In Defense of Doily Shirts

A Springtime Essential that Always Works

Took a beat due to my kid’s spring break and catching a subsequent cold that quickly became my entire personality. I hate being sick (assuming everyone is on the same page here) and I couldn’t stop sneezing, wheezing and (surprise!) complaining. But I’ve turned a corner and surfaced just in time to espouse the enduring aesthetic of doily shirts.

What are doily shirts? If you’re filing this question into the line of the bajillion other more important ones you are currently managing (if it’s what to order for lunch from Sweetgreen, the answer is: the Crispy Rice Bowl with Salmon), then I’ll give you the quick and pristine answer.

Doily shirts are, ahem, exactly as they sound - white or cream embroidered or containing some crochet or embroidery, airy, light and very nice for springtime both in weight and in aesthetic. They have an effortless 70s Jane Birkin vibe when worn with denim cut offs, a mini skirt or blue or faded black jeans.

The Lenore top from Doen. Bottega Veneta Cat Eye Sunglasses.

I’ve been collecting and wearing them since high school and when starting to date my now husband in our 20s, he quickly dubbed my oft worn blouses, “doily shirts” and said it in a semi-derogatory manner. He immediately learned that I don’t factor men’s opinions into my style choices and I quickly doubled down on doily shirts.

I buy them everywhere from vintage stores to Zara. I just love a lace or crochet little blouse, and this is coming from someone who would never classify their aesthetic as “boho” or “cottage core.” Perhaps because nothing else I ever wear is “sweet” or too traditionally feminine in nature. And doily shirts provide just enough dressiness when running around doing all the things we do.

And as Chloe’s 70s magic has permeated the zeitgeist, doily shirts are an easy, accessible way to participate in a practical, everyday type of way.

Oldie Zara top, similar here and love this one here. The easiest to wear jeans - Pistola’s Lexi mid-rise bowed straight leg.

I recently bought this lace blouse with a Peter Pan collar from Doen. I wore it with a black silk cami and a pair of washed out black, flare leg jeans. See, 70s but make it structured and with a comfortable amount of cynicism.

I have this oldie but goodie from Zara from whenever boho was in the last time. Again, I love the black jean pairing, this time with the trusty Mary Janes. I pull my hair into a slick back to keep off setting the crafty quality of the blouse with a more sophisticated element.

Isabel Marant Etoile top, similar here

This Isabel Marant blouse with eyelet cutouts is one I bought off The Real Real a couple of years ago. I guess I really only wear doily shirts with black jeans these days. Sheesh. But! I got a little creative here and topped off the look with my favorite straw baseball cap. This I bought from Tokyo Hands in Japan, but I am willing raffia + straw baseball caps to be a thing, wherever and whoever wants to start making them en masse. Honestly, I am exhausted with the baseball cap-as-billboard gingerly placed on every Millennial mom’s noggin. Let’s replace it with a statement cap a la Elmer Fudd goes to Tulum. Oooh, next year’s Met Gala theme?

Until then, do get yourself some doily shirts. They’re summery, sweet, show skin-but not really, neutral and throw everything off just enough to feel like you’ve still got it - because YOU DO.

See you in the next post.

MM x