Button down under sweater: is this stupid or brilliant? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Button down under sweater: is this stupid or brilliant?

catgirl

Veteran

I was thinking this morning about how I'd love to layer button downs under sweaters more, but I detest the lumpiness and fuss of the whole thing. I've recently seen sweaters with false shirttails to emulate this look. And then Tanya's gorgeous layered outfits pushed me over the edge, and I had this idea.

Do you think I could sew the bottom of a button-down shirt to a cami and just layer over that? I'd just hack off the bottom of the shirt and stitch it to the hem (or shortened) cami. Of course, there would be no collar, but that's a plus for me.

https://www.jcrew.com/womens_c.....e=ELECTRIC RED&isFromSearch=true&isNewSearch=true&hash=row0

Yay: Brilliant
Nay: Stupid

General

43 replies

Latest reply was from Diana

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I don't know. I like the collar with this look, otherwise to be it doesn't make sense.

Tanya

Veteran

I also like to have a collar with this look. But if that is not case for you, than I would give it a try. And thank you for the lovely compliment!

Missey

Veteran

I vote hilarious! I hate the lumpy, bumpiness of an oxford under a sweater too! HOWEVER, I did recently find some button down shirts at GAP that are very light and thin...no bumps! No sewing required.

K. Period.

Veteran

I'm not sure either. I really like the look of the shirt-under-sweater thing, but every example I've seen of an approximation always reads as false. Like, "Oh, that's a sweater with cuffs, a collar and tails." So, I think of it as a play hard or go home thing. I just buy smallish shirts from H&M and use them for this look or I wear silk shirts underneath if I want the look and ease and am willing to take a little less structure. On the other hand, if you just buy a super shirt (or use one you are getting rid of) and a super cheap cami and experiment, you're probably out under $20.

catgirl

Veteran

So are we thinking the j. crew sweater-shirt is goofy looking?

Joy

Veteran

I think it is a brilliant way to get the J Crew look and less fussy than trying to clean a sweater with shirt tails.

Deborah

Veteran

I think it needs a collar otherwise it just looks like a sweater over a longer top, it doesn't have that strong sweater over button down vibe. For me it's quite a different look. Certainly not stupid but not completely making sense.

Neel

Veteran

I would just go buy a sweater shirt. Easier :D. And yes, I do like the look with a collar (and the buttons peeping out of a crew neck sweater), although the shirt could be sleeveless.

rabbit

Veteran

Sew a collared dickey onto your tank/tails combo and you are set :D.

In reality I'd be tempted to look for a lightweight/drapy sleeveless button up with a collar and tails the right length. I think losing the sleeves, and going with a silky fabric would solve a lot of bunching awkward layering problems.

bella

(website)

Veteran

Ok, I completely misinterpreted your post the first time, so I'm changing my answer. I don't think this looks is goofy. If you have a spare cami (but nothing too tight), and a shirt give it a try.

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I say brilliant. Like you, I dislike the lumpiness of a shirt under sweater so sweaters with whichever part of the shirt you'd like to show seems like a great idea. Same goes for sewing the shirt parts to a cami.

rute

Veteran

I vote brilliant too! I also love the look but it's not the most confortable one!

lyn67

Veteran

Thanx for posting this , Una. I was wondering about the same things just a few days earlier. I, too, saw some of these sweaters+shirt tails, and love the lack of the collar andthe no fusiness factor, as I 100% agree with you on describing the layering process itself. I hate that kind of layering, but the look appeals to me very much.

To be fair, I first thought of this when saw Angie layering her plaid shirt under a turtle neck-so only having the tails on hem peaking out, and no collars to show.

I'm so curious how the forum will classify this look. Yeay or nay? And if yay, could it be done dressier(say, for the smart casual/business casual office), too?

lyn67

Veteran

Came back to say, the ex. in your link does not really work for my eyes. To me the proportions are a little off. The sweater is too short, and the shirt tail too long. Also I would like rather to have a regular button down peaking out from under. But still, the cami+shirt tail you suggested, it can be done easily(or not?).

For those who cannot see the sense on this kind of layering, here is a link to Angie's post I spoke about:

http://youlookfab.com/2012/12/.....the-woods/

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I also like the layered look but hate the pain of trying to get sleeves of the woven shirt to look smooth under the knit item. I have a few similar tops in my closet (with collar) and find that the two fabrics often don't lay right or launder well. It is a good concept.

