Wearing a fancy shirt over jeans?? - YouLookFab Forum

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Wearing a fancy shirt over jeans??

NaturalEve

So does it look bad to wear a fancy blouse or shirt that would be considered a little up there in style and fabric department over jeans?
My friend says that it looks awful because the contrast in pieces (one is more formal than the other), but I think it looks fine as a casual look.
What are your thoughts?

Dressing

15 replies

Latest reply was from Tessitura

Suja

Veteran

I think it is a totally mainstream look. Juxtaposition is the biggest trend in the last 10 years. I say go for it with no qualifiers.

crutcher

Veteran

That is certainly a go to for going out...a special top, fancy shirt, etc. with jeans and boots...Wear this and you are chic and stylish not to mention sassy...smile...

Anonymous

Agree with Suja - in fact, it's the single easiest way to look pulled together quickly and informally! My favourite way to dress up for an evening out .

K. Period.

Veteran

A agree with Suja too. The juxtaposition is what makes it more sophisticated or more "fashion" than having every element be the same. It is kind of like the difference between colors matching and pieces coordinating. Just matching is fine, but coordination is much more interesting. Also, an element that is challenging or slightly discordant in a look is often what makes an outfit. Once a person masters the basics of things going together, they move into seeing how to make something more layered or interesting by adding something that isn't necessary an easy match. Of course, I'm assuming that the dressy blouse is tied into the whole outfit and bookended by dressier shoes or something deliberate, rather than just regular casual shoes.

When you tell your friend that the fashion forum said she was wrong, be gentle! Breaking through to a more complex understanding of dressing is a big step.

Zibbets

Veteran

Totally!
One caveat: not all jeans are created equal. Some are more disco and some are more rodeo. The former usually looks better with a fancy shirt than the latter…unless of course the "fancy" you're referring to comes with pearl snaps. Also, a darker wash usually looks better with a dressier top.

Marley

Veteran

My thoughts are, "Where has your friend been?"
Dressy tops paired with jeans are an effortless way to up your fashion quotient - and are considered a pretty mainstream trend.
I say go for it and have fun!

NaturalEve

Haha! That makes me feel better that I'm not looking at this style the "wrong" way. She's a bit old-fashioned, this friend of mine. Thank you everyone for you're input!

unfrumped

Veteran

What Marley said!
Sometime I feel that's the main thing going on in stores, really--selling dressy tops to wear with jeans!

I do agree that some pairings are better than others, but it's almost hard to mess up, if both your jeans and your top suit you well. So have fun experimenting.

Deb

Veteran

You can look at it as dressing up the jeans or dressing down the shirt, either way, I think it is a fabulous, modern look, which is great to wear.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I do this all the time, to active a balanced outfit that is modern and not too dressy nor casual. Definitely a popular and simple strategy for an effortless look.

Aida

Veteran

I do this a lot too, and agree that it's a fairly mainstream look. My husband isn't a fan of contrasts in dressiness either, so he finds it a bit odd sometimes.

anela07

I think it really depends on the kind of jeans - nicer jeans with a darker wash will look great with a fancy top (I do that all the time without even thinking, for going out) but with a light-wash or distressed jean, it may not have the same effect. Really though, I think that jeans can go with anything! That's the beauty of them.

jackiec

Veteran

Yes - of course - it works! It's all about the irony...

Alana in Canada

(website)

Veteran

Oh my: I think I remember when this look was first introduced--about thirty years ago! I am so used to it, now, you could put a beautiful camisole/lace top with distressed and torn jeans and I'd consider it dressy. Heels and jewellery, too, of course.
I just did a google search--all kinds of looks from almost office appropriate to vamp.

https://www.google.ca/search?q.....sch&s

Tessitura

NaturalEve, I think the majority of the world, and particularly the younger generations, would fall down on your side. From my perspective, this look has become a modern classic, and one of the things I love about it the most is the huge continuum of variations. On the one end, you can add sparkle, lace, anything with a bit of a sheen... and you're ready for a party. On the other end is the quasi-androgynous version... a really nice button-front shirt with jeans, nice shoes, and a blazer is incredibly popular in the west-coast corporate sector. In fact, this variant of has become my favorite "I don't know what to wear" formula for work and networking functions. Offsite meeting at a ski lodge in August? I wear nice jeans, a crisp button-front shirt, a scarf, and interesting shoes.

Also, I think most people in my region allow the jeans + dressy combo to fall into business casual or smart casual territory... perhaps those who are more traditional would object, I consider it a notch above "just casual".