Can we talk buttondowns? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

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

Can we talk buttondowns?

jussie

Veteran

Hello all,
The last little while when I try to style my buttondown shirts I feel a little off-trend. I mostly have liberty print or polka dot button downs.
Do you guys wear buttondowns? In what context, and how do you style them? Any advice is appreciated

Dressing

42 replies

Latest reply was from Bethster

Cee

Veteran

I haven't worn one in ages !

I prefer how they look on others

Anonymous

I stopped wearing them this year. I always had issues with gaps in the front and that bothered me a lot.

When I lost weight, the button downs were oversized. I boldly purged every single one in the Great October Purge. It is only December and I can't yet say if I'll miss them in my professional life or not. Still my plan going forward is to find professional substitutes for them.

lyn67

Veteran

I don't wear them at all, but am always planning to:-)LOL, so I'm curious, too. No liberty prints for me, but plain, stripes/plaids, dots and animals are classic. Nowadays I love the bigger and sparsley spread florals on a plain (usually dark) background most, aka moody florals(?) or the florals on a glenncheck background.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I mostly wear them under pullover sweaters. My styling is typically with slim jeans and Converse tennis shoes, so I try to mitigate the boyish look with a scarf, earrings, necklace, and/or bracelets. Brightening up with lipstick and jewelry is what makes me feel feminine in my outfits.

Some of the pairings I find more fun: I wear my JCrew plaid shirt with an unbuttoned flannel plaid shirt over it. I wear an ivory with large black roughly drawn dots print over a cocoa brown knit top and a colorful ethnic necklace. I wear a blue paisley print shirt under a navy and military blue striped pullover sweater and a white and blue striped scarf.

My whole style could seldom be pegged on-trend, so my method might not be what you’re looking for.

Bijou

Veteran

I wear button down shirts in a soft crepe fabric and love them with skirts for work or even layered under shift dresses, a red one I own is in finds. I think the soft fabric and drape is why these work for me. I used to wear crisp cotton shirts, but that feels a bit too tomboy for my current style. I can wear these shirts without issue because my bust is quite small and so there is never any gaping or pulling issue over the bust for me.

anne

Veteran

I only like them in soft fabrics now too.

nemosmom

Veteran

I also purged a lot of mine this Fall; I passed on most prints, and crisp/oxford/office-looking ones from my former life at a big corporation. I kept one solid olive green one that is not a crisp cotton, but more relaxed that I can throw over a screen print tee (like a utility jacket, but thinner), one champagne colored satiny one that I can dress up, a plaid flannel and a light/sheer navy polka dot one.

Alicewonderland

Veteran

I wear crisp button downs, mostly in spring and summer because it kind of stays away from your skin. I wear them for casual wear and work. Usually I wear them untucked with skinny jeans and sleeves rolled to 3/4 sleeves. I’ll wear with either sneakers (converse or sketchers) or black ankle straps. So sort of sporty vibe or French girl vibe. I also plan to try buttoning it up all the way, perhaps under a dress sometime.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I wear a couple of traditional ones more in warmer weather but I have some unusual button downs otherwise - nothing too classic. One is a light spring/summer "white" shirt I wear like the model in Finds, the others I wear in colder weather are flannel, one is short sleeved and boxy in shape and the other is a "big" long sleeved flannel shirt. I wear these untucked and sleeves scrunched on the long sleeved.

Short-sleeve button-up shirt

View Info

Top Pick

1

Flannel Courier Shirt in Stripe

View Info

Top Pick

2

Flannel Oversized Ex-Boyfriend Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

1

Christina F.

Veteran

I don't think it's a slam dunk look for me, as it's very hard to fit as a curvy petite. I always need fashion tape to keep the front closed.

I do have some flannel ones (mostly a bit oversized), since I'm a child of the 90's. And I just got a dressier festive plaid, and I have a couple of Boden ones. It's not a go to look for me, though.

Anonymous

Not my thing at all. Fit, comfort, style etc - just doesn't work for my life or the look I want to project. Too masculine and unflattering on me. Some members, like Suz, wear them really well .

karen13

Veteran

I have a few. I struggle with fit. I need darts or they look like tents on me. and I still often struggle with gapping. I have sewn the spot closed on one and simply pull it over my head. I keep meaning to sew snaps there, but my mending pile is a low priority.

Greyscale

Veteran

I wear a lot of slightly oversized Oxford shirts. And loose but flattering silk button downs for times I want to dress up a bit. I also have a few cropped button downs that are trendy but less versatile.

For myself, I find fitted button downs hard to style.

LaPed

Veteran

Team Tomboy here! I have a lot of button-front shirts. I have one oversized oxford shirt and two tailored ones, a couple chambray shirts (both tailored), a short-sleeve gingham shirt for the summer, and some flannels for the winter. My favourite button-front right now is a burgundy plaid-but-not-flannel, with dolman sleeves and a stand colour. I like that it's a bit unconventional and looks great with black jeans.

I almost always wear shirts untucked, over straight leg jeans. In the summer, I will wear shirts as toppers, unbuttoned over a tee or tank (or swimsuit!).

I prefer softly structured fabrics (broken-in cotton oxford is really the best) over drape-y ones, and I don't like to go too crisp (not a fan of poplin). I wonder, Jussie, if you'd enjoy them more in more drape-y/flow-y fabrics...

Sara L.

Veteran

I have a few - all in patterns and soft fabrics. I mainly wear them in the spring and fall. They're not warm enough in the winter and too hot for the summer. Here's a few examples. I tend to wear them with ankle pants that show some skin. Maybe because that feels more feminine to me.

