How to Wear Ruffle Tops

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Photos by Sarah Surette

Trendy Ruffle Top (less than $50) // Distressed White Skinny Jeans // Straw Hat // Nude Pumps

Who else is loving spring and summer trends this year? From blush dresses, to cold shoulders and twin sets, there’s a lot of variety and fun pieces to choose from. But there’s one trend that I was on the fence about: I was unsure how to style a ruffle top, especially pieces with bigger ruffles. When I found this adorable blue and white striped off-the-shoulder ruffle top (currently on sale for less than $50!), I immediately swooned and knew I had to figure out a way to incorporate it into my rotation. I mean, ruffles, stripes, AND off-the-shoulder? Who can resist that! It totally paid off because now this is probably one of my most-complimented pieces.

To save you all the time I spent figuring out how to wear this ruffle blouse, I’ve put together a few hard and fast rules to follow with your own trendy ruffle pieces below!

1. Confidence is Key

I put this one first for a reason. With any trend that is even a little bit different, some onlookers won’t be sure what to make of it. Do I like this or hate it? What really matters is what you think, and how comfortable it makes you feel. Exuding confidence is more important than anything else in the outfit, because it shows that you’re wearing this piece for you. Ironically, this very same internal confidence will often result in others sharing your appreciation for the piece.

2. Put a Hat on It

Summer hats aren’t just for keeping those rays out of your eyes! They also act as a great accent and focal point of an outfit. A subtle, neutral hat like this straw one ($13) is perfect to balance out the statement ruffle top, which is of course the star of the show. It also adds to the summery theme of the outfit, creating a cohesive look.

3. Skinny Jeans

Skinny jeans really balance out the look – since the ruffles make the top bulkier, the jeans should make the legs look sleek.

4. Distressed Jeans

Distressed jeans are in style and add a slight edge to an otherwise very preppy look.

5. White Jeans or Skirt

The ruffles are a fun summer trend, so in keeping with this theme, the white bottoms (whether white jeans or a skirt), add to the cohesiveness of the summer outfit.

6. Wear Heels

With ruffle tops, there’s a fine line between frumpy and chic, and heels are a good way to stay on the stylish side of that line! Nude pumps are always a good bet, because they’re subtle enough to balance out the outfit and won’t compete for stage time with the statement piece – the ruffle top!