Ask Angie: I have a question about short sleeve button downs - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: I have a question about short sleeve button downs

Anonymous

You would think that a short sleeved button down would be perfect for a hot summer climate, but every time I buy one, I am always disappointed. There is something about them that reads "lack of sophistication," "overly casual," and "juvenile." I can't exactly describe my immediate reaction. But I do know that whenever I wear them, I don't feel fabulous. Whenever I see friends wearing them, I always think "oh, that is just so wrong."

What is it about them? Is it just me that interrupts them a certain way? Do I have some sort of built in prejudice? I don't have this feeling when I see short sleeves in other styles, just button downs.

Dressing

20 replies

Latest reply was from MTBGirl

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

In a classic shape and with stiff fabric, I think they look overly conservative somehow. Like a uniform, and very masculine. But in a trendier shape like below - it's a different animal.

RAILS Rails Women's Britt Short Sleeve Button Down Shirt

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2

Suz

(website)

Veteran

What Angie said -- the angled sleeve makes a lot of difference somehow -- and a drapey fabric.

I have very few short sleeved tops in my closet but of those I own, I'd classify them more as "blouses" than shirts. These two are favourites and I don't find the sleeve style bothersome/ unattractive.

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16

Wilfred cyprès blouse

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Diana

Veteran

What angie said. I find that a classic Oxford-type shirt just looks incongruous with short sleeves, like an attempt to casualize gone wrong. In contrast, I think rolling up the sleeves of a regular long sleeved Oxford is a much better and more natural looking way to casualize it. I find this to be true for both men and women, by the way.

But a less conservative/strict shirt or one that is more fashion forward, can look great with short sleeves. I have a fitted, printed, very feminine short sleeved blouse with a drapey collar that is one of my favorites.

Sisi

Veteran

It depends upon the build and the fabric, Sterling. I also find most short sleeve shirts boxy, masculine, casual - in a word, not fab. I have a white blouse that I love and wear a lot and just recently I analyzed it, detail by detail, to understand why it makes me feel happy: soft gauzy cotton (no stiff fabric), slightly flared shape (no boxy shape), collarless, nice V-shaped nekcline, diagonal sleeves, a couple of thin pleats on each front panel. It looks simple and chic and I always receive compliments when I am wearing it. I think that you must just find the blouse that works for you.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I have two, both from Madewell, and they both are quite voluminous, more dramatic I guess than a regular button down. That's why they work (for me at least). I semi-tuck them or leave them out over slim bottoms.
A classic short sleeve button down doesn't work for me.

Eyelet Courier Shirt

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Academie Shirt in Cadiz Plaid

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Anonymous

I think these are the phrases that explain my feelings:

From Diana: ".... incongruous with short sleeves, like an attempt to casualize gone wrong."

From Sisi: " .... find most short sleeve shirts boxy, masculine, casual - in a word, not fab."

From Texstyle: ".... quite voluminous, more dramatic I guess than a regular button down."

From Suz: ".... the angled sleeve makes a lot of difference somehow -- and a drapey fabric."

And, of course, from Angie: "In a classic shape and with stiff fabric, I think they look overly conservative somehow. Like a uniform, and very masculine."

I get it now. So would it be permissible to donate my rarely-worn short sleeve button downs just because I don't feel fab in them????? They are paid for and in great shape. I just don't feel fabulous when I wear them. But I need permission to purge them because they are in such great shape.

Such a quandary.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Sell them on eBay!

Liz

Veteran

Absolutely, permission granted.

I'm a pretty conservative dresser, and there's no way I can imagine feeling good (much less fab) wearing a "classic," short-sleeved button down shirt (or those shirts that are sometimes labeled "camp shirts"). So if I had some in my closet, even if they were in good shape and paid for, I'd have no quandary about letting them go.

viva

Veteran

My two cents:

If you have the time/energy, sell them and feel better about not losing the money.
If not, donate them and feel better about helping someone else.

Either way, don't let them take up any more room in your closet or time on your mind.

Anonymous

Yay. Running to place them in the donate box. Such a relief, actually.

Kristin L

Veteran

Absolutely. Depending on how dressy they are and if you choose to donate them, you could donate them to a place like Dress for Success.

Anonymous

Kristin - I donate all of my stuff either to Women's Shelter or the Goodwill. I have friends that work either part-time or full-time at the shelter and am acutely aware of the need. Not all my stuff is useful, and thus, the Goodwill. Thx.

Irina

Veteran

How interesting! I bought white, long white shirt from COS this summer. With short sleeves and buttons to the waist. I love it. I looked at my long sleeved white shirt from JCrew, which I didn't wear often and compared - both have similar shape, JCrew is shorter and better suited for semi-tuck. But I felt overdressed wearing it and was fussing with the sleeves too much. So, I cut the sleeves. I find that for me it works - plain white cotton short sleeved shirt + cropped pants /tucked or untucked. Also, my shirts are slightly oversized/straight and long sleeves visually add more volume on top. I try to avoid it. Makes me more IT. Recently took another shirt for alteration - silk print CM oversized button down. Hope to rescue it from being an orphan.

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Anonymous

Irina -- it could be that other components of your shirts make them work nicely for you. The picture you posted looked very fabulous. None of mine looked good.

Anonymous

Set them free!

DonnaF

Veteran

Well, I just bought the shirt below which is rather stiff and a bit masculine, but I much prefer androgyny to femme. YMMV.

Halogen Cuffed Cap Sleeve Top (Regular & Petite)

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

But Donna, the angled sleeve completely saves it. And esp. for a pretty pear -- the sleeve adds balance to shoulder line.

Irina's shirt has styling details (hi - low hem, tunic-like shape) that take it away from masculine short sleeve category.

Chris987

Veteran

a trick I use if I'm trying to figure out if a garment skews toward masculine is to look it up on Pinterest. Try entering "camel vneck sweater" for example and you see far more pics of men than women. Gives a clue that you might want non-classic fit and details if you want to go more in a non menswear vibe. I haven't tried it on short sleeved button down shirt at least not yet.

...and a comment on the donate vs consign debate....depending on your income and tax situation it can actually be to your $$ advantage to donate and take a tax deduction. At least in the US that can be the case, especially if the consignment value is a whole lot less than the purchase value. Plus donating takes less of your time.

Chris987

Veteran

Also I agree with suz that that white blouse does not seem at all masculine due to the angles sleeves and curved hem.

Suz didn't you post an outfit way back wearing a shirt like that with grey Bermudas and leopard slip on sneakers? One of my fav ylf outfits of all time....definitely not masculine ....maybe I'll find the pieces next summer

MTBGirl

Veteran

Just nodding along with everything said here. Glad you figured it out and can release them freely! ( my husband feels the same way about his button downs. He refuses to wear the short sleeve version.)