement Earrings // First off, how great is this Mango tweed jacket?  It has all the Georgetown in Chanel vibes you’re looking for at a price a Staff Assistant could swing.  The buttons are a great accent and the style is very chic.  I would button it up all the way to let the collar just peek out, but you could also leave it unbuttoned.

For a more modern tweed look, I would try this frayed jacket from IRO.  Or if you want something lighter, try this white and black tweed from Express (runs up to size 18).

A pair of statement earrings in 2022 looks different than they did in 2012.  Now, they’re sleeker and chic.  Take these Soko double drops — they have a lot of weight and impact in a very subtle package.  For something under-$50, try these Airotciv drops from Verishop.

A Colorful Sweater and Natural Jewelry // The seafoam color on this J.Crew cashmere sweater (also in plus) is fantastic in any season.  And with the ruffled collar of that blouse peaking out, it’s a little preppy and a little pretty, but totally classic.  The ruffle accent creates a great underlayer to add interest to the basic sweater.

My favorite place to buy good-quality cashmere for a decent price is Bloomingdale’s.  Need cotton?  LL Bean has a selection of cotton sweaters, in classic fits, at great prices.

For this look, I chose Malachite ring from Wolf & Badger.  The greens play off of each other in a really rich and unexpected way.  I also love this Malachite dog tag style pendant from the same shop, if you prefer a necklace.

Other color combinations include a pale blue with lapis lazuli, a pink top with a fluorite necklace, or a navy sweater with a chalcedony accent.  Basically, once you find a more rustic, natural stone you like, just choose a top or sweater to coordinate.

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