I found that an easy solution was to layer my sweater over a sleeveless button shirt. You get the look and the added layer on the body without the battle of the sleeves.

chadya

Veteran

I have seen the JC sweater at the store, it is not that great IRl.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I think the JCrew sweater is doofy-looking TBH. But I like your idea of the tank and tails. Why not? You can whipstitch it on and if it doesn't work, no harm no foul.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I think this high collar screams for a statement necklace or scarf....You could obviously get the over layer sweater to be not quite as high up as this one and be better off...
I think it's worth a shot to create the cami with hem and experiment. Who knows it might work and catch on with others who have similar problem with layer button-ups...
I'd suggest thrifting the button up you would cut up...

Diana

Veteran

I'd prefer with a collar too. As it is, I think this just looks a bit off. Like what kind of underlayer is this supposed to simulate? A collarless, sleeveless Oxford? Does that even exist?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Una, the problem is solved when you wear a larger fit shirt and pullover.

Janine

I actually like this look!! I find it difficult to wear more bulking layers under sweaters, but a light cami would be fine. This example, using the longer hemline, is a nice way to inject some added visual/color interest to a very simple outfit.

Anonymous

One word answer: goofy.

Una, I have the same issues as you with the shirt under sweater thing - every time I try, I HATE it- lumpy, bumpy, stiff and weird. I am currently on the hunt for a sleeveless collared shirt for this very reason - and of course there are no sleeveless shirts to be found anywhere at this time of year. And Angie, I can't quite believe you with advising to size up to get rid of the bulkiness That really works? I am already mentally pulling off the whole outfit and wadding it up into a big ball and throwing it back in the closet.

unfrumped

Veteran

Well, you know they sell sweaters with an attached "fake" shirttail already.

I was planning to write a post titled, "The value of the sleeveless, collared blouse" for reasons similar and different.

I can use the collar (giraffe neck; change up the sweater look) and the layeriing (warmth) but have been very unhappy with the lumpishness that a longsleeved shirt gives, even silk ones, though that is less. It's not just the sleeves, but that whole armpit thing, admittedly better with the oversized sweaters.

But, for some reason I like using a real layering piece and not the attached collar sweater that is available--had some of those in the past, and just got off of them.

I got a sleeveless black top just for the above issue, already have a deep pink one, and am looking for just the right others to add--don't need many, just a few key solids, maybe a dot or stripe, for a "collar capsule". Also, I aim to collect at good prices, since they are not the star.

I don't wear the shirttail-sticking out under pullover look for work currently because it seems too casual, , but in photo 5 I did the shirttail out at same length as the cardigan, so, untucked.

Remember the "dickie"? I'm kind of doing an extended dickie, and you are envisioning a reverse-dickie since your focus is on the shirttail. You could find collarless sleeveless shirts as well, but those do not come in as many tailored "shirt" fabrics, whereas there are actually a lot of sleevless shirts in various fabrics and in some traditional "menswear" shirt patterns like stripes.

This post has 5 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Zibbets

Veteran

I think the one in your link looks weird w/o the collar. I have owned two sweaters with fake collar and shirt tail and hated them both. They never looked convincing and I only wore each of them a couple of times before giving them away.

A soft (read: old) lightweight shirt in a semi-generous cut is helpful. Anything too stiff won't work.

deb

Veteran

I think you would have to try it. Most shirts are wider than tanks. I might work better if you used a woven tank with a woven shirt.

AJ

Veteran

Have you tried a tank OVER the button down then put on the sweater? The tank keeps the buttondown from moving around. I've never tried it but I remember Academichic mentioning it.

Classically Casual

Veteran

For myself, authenticity is a BIG DEAL. And, I find that this carries over to clothing. So, I've never cared for fake collars under sweaters, or the sweater example here. It just isn't genuine to my eye. Not saying that it can't work fine for others, but not for me. As well as I can, I try to choose clothing with some longevity. This strikes me as a short-lived fad.

Marley

Veteran

Brilliant. Speaking from one short-necked woman to another, I LOVE this look (collarless with shirt-tail) - it was made for us! I think I'm going to give it a try!

MsMary

Veteran

Team Short Neck, and I say brilliant!!

12