Silk Blouses: Silk Types, Quality and How to Wear Them

A silk blouse is a blouse woven from silk, the protein fibre spun by the silkworm, and the best one for most wardrobes is a relaxed crepe de chine shirt with a fine, even weave that drapes off the shoulder and takes you from a desk to dinner. The silk blouses in the Ulla Johnson Pre-Spring 2027 collection cover four silk weights, and this guide explains each one; for the brand’s full set of tops, see our Ulla Johnson tops guide.

Key facts

• Crepe de chine is a lightweight silk with a faint pebbled surface made by twisting the yarns before weaving.
• Satin-faced chiffon has a satin face on one side for sheen while keeping the sheer drape of chiffon.
• Georgette is a sheer crepe with more grip and bounce than chiffon.
• The Ulla Johnson Pre-Spring 2027 silk blouses use crepe de chine, satin-faced chiffon, silk crinkle chiffon and satin-faced georgette, all dry clean only.

Why silk?

Silk is light, strong for its weight and takes dye with real depth, so colours look rich and prints look sharp. It drapes because the fibre is long and smooth, and it feels cool against the skin in heat and comfortable in an air-conditioned office. Those are the reasons a silk blouse is worth more than a polyester copy: polyester can imitate the shine, but rarely the drape and the way silk breathes.

The silk types in this drop

Crepe de chine

Crepe de chine is a lightweight silk with a faint pebbled surface, made by twisting the yarns before weaving. It has a soft, matte glow and hangs beautifully, and it is the most practical silk for a blouse you will wear often. Look for it if you want one silk shirt for work.

Satin-faced chiffon

This is a sheer chiffon with a satin face on one side, so it catches the light with a gentle sheen while keeping chiffon’s float. It suits tie-neck and draped blouses that need movement.

Silk chiffon

Silk chiffon is a sheer, very light plain weave. The crinkle version, heat-set into fine permanent creases, is easy to travel with because it never needs pressing. Our crinkle chiffon guide goes into detail.

Satin-faced georgette

Georgette is a sheer crepe with a little more grip and bounce than chiffon. With a satin face it adds soft shine, and in this drop it is paired with airy chiffon and Chantilly lace trim; see what Chantilly lace is.

How to judge silk quality

• Read the label: 100% silk is the baseline. Blends such as silk and polyester can be lovely, but they wear differently.
• Look at the weave against the light: it should be even, with no thin patches and no slubs unless they are part of the design.
• Feel the hand: good silk is smooth and slightly warm, never plastic-cool and squeaky.
• Check the seams: French seams and narrow rolled hems are signs of care, and they matter on sheer silk.
• Check pattern placement: on a print, the motif should line up at the front opening and the cuffs.
• Crush a corner in your hand: crepe de chine should recover with soft, not sharp, creases.

The best silk blouses: Pre-Spring 2027 picks

1. Nova Blouse in Canyon

Silk crepe de chine in canyon caramel with black trim, a collared shirt shape with gathered cuffs and a contrasting yoke. The one to wear to work.

2. Celesta Ruffled Blouse in Peony

Pale peony pink silk crepe de chine, ruffled at the neck, with pintucking at the waist and tonal panels for structure.

3. Ornament Blouse in Acacia

Satin-faced silk chiffon in the Acacia print, with a draped tie at a high neckline. Soft enough for the evening, tidy enough under a blazer.

4. Ornament Blouse in Wisteria

The same Ornament shape in plain wisteria lilac, the easier colour to repeat across a week.

5. Willhemina Blouse in Noir

Black satin-faced chiffon with asymmetrical pleats and ruffles tracing the collar and placket. The evening silk shirt.

6. Vesela Blouse in Primrose

Silk crinkle chiffon in the Primrose print, rust and coral florals, with a classic collar and a sculptural bow at the neck.

7. Elenora Blouse in Amaranthus

Silk crinkle chiffon in the Amaranthus print of garnet and rose bouquets, relaxed throughout, with stripes at the sleeves and bodice.

8. Selene Puff Sleeve Top in Noir

Black silk chiffon with satin-faced georgette, short puff sleeves, a bow and Chantilly lace trim at the V-neck.

9. Amara Top in Jasmine

A short-sleeved silk crinkle chiffon top in the Jasmine print, with a fly-away hem and a tie. A summer silk.

How to wear a silk blouse for work and evening

For work, tuck the Nova blouse into a wide-leg trouser with a loafer, and add a cardigan in place of a jacket on cool days. A silk blouse under a blazer looks best with the collar worn outside and the cuffs turned once. For evening, swap the trouser for a pleated midi skirt in silk and wear a sheer chiffon blouse over a slim camisole. Prints work both ways if everything else is plain. Our guide to ruffle blouses covers the softer shapes, and how to style Ulla Johnson has full outfits.

Sizing

Ulla Johnson cuts in US sizes and Coveti lists the UK equivalent: a US 0 is a UK 4, a US 4 is a UK 8 and a US 6 is a UK 10. Knitwear runs P to XL, with P listed as XS. The brand gives no advice to size up on any piece in this drop, so take your usual size. The full charts are in our Ulla Johnson size guide. Most of the silk blouses here are relaxed throughout, so a regular size will drape as intended.

How to care for a silk blouse

Every silk blouse in this edit is labelled dry clean only, and that is the safe route for printed and sheer silk, which can lose colour and shape in water. Steam out creases on a low setting instead of ironing, and never steam crinkle chiffon flat. Keep perfume and deodorant off the fabric, since both can stain silk. Store blouses on padded hangers with space around them.

Where else to look

For printed silk, La DoubleJ and Johanna Ortiz are worth browsing, and Erdem offers a more formal silk wardrobe. Compare them in our brands like Ulla Johnson guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best silk for a blouse?

Crepe de chine is the most practical: lightweight, softly matte and easy to drape. Chiffon and georgette are sheerer and suit evening and layered looks.

How can you tell good quality silk?

Check for 100% silk on the label, an even weave against the light, a smooth slightly warm hand and neat French seams on sheer fabrics.

How do you wear a silk blouse to work?

Tuck a collared crepe de chine blouse into a tailored trouser and wear it under a blazer with the collar out. Keep prints to one piece.

Can you wash a silk blouse?

Follow the care label. Every silk blouse in this edit is labelled dry clean only, which protects printed and sheer silk from shrinking and fading.

What is satin-faced chiffon?

It is chiffon with a satin face on one side, giving a gentle sheen while keeping the light, floating drape of chiffon.

Read next: Ruffle blouses, What is crinkle chiffon?, Ulla Johnson Pre-Spring 2027.

By Gemma Deeks, Coveti Fashion Editor. Updated 21 October 2026.