MY GRANDDAUGHTER PAINTED ME IN A CORAL BLOUSE. I LOOKED DOWN AT WHAT I WAS WEARING AND LAUGHED.
Six things about a bright colour-block blouse that made me remember what getting dressed used to feel like.
I am 67, I live in Sydney, and earlier this spring I went to my granddaughter’s school art afternoon. The children had painted the people they loved, and there was a row of rather wonderful portraits pinned up along the classroom wall. I found mine straight away: grey hair, an enormous smile and a blouse in the brightest coral you can imagine.
It made me laugh. I was wearing my usual pale grey shirt that afternoon. Most days I wore beige, navy or white. My granddaughter had given me a bright blouse covered in lovely big shapes, and I had not owned anything like it in years.
When I asked why she had painted me in coral, she said, “Because it looks like you when you are happy, Nan.” Children can say something in ten words that stays with you for a week. I looked at the little painting, then at my own sensible shirt, and thought about the clothes I used to love before I began choosing only the ones that disappeared into the background.
A few evenings later I was looking through Perth Boutique’s Colourful Collection when I spotted the Augusta. It had bold coral and orange panels, a creamy ecru section and black brushstroke-style markings. A little ruffled detail ran beside the buttons at the front. It looked as though somebody had taken those lovely paint colours from the classroom and made a blouse of them.
I liked that it was not a formal shirt with a stiff collar. It had a roomy shape, sleeves you could roll, and a dipped curved hem. It seemed like something I could wear over my favourite trousers and actually get on with the day in. I ordered it, thinking I might wear it to the school’s next spring event.
When it arrived, I put the parcel on the bed and spread the blouse out. Against the pale bed linen, the orange and coral looked every bit as cheerful as I remembered. I did not reach for a necklace or begin searching for a new pair of shoes. For once, the first thing I thought was simply, “I like that.”
I used to ask whether a blouse was sensible. My granddaughter’s painting reminded me I could ask whether I actually liked it.
I tried it with the dark trousers I wear all the time. Suddenly the outfit looked a great deal more like the woman in that little painting. There were six details that made the Augusta work for me, beyond the colour that first stopped me looking.
1THE CORAL, ECRU AND BLACK ALREADY MAKE THE OUTFIT
The colour blocks are what caught my eye first. Warm coral at the top, a creamy section below, orange through the middle, and black marks that almost look painted on. It is bold, yes, but the black-and-ecru sections give the brighter colours some balance.
With plain black or cream trousers, I do not need a statement necklace, patterned scarf or anything else to make an outfit look considered. The blouse is already doing that part.
My granddaughter chose a bright colour in her painting without hesitating. Perhaps I could do the same.
2THE LITTLE RUFFLE MAKES THE BUTTON FRONT FEEL SPECIAL
The Augusta has buttons down the front with a ruffled trim alongside the placket. It is a small detail, but it gives the blouse a softer look than a plain work shirt. I like that it adds a bit of interest without being covered in frills.
There is something lovely about a top that has its own finishing touch. A simple pair of earrings becomes enough; I can leave the scarves in the drawer for another day.
The ruffle is a detail you notice up close. It adds character without making the whole blouse feel fussy.
3THE ROOMY CUT LOOKS RELAXED, NOT CARELESS
Perth Boutique describes the Augusta as roomy through the shoulder and body, so it skims rather than fitting tightly. That was important to me. I wanted the cheerful colour without buying a blouse I would spend the afternoon straightening.
The store describes the fabric as a soft, breathable linen-look cloth. That has an easy, everyday feel which suits the relaxed silhouette. I would still check the size guide carefully, but I liked the idea of a blouse designed for a normal spring day rather than a very particular occasion.
I wanted the blouse to have a personality of its own, not to require constant attention from me.
4THE CURVED HEM DOES NOT NEED TUCKING IN
The Augusta has a dipped, curved hem. I like that because I have spent far too many mornings wondering whether I should tuck a shirt into my trousers or leave it hanging awkwardly over the waistband. This design is meant to sit over jeans or trousers.
That small detail makes the whole outfit feel simpler. I can put it on with black trousers, pick up my bag and go, rather than spending another ten minutes checking the mirror.
When a blouse is meant to be worn loose, I can stop trying to make it behave like a fitted shirt.
5THE ROLLABLE SLEEVES SUIT A SYDNEY SPRING DAY
Spring weather here can change between the morning and afternoon. The Augusta has sleeves designed to be rolled up and worn that way, which I like for a day that might begin indoors and end with a walk outside.
Its button front also means it can be worn open as a light layer over a simple vest top, as the store suggests. I appreciate clothes that offer more than one way to wear them without needing an entirely different outfit.
If the afternoon warms up, I would rather roll my sleeves than have to rethink the whole thing.
6THE COLLECTION IS FULL OF OTHER LITTLE SURPRISES
The Augusta is part of Perth Boutique’s Colourful Collection, alongside patterned blouses in florals, graphic motifs, dots and other bold prints. The collection currently shows the Augusta at A$69.99, and there are plenty of other designs at the same listed price.
For the Augusta itself, the store lists sizes S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL. I would check the measurements rather than guess at an Australian numerical equivalent, and I would pick the print I really enjoyed instead of choosing the most predictable one.
A collection full of colour is rather like that school art wall. Everybody can find the picture they like best.
THE AUGUSTA, AGAINST THE SHIRTS I KEPT CHOOSING AUTOMATICALLY
I did not need to throw away my sensible tops. But that painting reminded me that wearing colour and feeling comfortable need not be opposite things. Here is what appealed to me about the Augusta.
ABOUT THE PRICE
Perth Boutique currently lists the Augusta | Colour-Block Ruffle Blouse at A$69.99, reduced from A$139.00. It is part of the Colourful Collection, with sizes S through 3XL currently listed for the Augusta. Prices and availability can change, so check the collection for the latest details.
I have spent enough money on tops I bought purely because they were sensible, only to find that I never particularly wanted to wear them. This time the colour was what made me stop, and the practical details—the curved hem, relaxed cut, buttons and rollable sleeves—made it easy to imagine wearing the blouse for ordinary spring afternoons.
Perth Boutique advertises free Australia-wide shipping. I would still read the size guide, delivery information and current return terms for the exact item before ordering, particularly if I needed it by a particular date.
The little portrait is on my fridge now, held in place by a magnet. My granddaughter still thinks it looks exactly like me. Perhaps she was right all along. I had simply forgotten that I was allowed to enjoy a colourful blouse as much as I enjoy colourful things everywhere else.
Maggie
