Blouse vs. Top — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 21, 2024
A blouse is typically a more formal, fitted shirt made from woven fabric, often with buttons or detailed designs, while a top is a general term for any upper garment worn by women, varying widely in style and formality.
Difference Between Blouse and Top
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A blouse is usually made from high-quality, woven materials like silk or cotton, which contribute to its formal appearance and feel. On the other hand, tops can be made from a variety of materials, including knits, which are more casual and versatile.
Blouses are characterized by their tailored fit and often feature elements such as buttons, collars, or decorative trims. Whereas, tops may have a looser fit and come in diverse styles including t-shirts, tank tops, and crop tops.
Typically, blouses have a structured design that makes them suitable for office environments or formal settings. In contrast, tops cover a broader range of occasions, from casual to formal, depending on their design and material.
While blouses often include details like cuffs, button plackets, or embroidery that enhance their elegance, tops might focus more on comfort and trendiness with simpler designs or graphic prints.
Despite the overlaps in usage, blouses tend to be associated with a more mature and professional image, whereas tops can be playful, youthful, and adapted to various fashion trends.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Material
Typically woven fabrics (silk, cotton)
Can be knit or woven (cotton, spandex)
Fit
Tailored and fitted
Can range from tight to loose
Common Features
Buttons, collars, cuffs
May include none or features like graphics
Typical Use
Formal, professional settings
Casual to formal, versatile
Style Variations
Fewer variations, more uniform appearance
Wide range of styles and designs
Compare with Definitions
Blouse
A garment often with buttons down the front and a collar, designed for formal occasions.
Her blouse was perfectly pressed for the board meeting.
Top
A general term for any upper garment worn by women, not specific to style or occasion.
She packed several tops for her vacation.
Blouse
A woman's loose upper garment resembling a shirt, typically tailored from a woven fabric.
She wore a silk blouse to the interview.
Top
Can include various styles such as t-shirts, tank tops, or crop tops.
Her favorite top is a casual blue t-shirt.
Blouse
Suitable for professional or ceremonial wear, often paired with skirts or formal trousers.
She chose a white blouse and a black skirt for the ceremony.
Top
Made from a variety of materials including stretch fabrics like spandex.
The top she wore to yoga was made of breathable fabric.
Blouse
Traditionally designed for women, with features like ruffles or embroidery to enhance femininity.
The new collection features blouses with delicate lace detailing.
Top
Often less formal than a blouse and can be worn in casual settings.
She wore a comfortable top to the movie.
Blouse
Characterized by its fit, which is usually not too tight to maintain professionalism.
Her blouse fit comfortably, not too snug or loose.
Top
Designs can range from simple to trendy, adapting to current fashion.
This season's tops feature bold patterns and bright colors.
Blouse
A loosely fitting shirt that extends to the waist or slightly below, worn especially by women or children. See Note at greasy.
Top
A garment covering the upper part of the body and worn with a skirt, trousers, or shorts
She bought a couple of new tops
He was wearing a hooded top
Blouse
A blouse () is a loose-fitting upper garment that was worn by workmen, peasants, artists, women, and children. It is typically gathered at the waist or hips (by tight hem, pleats, parter, or belt) so that it hangs loosely ("blouses") over the wearer's body.
Top
The highest or uppermost point, part, or surface of something
Doreen stood at the top of the stairs
Fill the cup almost to the top
The springy turf of the clifftop
Blouse
A woman's upper garment resembling a shirt, typically with a collar, buttons, and sleeves.
Top
A lid, cover, or cap
He removed the top from his ballpoint
Beer bottle tops
Blouse
Make (a garment) hang in loose folds
I bloused my trousers over my boots
Top
The highest or most important rank, level, or position
The people at the top must be competent
Her talent will take her right to the top
Blouse
A loosely fitting garment resembling a long shirt, historically worn by European workmen.
Top
The end of something that is furthest from the speaker or a point of reference
The bus shelter at the top of the road
Blouse
A coat or tunic worn as part of a military uniform.
Top
Short for topspin
Blouse
To hang or cause to hang loosely and fully.
Top
A bundle of long wool fibres prepared for spinning.
Blouse
A shirt, typically loose and reaching from the neck to the waist.
Top
One of six flavours of quark.
Blouse
A shirt for women or girls, particularly a shirt with buttons and often a collar; a dress shirt tailored for women.
Top
A man who takes the active role in anal intercourse with another man.
Blouse
A loose-fitting uniform jacket.
Top
A conical, spherical, or pear-shaped toy that with a quick or vigorous twist may be set to spin.
