There are some items that have become 'classic' - like the Jean jacket, striped mariner shirt, white Jean, white men's shirt, leopard skirt, black pencil skirt, Jean skirt, ballet flat, pointy black pump, beige trench coat, leather motto, riding boot, chelsea boot - I could go on. The chambray shirt, and the plaid shirt are another two.

It is USEFUL to have these items in your closet, since they adapt to many outfit combinations and can sometimes be 'just the ticket' to solving a wardrobe delima. I think it is worth experimenting with. If you are having doubts, put it on a list and wait for the perfect 1 (ONE).

In my search for a chambray shirt, I probably tried on 2 dozen over a 6 month period of time before I found a very soft DARK denim. I only own one, because it is not a real signiture of my style. I do, however like having it in my closet. I might go a month or longer without even considering it, then it becomes a 'go to' item.

FWIW, it is the backbone of my vacation capsule, used by itself and over my sundress in-lieu of a sweater on cooler nights.

I sometimes think I have a wardrobe hole, then I look high and low to find the perfect boxy cut perfect burnt orange from the perfect french terry for the dream shirt. Then... I realize about the "wow she looks so cute" fantasy item, the item is (wait for the tada moment...) not something I'd ever thought of wearing when dressing in the morning. So while I don't own a burnt orange french terry shirt, and it seems like a really off the path color and something cozy to own, there never once has been a time when I go to the closet and say "Daaaum I wish I had one of them burnt orange french terry shirts, because I'd wear the hell out of it right now!" I'm learning to distinguish what my brain thinks I want, from what my brain wants me to wear in my real life.

BTW for you, I see you in something like Runcarla owns - a lightweight darker denim shirt and not chambray. I have a light colored denim that is pretty distressed with rips and repairs (more than would work for you) and I wear it more often than I expected.

SOOOO...glad that you brought this up...I have also read and drank the koolaid re/chambray shirts...I have three..one Halogen, one RL, one Lucky...I have yet to wear either of these three and felt wonderful...Mostly I just feel meh...Today I tried again to wear the Halogen with a black sweatshirt, black jeggings...I just feel meh in the outfit...
Should you buy such a staple and have it in your collection?...Yup, if you try it and are sure you will be able to style it to wonderful in your look...If not, leave the little sweetie by the wayside and move on...
I am not sure what I expect but whatever my mind's eye sees and the reality of me in the mirror are just not clicking..
JMO...

To answer Gennifyr's question, no I haven't decided yet. It may come down to which I happen to see first on my next shopping trip lol

I think every woman's "go to" piece is a little different. I, for one, don't own a white shirt--even though it's always listed as something every woman should have in her wardrobe. Why? Well, I don't look good in white, for one thing. I also hate trying to keep white shirts white.

I bought a couple of button-down shirts this year to wear underneath pullover sweaters. Only one is chambray and most of them are printed, but I'm finding I get a lot of use out of them. I'm chalking this up to the "Who Knew?" thing.

Long story short, either you'll be one of those women who gets a lot of wear out of a chambray shirt or you won't, but if you're not sure, maybe just buy one and see... assuming, of course, that you've viewed Pinterest boards, etc. and determined if any of those looks are what you'd actually wear.

Hope this helps!

See, your pinned looks are making me want one - even though I just got rid of THREE (too big, too Western, too meh). WHY?!! The denim and leather skinnies look just KILLS me!

What a great thread - I think sometimes we get caught up in wanting things because how they look on others. I myself have a chambray button up shirt because I felt I needed one because I saw so many on fashion sights. I didn't take into account that my my fashion aesthetic does not like button down shirts. I wasn't until spending time a YLF and thinking about what I wear and what my silhouettes that I like are that I made this realization.
so another fist pump of solidarity - if you have to think really hard about it maybe it is not the shirt for you.
Words of wisdom from the book "I'll drink to that" by the personal shopper to the stars Betty Halbriech. Her basic theory if you don't love it at first no amount of time is going to make it better.