So, blouses are becoming extinct. Here's why.

"If you're wondering why you haven't shopped for a blouse in a while, that's because you don't need them."

That is the bombshell that stopped me in my tracks while I was mid-scroll on Instagram the other morning.

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American content creator Caitlin Jaymes, a stylist who specialises in closet edits, dropped this piece of intel in a recent video posted to her popular channel.

When she's working with clients on refining their style, they often lament the lack of blouses — or 'fun tops' — in their wardrobes.

But Jaymes says those are the first things she culls.

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According to the stylist, the extinction of the blouse is linked to the fate of the skinny jean.

They used to be the ultimate combo — the cool-girl dream team of the early noughties.

Think about all those times you teamed a peplum shirt with slim work pants, or a statement-shoulder top with black skinnies. Because of the way proportions work, we'd generally opt for tops with volume to balance out those fitted pants, right?

But with the updated shapes that have come into fashion in recent years, we've literally flipped the script.

In 2025, Jaymes says, "our pants are a lot wider and they're kind of like the star of the show. And that's why we don't have any more blouses in our wardrobe. We just pair [those pants] with a basic."

I have to admit I'm conflicted. As a millennial woman, I'm rather attached to my blouses. A sheer black button-up I splurged on from Isabel Marant is a piece I'd hesitate to part with, but potentially that comes down to the money spent and not the style itself.

When I was clearing out my closet recently, I did purge a few well-loved silk shirts from boujie French brand Equipment (which is no longer in existence… telling in itself).

I bought these in my magazine days in the mid-noughties, and back then they were the height of cool.

And you know what I used to wear them with? Skinny jeans. Pointy heels. A studded leather bucket bag from Alexander Wang. And oh… I think Caitlin Jaymes might be right.

These days I'm more inclined to wear an oversized tailored shirt or colourful 'party shirt' with wide-leg pants or jeans — they're my modern version of the blouse.

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One notable exception to the theory is those loose tie-up smock tops that are everywhere lately, inspired by the Copenhagen street style movement.

I'd absolutely classify these as blouses, but the thing is, they're not blousey in a dated way. They're a 'fun top' that feels fresh, and they're actually made to team with wider bottoms or skirts. So the proportions look right.

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Caitlin says there's definitely still a place for statement tops in your wardrobe, but the silhouettes are changing. They might be more about an asymmetrical shoulder, cut-outs or draping.

"These are what I call 'elevated basics'," she clarifies, referring to the off-the-shoulder top she's wearing in the video.

"The neckline is more interesting, and makes you feel like you're adding something a little more fun and exciting to your wardrobe."

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And remember, these "rules" don't have to work for everyone. Blouses are a classic style for a reason, and everything cycles in and out of fashion — which is why I'll be holding onto my Isabel Marant top forever.

Feature image: Instagram/@caitlin_jaymes; Shein.