Blouse
(India) A short garment worn under a sari.
Top
Used in names of top shells, e.g. strawberry top.
Blouse
To hang a garment in loose folds.
Top
Highest in position, rank, or degree
The top button of his shirt
A top executive
Blouse
(military) To tuck one's pants/trousers (into one's boots).
Top
Furthest away from the speaker or a point of reference
The top end of Fulham Road
Blouse
A light, loose over-garment, like a smock frock, worn especially by workingmen in France; also, a loose coat of any material, as the undress uniform coat of the United States army.
Top
Exceed (an amount, level, or number); be more than
Losses are expected to top £100 m this year
Blouse
A top worn by women
Top
Provide with a top or topping
Toast topped with baked beans
Top
Reach the top of (a hill or other elevation)
They topped a rise and began a slow descent
Top
Mishit (the ball or a stroke) by hitting above the centre of the ball
He topped his drive on the fifth hole
Sliced and topped shots
Top
At the most
Some civil servant earning twenty-eight thousand a year, tops
Top
The uppermost part, point, surface, or end
Wrote on the top of the box.
Top
The part farthest from a given reference point
Took a jump shot from the top of the key.
Top
The crown of the head
From top to toe.
Top
The part of a plant, such as a rutabaga, that is above the ground.
Top
Something, such as a lid or cap, that covers or forms an uppermost part.
Top
A garment worn on the upper half of the body.
Top
(Nautical) A platform enclosing the head of the lower section of a mast of a square-rigged vessel, to which the topmast shrouds are attached.
Top
The highest degree, pitch, or point; the peak, acme, or zenith
"It had come at a time when he was not feeling at the top of his form" (Anthony Powell).
Top
The highest position or rank
At the top of his profession.
Top
A person in this position.
Top
(Games) The highest card or cards in a suit or hand.
Top
The best part.
Top
The earliest part or beginning
She played the piece again, from the top.
Top
(Baseball) The first half of an inning.
Top
A stroke that lands above the center of a ball, as in golf or tennis, giving it a forward spin.
Top
A forward spin on a ball resulting from such a stroke.
Top
A toy having one end tapered to a point, allowing it to be spun, as by suddenly pulling a string wound around it.
Top
Situated at the top
The top shelf.
Top
Of the highest degree, quality, rank, or amount
In top form.
The top ten bestsellers.
Top
In a position of preeminence
The top historian in her department.
Top
To form, furnish with, or serve as a top
Topped the ice cream with jimmies.
Top
To reach or go over the top of
The car topped the hill.
Top
To exceed or surpass
The car's speed topped 80 miles an hour. Her performance really topped his.
Top
To be at the head of
She topped her class.
Top
To remove the top or uppermost part from; crop
Topped the fruit trees.
Top
To strike the upper part of (a ball), giving it forward spin.
Top
To make (a stroke) in this way.
Top
To make a finish, an end, or a conclusion.
Top
The highest or uppermost part of something.
His kite got caught at the top of the tree.
Top
(irrespective of present orientation) the part of something that is usually the top.
We flipped the machine onto its top.
Top
The uppermost part of a page, picture, viewing screen, etc.
Further weather information can be found at the top of your television screen.
Headings appear at the tops of pages.
Top
A lid, cap or cover of a container.
Put a top on the toothpaste tube or it will go bad.
Top
A garment worn to cover the torso.
I bought this top as it matches my jeans.
I like this pyjama top.
Top
A framework at the top of a ship's mast to which rigging is attached.
Top
(baseball) The first half of an inning, during which the home team fields and the visiting team bats.
Top
(archaic) The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head.
Top
The near end of somewhere
The patio is at the top of my garden.
The shop is at the top of my street.
Top
A child’s spinning toy; a spinning top.
The boy was amazed at how long the top would spin.
Top
(heading) Someone who is eminent.
Top
(archaic) The chief person; the most prominent one.
Top
The highest rank; the most honourable position; the utmost attainable place.
To be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school
Top
(BDSM) A dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or roleplay.
Top
Oral stimulation of the male member, a blowjob.
Top
(particle physics) A top quark.
Top
The utmost degree; the acme; the summit.
Top
(ropemaking) A plug, or conical block of wood, with longitudinal grooves on its surface, in which the strands of the rope slide in the process of twisting.
Top
(sound) Highest pitch or loudest volume.
She sang at the top of her voice.
Top
(wool manufacture) A bundle or ball of slivers of combed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out.
Top
(obsolete, except in one sense of phrase on top of) Eve; verge; point.
Top
The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface.
