The Little Black Dress always makes the list of fashion staples to have in your closet. Like high heels, I think little black dresses are easy to find and even easier to splurge on — but what one really needs to be mindful of are the more elusive basics, like The Little White Blouse.

Without little white blouses, what will you wear with your vintage suits and separates? It can be terribly difficult to match or coordinate with vintage fashions because their shades are from yesteryear’s color palettes. Plus, as these vintage photographs show, little white blouses with ruffles, pintucks, lace, and other details are the little touches which make an outfit an ensemble.

Dietrich With Dramatic White Ruffles

This retro Saks 5th Ave. lace blouse has a gorgeous accordion pleats!

Retro Saks Lace Bloue With Accordion Pleats

This vintage lace blouse may lack ruffles, but those 3 inch medallions of lace certainly will get attention!

Sheer Vintage Pin-Up Blouse With Loads Of Lace

Ralph Lauren’s sleeveless Forster Ruffle Blouse is less than $30 (sale found via Shop It To Me) and it will work past summer under suit jackets.

Sleeveless WhiteForster Ruffle Blouse

And the Venessa Ruffle-Front Blouse, also by Ralph Lauren, is also a good Little White Blouse choice.

Ralph Lauren Venessa Ruffle-Front Blouse

Katharine Hepburn With Wisps Of White Ruffles

If you’re looking for a ruffle to rise above the call of “just plain white,” the Ruffled Racerback Top adds interest as it adds a soft feminine contrast to more severe suiting.

White Ruffled Racerback Blouse

The Escada Long-Sleeve Ruffle Blouse has an incredible ruffle collar that stands up in back!

Escada Ruffled White Blouse With High Collar

And this retro white blouse has a ruffle that will be visible above most suit jacket necklines as well as a ruffled front and ruffled cuffs.

80's Ruffled White Blouse

Hedy Lamarr With Bits Of Ruffles