An exercise in button front shirts: pic heavy - YouLookFab Forum

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An exercise in button front shirts: pic heavy

Anonymous

So now I have all these button front shirts and I don't know how to wear them! Inspired by Angie's outfits from here Japan trip, I tried wearing them different ways, many times two at a time. I found that some of my shirts that were in the reject pile for one reason or another could successfully be worn underneath another shirt and look just fine (to me anyway!)

Do any of these work? There are a few flops in here, but I just wanted you to see everything I tried. I'd love your opinions!

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Dressing

31 replies

Latest reply was from goldenpig

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOW. It ALL looks absolutely smashing and you score an A+++ for your button down shirt exercise!

anne

Veteran

What a lot of work!
The ones that appealed the most were 2 and 6, which were 2 of the ones without layering!
Won't it be too hot to layer like this Claire?

I didn't like 4, 10 or 12

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Now I have to try this. Bravo, Claire!

Anonymous

Thanks Angie! I'm exhausted now! But I learned a lot more by actually trying things on than by looking at them hanging in my closet. I would never have tried button front shirts at all if if weren't for you!

Anonymous

Anne, 4 and 10 were failures in my book as well. It's not that hot here yet, but it will be!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Wow Claire! These are amazing! You give a girl hope for button downs that's for sure. These are all fantastic but I must say that #5 is SUPERB!!!

Sarah A

Veteran

Wow! So many of these work sooo well! I think 11-14 might be a bit better with the denim shirt tied a little higher. 2, 3 and 9 are some faves of mine. and did i miss it or is that a new belt in #5? dont remember see it before... Great all around!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That's such an important realization, Claire. You really DO learn so much more by actually trying items on, rather than staring at them in the closet.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Claire --

Overall, I love the colors + shapes you've got going in 1-5, 6, and 8-10. Your skin just loves those cool brights!

Like Anne, I worry about you passing out from double-layered *blouses* and I'm not really on board with the look. If you subbed in a cotton tank underneath the blouses in the colors you're showing together, though, you'd have me at hello.

Meredith1953

Veteran

Holy crap! Every single one of the outfits totally works!!! Of course as slim as you are you don't look like stuffed turkey the way SOME of us *ahem* might look in several of the pics. You are the absolute queen of layering shirts!

christy

Veteran

You look TERRIFIC in button down blouses and I am really impressed by this exercise! The only ones that don't work for me are #7 and #10. I'm not quite on board with the collared shirt over collared shirt combos, but I do love the colors you have going on here. I ADORE #5!!!!

Anonymous

Sarah! You are so observant! Yes I got the orange belt yesterday for 50 cents. Also "new" is the Eddie Bauer navy A-line skirt ($1) in #5 and the Gap light blue long sleeved shirt ($3) in #7.

Thank you Shannon, Amy and Meredith!

Vix, I know I'm really thinking outside the box here. Tanks are undergarments for me. I could actually take off the over shirt in all of there combos and be well-covered so that's one of the reasons I got a wild hare (wild hair?) to try these. I had fallen into a rut of always wearing a jean jacket or cropped cardi so I was looking for an alternative. I am always complaining about how cold the A/C is everywhere but home, so I'm looking for ways to layer for the indoors.

Thanks Christy! Don't worry I'm not going to make double collars part of my daily rubric, but I thought, hey, if one collar is good for me, wouldn't two be better? At least I don't look like I'm wearing a bad uniform (yeah, instead I just look insane), lol!

velvetychocolate

Veteran

I can't really find a combination that I don't like? These are amazing Claire. I mean, if you wanted to get really picky and eliminate one or two, I'd maybe re-consider #4 and #10, but the thing is - they still look pretty good!

You are really, really good at this, and so-very stylish. I just might do 'trying some stuff on' in my closet tomorrow - you've given me some wonderful inspiration

sarah

Veteran

Claire, wow - you have a lot of stamina.

I absolutely love 1, 2, 5, 6, and 8. In going through them, I realized that I preferred the button downs on their own (or with a scarf) or layered *under* a tee, more so than the two-button-downs-together looks. I think I'd rather just see a scarf inside the neck, rather than another button down. Also, it seems like you'd hardly be able to wear two button downs together in AZ, no? But I do seem to be in the minority here on that.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

You know I didn't even notice at first glance the double collars. I noticed the brilliant colors and how amazing you look in them. Now that you are warned of my lack of observational powers, my favorites are 2,5,6, and 9. Looking good!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You are just SO clever!

