Whilst autumn is definitely coming, I'm finding myself stuck in a bit of a heatwave rut with my daily uniform: a T-shirt and shorts. Thanks to the BBC's Sophie Raworth, I'm inspired to give my late summer looks an upgrade thanks to her high street blouse.
I spotted that Sophie, 58, hadn't fallen into the same trap as me by always relying on a basic tee and instead, wore a sweet, airy blouse with her summer shorts.
Of course, a cotton blouse is a summer staple but Sophie's casual styling is giving me the push to elevate my daily aesthetic. Rather than saving my blouses for smarter occasions, I'm going to be embracing Sophie's style and wearing with my denim cut offs and Bermuda shorts.
- Sophie Raworth's latest look solves the what to wear dilemma.
- The BBC broadcaster was snapped wearing a sweet poet's blouse from Hush, £45.
- It's the ideal swap for a basic T-shirt or vest, worn with shorts or jeans.
© InstagramIn fact, Sophie's blouse is, I imagine, more cooling than the T-shirts that I, and many women my age wear. In a fun social snap with a 10-month-old puppy, Sophie basks in the sunshine wearing a pair of sunglasses, shorts and a blouse that I tracked down to Hush.
Her blouse, on sale for £45, is made from a light, breathable fabric and what I love most are the balloon sleeves; they're an upgrade from your classic sleeve or puff sleeve, and because they're voluminous, they're airier than your average blouse too.
And I adore the laidback neckline. It's romantic, feminine but practical, with a v-beck and thin tie that can be worn loose and long, or tied to pull the neckline together.
This is the sort of blouse you can wear loose or tucked into your shorts or jeans, and because it isn't tight, helps to hide a tummy or bloated tum.
Sophie's Hush blouse is on sale, so it's no surprise that it's selling fast. But it's a style that's recreated all over the high street.
I love Boden's take on this trend, a linen blouse in an easy-to-wear chambray blue and with those signature balloon sleeves which nip in and puff out to create a little drama. This blouse is in fact on sale, for only £44.50 - an absolute steal with a 100% linen piece.
One of the most affordable at £22 is Roman Clothing's tie-front blouse. It's in a brilliant, almost azure blue, which pairs beautifully with white denim.
Or if you're wanting a more dramatic sleeve, I'm all in for Albaray's Volume Blouse, £30. With slightly longer blouson sleeves, it's one you can wear into autumn and is so easily dressed up - wear with flared jeans and heels for your next girl's drinks.
Just last month, Sophie provided the best hot weather dressing inspiration with her pink, chuck on dress. Snapped at the Isle of Wight Festival, the Running On Air author had us suddenly craving a pink summer dress. We're big fans of Sophie's style, from her camera-ready dresses to her more casual looks - are you?
