Recently at The Working Closet Facebook page (did you know that The Working Closet had a Facebook page? Well now you do!), Shannon mentioned that she doesn’t own a blouse. “Can you tell I never go anywhere nice?” she joked.

But here’s the thing about a blouse: when you’re wearing a blouse — instead of a t-shirt, for example — it makes everywhere you go somewhere nice.

Trading your basic tee for a blouse is the sartorial equivalent of swapping your everyday dishes for your wedding china: it changes the tone of what is otherwise a pretty normal event. Dinner served on the china is always more festive, no matter what the food is; a day where you put on a blouse with your jeans will be a little more special than a day where you just grab that same old tee.

I promise.

A blouse doesn’t have to be complicated; look for styles that flatter your shape in fabrics that work with your lifestyle. There are some terrific machine-washable options, for those of us who are still wrangling little kids with dirty hands (or just trying to cut down on the dry cleaning). And the best part about a blouse is that it’s a piece you can truly dress up or down. You could pair any of the blouses pictured here with jeans and a cardigan for a day with the kids, or with a sharp skirt and a jacket for a day at the office.

Are you a blouse girl? How are you styling your blouses — are they part of your everyday closet or do you save them for special occasions?

Pictured: Old Navy pintucked satin blouse, Zara blouse with pleated collar, J. Crew polka dot popover