Your sensitivity to colour is unparalleled. You really know what works for you and manage to find pieces that can work well together, too.

The double collars don't bother me, actually, although maybe IRL I might feel differently. (I can just hear you joking around with your son and his friends: "I've got you collared, young man!")

I actually like every one of these, although I ADORE 2, 5, 6, 7, and 9. And I want to come take lessons from you.

Anonymous

Shevia and Suz, thank you so much. I see you both concur, and this is really helping me figure out what works, what needs to go back into the reject pile (mmmmm, juniors shirts, perhaps?) and what I need to buy (mmmm how 'bout a BB white non-iron shirt?). By the way Suz, I was totally trying to copy you in 4 and 6 with the scarves on the outside of my collar, but I think the shirts were just wrong. The teal shirt has ruffles down the front that I was trying to hide, lol!

Beth Ann

Veteran

There's no substitute for trying things on, is there, Claire? These are amazing! I love the layering, and the mix of navy is turquoise is one of my favorites. The best thing is that you're finding so much wonderful variety while still sticking to your own signature style. Brava!

catgirl

Veteran

Claire, you RULE these buttondowns! I am totally inspired by your perseverance and dedication - everything you learn feels like I'm cheating because I learn from you!

ManidipaM

Veteran

Claire, THANK YOU for this exercise and the show-and-tell.

Like Angie, I'm finding everything works to my poor eye --- and really #4 was one of my faves, and I adore the scarf top makeover in #10, so really not sure what's giving you or others pause there. (Tell me! I wanna learn!)

LOVE the new navy skirt, and both belt and blue button-down are sure to prove extremely versatile for your style. Really digging the doubled belts in #1, by the way!

But the biggest THANK YOU is because you may have solved my Arctic Office dilemma, where I'm freezing and all I have is one lightweight moss-green blazer that does NOT go with everything. I carry my leather jacket some days --- and feel more than a little silly walking over from the parking block across the busy marketplace in 33 degrees Celsius in the sun! Now a *shirt* or even a T-shirt would be easier to pop into the bag and layer over --- or hey, even under. (Though I think I'll want tights or leggings too if I wore a skirt or dress --- it is COLD in there: *not* kidding!)

Deborah

Veteran

Claire you are amazing. I would have been exhausted by the 3rd try on I like all of these with the exception of 10 and wonder if it needs a belt?

The versions with the shirt tied are cute but I'm not a fan of tied shirts so that's just my preference.

And the double shirt thing is clever. If I layered two shirts I would look HUGE:) ha ha

lyn67

Veteran

OH my, they are all very inspiring and beautifull (the only one I'm a bit unsure is nr. 8). BUT what a good job on button downs-I'm amazed!!! Congrats!!!++

jayne

Veteran

Love the exercise and all the color! My favorite is 1! but so many were great that I marked this as a favorite for future study! and copy!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I see no flops there! That is a great exercise, and one I should probably try as well, since I have a couple of button-fronts I've been giving the side-eye. Especially since they were items from when I weighed about 15 lbs more than I do now, and they're slightly big.
Layering sometimes can help that, but I also learned one day with a too-big under-layered shirt that it can also be miserable as the extra fabric shifts and bunches too easily.

Jjsloane

Veteran

I feel constricted just looking at some of the layered ones, but they don't look bad. Like Deborah said I would appear HUGE if I layered that much. I prefer 1,2,4,5,6,8 and 9 (all the ones without 2 collars) personally.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Claire this is really great and so helpful. I really love how the color layering works in #2 and #3 in particular but I also wonder is it "okay" to wear two collared shirts layered? A collared shirt with an inside color that is different than the outside would be a pretty cool solution but I doubt that would be easy to find.

rae

(website)

Veteran

Don't know how to wear them?? Claire, I think you were premature in that evaluation! These are all totally fab, and wow have you inspired me to layer my less-than-wrinkle-free collared shirts underneath the more pristine ones. That will really come in handy come winter!

Kyle

Veteran

AWESOME!!! I love your inventiveness and spirit of adventure!!! 2,6, 8, 9, and 10 rock my world, Claire.

Kyle

Veteran

AWESOME!!! I love your inventiveness and spirit of adventure!!! 2,6, 8, 9, and 10 rock my world, Claire.

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