Top
Topboots.
Top
A stroke on the top of the ball.
Top
A forward spin given to the ball by hitting it on or near the top; topspin
Top
(A table at which there is, or which has enough seats for) a group of a specified number of people eating at a restaurant.
Top
To cover on the top or with a top.
I like my ice cream topped with chocolate sauce.
Top
To excel, to surpass, to beat, to exceed.
Titanic was the most successful film ever until it was topped by another Cameron film, Avatar.
Top
To be in the lead, to be at number one position (of).
Celine Dion topped the UK music charts twice in the 1990s.
Top
To cut or remove the top (as of a tree)
I don't want to be bald, so just top my hair.
Top and tail the carrots.
Top
To commit suicide.
Depression causes many people to top themselves.
Top
To murder.
Top
(BDSM) To be the dominant partner in a BDSM relationship or roleplay.
I used to be a slave, but I ended up topping.
Giving advice to the dominant partner on how to run the BDSM session is called "topping from the bottom".
Top
(archaic) To rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower.
Topping passions
Top
(archaic) To excel; to rise above others.
Top
(nautical) To raise one end of (a yard, etc.), making it higher than the other.
Top
(dyeing) To cover with another dye.
To top aniline black with methyl violet to prevent greening
Top
To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).
Top
To arrange (fruit, etc.) with the best on top.
Top
(of a horse) To strike the top of (an obstacle) with the hind feet while jumping, so as to gain new impetus.
Top
To improve (domestic animals, especially sheep) by crossing certain individuals or breeds with other superior breeds.
Top
To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel ingot) to remove unsound metal.
Top
(golf) To strike (the ball) above the centre; also, to make (a stroke, etc.) by hitting the ball in this way.
Top
Situated on the top of something.
Top
(informal) Best; of the highest quality or rank.
She's in the top dance school.
Top
(informal) Very good, of high quality, power, or rank.
He's a top lawyer.
That is a top car.
Top
Rated first.
She came top in her French exam.
Top
A child's toy, commonly in the form of a conoid or pear, made to spin on its point, usually by drawing off a string wound round its surface or stem, the motion being sometimes continued by means of a whip.
Top
A plug, or conical block of wood, with longitudital grooves on its surface, in which the strands of the rope slide in the process of twisting.
Top
The highest part of anything; the upper end, edge, or extremity; the upper side or surface; summit; apex; vertex; cover; lid; as, the top of a spire; the top of a house; the top of a mountain; the top of the ground.
The star that bids the shepherd fold,Now the top of heaven doth hold.
Top
The utmost degree; the acme; the summit.
The top of my ambition is to contribute to that work.
Top
The highest rank; the most honorable position; the utmost attainable place; as, to be at the top of one's class, or at the top of the school.
And wears upon his baby brow the roundAnd top of sovereignty.
Top
The chief person; the most prominent one.
Other . . . aspired to be the top of zealots.
Top
The crown of the head, or the hair upon it; the head.
All the stored vengeance of Heaven fallOn her ungrateful top !
Top
The head, or upper part, of a plant.
The buds . . . are called heads, or tops, as cabbageheads.
Top
A platform surrounding the head of the lower mast and projecting on all sudes. It serves to spead the topmast rigging, thus strengheningthe mast, and also furnishes a convenient standing place for the men aloft.
Top
A bundle or ball of slivers of comkbed wool, from which the noils, or dust, have been taken out.
Top
Eve; verge; point.
Top
The part of a cut gem between the girdle, or circumference, and the table, or flat upper surface.
Top
Top-boots.
Top
A stroke on the top of the ball.
Top
To rise aloft; to be eminent; to tower; as, lofty ridges and topping mountains.
Top
To predominate; as, topping passions.
Top
To excel; to rise above others.
But write thy, and top.
Top
To strike a ball above the center.
Top
To rise at one end, as a yard; - usually with up.
Top
To cover on the top; to tip; to cap; - chiefly used in the past participle.
Like moving mountains topped with snow.
A mountOf alabaster, topped with golden spires.
Top
To rise above; to excel; to outgo; to surpass.
Topping all others in boasting.
Edmund the base shall top the legitimate.
Top
To rise to the top of; to go over the top of.
But wind about till thou hast topped the hill.
Top
To take off the or upper part of; to crop.
Top your rose trees a little with your knife.
Top
To perform eminently, or better than before.
From endeavoring universally to top their parts, they will go universally beyond them.
Top
To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other.
Top
To cover with another dye; as, to top aniline black with methyl violet to prevent greening and crocking.
Top
To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).
