Return to Peasantville

PRODUCT Peasant blouses HOW IT STARTED Tom Ford showed one last winter, to great success JUDGMENT Great in March; may be overplayed by June

When creating their lines for spring, it seems fashion designers unanimously concluded that this was the moment to update the peasant blouse. As stores stock up for warmer weather, the garment will soon become ubiquitous (Julia Roberts, Janet Jackson and Calista Flockhart have already been spotted wearing them). In shape and color, the tops hark back to the hippie era. Loose and unstructured, they come mainly in white and pastels, often with embroidery. In detail and fabric, they tend toward the romantic, with ruffles around the neckline and cuffs, in chiffon and other sheer fabrics. The good news for the elite shopper: you can spend princely sums to dress like a pauper. Labels like Prada and Dolce & Gabbana offer tops that climb in price into the mid-three figures. If, however, you have a commoner's bank account, you have options at stores like the Gap and Zara, which sell the shirts for under $30. --M.O.