wherefore art thou romeo?

I'm in love. Not, unfortunately, with a man, but with a blouse. A very, very beautiful blouse from Donna Karan's f/w 05 collection. I am a sucker for ultra feminine pieces that look as if they have been plucked out of a previous century, and it seems that I am not alone- after a quick perusal of the spring 06 collections at Saks et al, I noticed that romantic blouses are all over. No matter how sleek or edgy modern fashion can be- and I love sleek and edgy too- women's clothing never seems to stray far from a feminine aesthetic (think ladylike suits, voluminous skirts, hourglass shapes).

Just looking at this blouse makes me want to whip out a quill and head for a meadow to jot down some poetry.

Same gorgeous confection, but in grey:

A few more styles for the dreamers...

From top left: Robert Rodriguez off-the-shoulder blouse, Nanette Lepore embroidered top, unknown, "Lorraine" blouse by Catherine Malandrino

Simpler, less frothy options...

See by Chloe dot blouse, CK shadow stripe blouse

{Remember to mix hard and soft! romantic blouses look amazing when worn with slimline jeans or tailored pants}

Other sources: vogue, DK on style.com