Top
To arrange, as fruit, with the best on top.
Top
To strike the top of, as a wall, with the hind feet, in jumping, so as to gain new impetus; - said of a horse.
Top
To improve (domestic animals, esp. sheep) by crossing certain individuals or breeds with other superior.
Top
To raise one end of, as a yard, so that that end becomes higher than the other.
Top
To cut, break, or otherwise take off the top of (a steel ingot) to remove unsound metal.
Top
To strike (the ball) above the center; also, to make (as a stroke) by hitting the ball in this way.
Top
The upper part of anything;
The mower cuts off the tops of the grass
The title should be written at the top of the first page
Top
The highest or uppermost side of anything;
Put your books on top of the desk
Only the top side of the box was painted
Top
The top point of a mountain or hill;
The view from the peak was magnificent
They clambered to the summit of Monadnock
Top
The first half of an inning; while the visiting team is at bat;
A relief pitcher took over in the top of the fifth
Top
The highest level or degree attainable;
His landscapes were deemed the acme of beauty
The artist's gifts are at their acme
At the height of her career
The peak of perfection
Summer was at its peak
...catapulted Einstein to the pinnacle of fame
The summit of his ambition
So many highest superlatives achieved by man
At the top of his profession
Top
The greatest possible intensity;
He screamed at the top of his lungs
Top
Platform surrounding the head of a lower mast
Top
A conical child's plaything tapering to a steel point on which it can be made to spin;
He got a bright red top and string for his birthday
Top
Covering for a hole (especially a hole in the top of a container);
He removed the top of the carton
He couldn't get the top off of the bottle
Put the cover back on the kettle
Top
A garment (especially for women) that extends from the shoulders to the waist or hips;
He stared as she buttoned her top
Top
A canvas tent to house the audience at a circus performance;
He was afraid of a fire in the circus tent
They had the big top up in less than an hour
Top
Go beyond;
She exceeded our expectations
She topped her performance of last year
Top
Pass by, over, or under without making contact;
The balloon cleared the tree tops
Top
Be at the top of or constitute the top or highest point;
A star tops the Christmas Tree
Top
Be ahead of others; be the first;
She topped her class every year
Top
Provide with a top;
The towers were topped with conical roofs
Top
Reach or ascend the top of;
The hikers topped the mountain just before noon
Top
Strike (the top part of a ball in golf, baseball, or pool) giving it a forward spin
Top
Cut the top off;
Top trees and bushes
Top
Be the culminating event;
The speech crowned the meeting
Top
Finish up or conclude;
They topped off their dinner with a cognac
Top the evening with champagne
Top
Situated at the top or highest position;
The top shelf
Side fences
The side porch
Top
Not to be surpassed;
His top effort
Common Curiosities
Can a blouse be considered a top?
Yes, a blouse is a specific type of top, often more formal and structured.
What is the key difference between a blouse and a top?
A blouse is typically more formal and tailored, while a top is a more general term that includes any style of upper garment.
Can a top be as formal as a blouse?
Some tops, especially those designed with high-quality materials and elegant cuts, can be as formal as blouses.
What types of tops are most casual?
T-shirts and tank tops are among the most casual types of tops.
How do I choose between a blouse and a top?
Consider the occasion; choose a blouse for formal settings and a top for more casual or versatile needs.
Is there a specific age group that prefers blouses over tops?
Blouses are often associated with a more mature demographic, but they are suitable for any age depending on the style.
Are there any specific washing instructions for blouses?
Many blouses require delicate handling, such as hand washing or dry cleaning, due to their materials and details.
How do fashion trends affect the design of tops?
Fashion trends significantly influence the design, colors, and patterns of tops.
What should I wear for a professional interview, a blouse or a top?
A blouse is typically more appropriate for a professional interview due to its structured and formal nature.
Are blouses suitable for casual events?
While typically more formal, there are casual styles of blouses suitable for less formal events.
Are sleeveless blouses considered professional?
Sleeveless blouses can be professional if paired with a blazer or worn in a business-casual environment.
Can tops be worn with formal skirts?
Yes, certain tops like structured crop tops can be paired with formal skirts for a modern look.
What materials are commonly used for blouses?
Silk, cotton, and polyester are commonly used materials for blouses.
What is the range of prices for blouses compared to tops?
Blouses tend to be more expensive due to their detailed designs and quality materials.
Do blouses require ironing more often than tops?
Yes, blouses often require ironing to maintain their crisp appearance, especially those made from woven fabrics.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Pokémon vs. Digimon
Next Comparison
Peculiar vs. ParticularAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