This post has 3 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.

Helena

Veteran

Hi Jussie, check out this video from J.Crew - it's a little annoying TBH but these little styling tricks I think make button-ups look fresh - basically knotting at the waist, cuffing the sleeves in the J. Crew signature way, or semi-tucking. I think the idea is to add a touch of controlled messiness to keep it from looking too stiff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMapbPzVtgU

I think a casually-styled button up with some lighter-wash higher-waist jeans would totally go with your style vibe! Good luck and have fun with them

deb

Veteran

I purged the last two in my closet last year. I am now on a tee kick.

em

In general, I hate button-down shirts. I am a curvy petite, and even if they have princess seams (like those from Hugo Boss) they still look too masculine. The only type I like have an open neck and ruching, like this from Pinko. However, blouses like this in soft materials are few and far between:

https://www.farfetch.com/shopp.....1&

em

And when ONE does find one, they cost the earth:

https://www.matchesfashion.com.....tsid:38929|cgn:J84DHJLQkR4&c3ch=LinkSha

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I wear them quite often. I like to pop the collars, scrunch the sleeves, and semi-tuck. I'll wear with skirts, jeans, trousers, culottes -- you name it. I rarely wear them completely untucked. I sometimes wear them layered under a pullover, cardigan, or blazer. I wear my denim shirts quite often with white jeans or with dressier trousers or skirts (to "dress down" the look. I wear the silk shirts with jeans (to "dress up" the look). I wear the flannel shirts in cooler temps (for coziness) and the light cotton shirts in warmer temps (for crispness).

I have both "crisp" and "soft" button front shirts. I use different ones at different times.

Below, my current collection.

Western chambray shirt in vintage indigo

View Info

Top Pick

8

Banana Republic

Essential Denim Shirt

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

13

Perfect shirt in fern-printed Indian cotton

View Info

Top Pick

6

Scotch Plaid Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

16

Thomas Mason® for J.Crew tuxedo shirt in blue

View Info

Top Pick

18

Thomas Mason tuxedo shirt in gingham

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

10

Banana Republic

Soft-Wash Gingham Flannel Shirt

Sale

View Info

Top Pick

11

View Info

Equipment 'Adriana' Silk Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

14

Canada

I've just discovered a classic light blue chambray shirt which I adore: it's easy, on trend, comfy, flows with many of the toppers in my closet. Haven't worn an Oxford or other crisp button down shirt in a few years.

Leslie

Uber preppy here. I wear them tucked in under sweaters and blazers with my collar out and somewhat popped. Occasionally unlayered tucked into a full skirt. In the winter, I add a long-sleeve t-shirt underneath for extra warmth. I have 17, solids, stripes, plaids, and paisley, mostly from Talbots and Lands End. They never fit my modest pear shape as well as I would like, but they satifice enough.

Barbara Diane

Veteran

I have a few softer cotton ones I wear in spring and summer. I always wear jewelry with them.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Only silkier types fit me, and I go in and out of phases even with these. Right now I am in a collar under my pullover mood.

Jane

Veteran

I’m with sterling as I’ve stopped wearing them following my planned weight loss. I have a tartan j crew one which I love but it doesn’t get much wear.

Somehow the waists seem bulky to me. That said, there is a new store near where I work (Pinks) that do beautiful shirts for men and have a small women’s collection so I might have a look there.

I like the way Suz wears them - collars popped, sleeves scrunched - it’s a great look.

jussie

Veteran

Thanks everyone for the replies.

Jane: I think you would rock a tartan shirt. Maybe you could try yours with the collar popped?

Shevia: I too like silkier ones, or soft cotton voile. A lot more comfortable.

Barbara Diane: wearing jewelry with them to make them look a little more delicate is a great idea. Thanks

Leslie: I bet you look fabulous in them. I occasionally wear mine tucked into skirts, mainly knee length skirts. I think it’s a cute look.

Canada: gotta love chambray. It must be one of the most versatile fabrics around.

Suz: you look brilliant in your buttondowns. I should study your old wiws for some styling ideas for them! Think I’ll do that.

Em: I feel your pain. Sometimes buttondowns can be incredibly ill fitting and unflattering. I also find that softer fabric is a much safer bet. In fact I recently passed on two very expensive crisp oxford shirts that I was gifted, because they just didn’t flatter. At all. I tried for a few years then finally gave up on them.

jussie

Veteran

Deb: enjoy the tees!

Torontogirl: thank you so much for that link! Also, I agree some light wash “mom-ish” jeans with a casual shirt could work.... just gotta get the courage to try 1) light wash and 2) mom jeans. Maybe I should just do it!

ChrisM

Veteran

For years I hated button downs because of fit issues through the shoulders and bust. A year or so ago, I decided to try again because tee shirts (and the way they can emphasize softness around my middle-aged middle) are annoying. I picked up a couple of LLBean no-iron cotton button front tunics and Voila! I had my answer. Popped collar, scrunched sleeves, jewelry or a scarf - it works for me.

Cool and covered in the summer, layerable (although that’s not something I do much anymore due to internal thermostat issues), maybe JFE. I bought an Everlane shirt dress that I wear over skinnies - love it.

I find my best options at gear-type stores because of more generous cuts through the shoulders - Bean, Duluth (who put extra hidden buttons in some of their no-iron shirts) sometimes Eddie Bauer.

It took a while to find a good fit though. And I do wear a lightweight low v-neck tee in a neutral color (usually silk) under to keep pit stains off the shirt and gaping minimized.

Minah Lynn

I have never worn one because it doesn't suit a short woman like me.

12