Chambray shirt--staple? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Shopping

Chambray shirt--staple?

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I've never been attracted to Chambray shirts because I used to always wear jeans, and didn't want to match jean and jean. Having expanded the jean collection to include black and grey, and having found a chambray shirt that is simple, dark, feminine and fluid, I'm kind of intrigued. Are you a chambray convert? Or did you own one, and rarely wear it?

Shopping

30 replies

Latest reply was from April

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I think I'm the sole holdout in the US of A. They seem so . . . cowboy, or trucker, or uniformy, to me that I just can't do it. It would have to be THE most special, unique one ever to get me on board. I don't even wear my denim jackets and gave them away. But never say never.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

That's a good lesson--I also gave away my denim jackets for the reasons you described.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Well, obviously I wear them. I have one on today.

Do I think they're a required wardrobe item? Of course not.

The style works for me because:

The colour suits me.
I wear non-blue jeans, and don't mind combining denim with denim at times anyway.
I live a casual life and a chambray shirt fits into that extremely well.
I like to use it to casualize dressier pieces like pencil skirts.

It does depend on the shirt. I've had some denim and chambray shirts that just felt terrible on -- no drape, wrong colour, poor texture. So you do have to be choosy.

ClaraT

Veteran

I have a classic blue chambray shirt from BR. It is great with colored denim; it is too thick to, say, tuck in to a pencil skirt. I do wear it because where I live (just north of SF), I always need layers (and it is a good layer over a slim tee).
If you don't have one, and haven't missed it, it isn't a staple. (Light trench coat = the staple I have and never wear...if it is cold, I wear wool or down; if it is rainy I wear an actual rain coat...so one woman's staple is another woman's "why did I buy that?"!)

Thistle

Veteran

Don't own one and am not planning to look for one. I have sworn off all button downs. And, like Mo, they feel too uniform like. Our shop employees have uniforms very similar.

K. Period.

Veteran

I'm a total convert. Two years ago, I didn't own one and I didn't see any reason to wear one. Today I own three: a light one with white pin dots in a button down style, a light one with a henley collar, and a dark button down one. And when I objected that I already had two great chambray shirts and couldn't justify a third (the dark button down), guess who convinced me? Angie. By telling me that she has multiples. For my style, they are great. They are a great way to mix casual and dressy. I'm actually wearing the one with the white pin dots today with my white jeans. It looks crisp, but relaxed.

MRL

Veteran

I finally bought a chambray shirt at BR about a year ago. I usually wear it with white or black jeans/pants. I like it, but don't really consider it a wardrobe staple for me.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I like denim on denim.
http://noscrubs.lookfab.com/po.....-angie-pin

Greyscale

Veteran

I'd love a light gray chambray shirt but I haven't found one that fits me right. The ones that fit how I like are tencel, not cotton, and I prefer cotton. But I have to admit the tencel drapes so well...

MsMary

Veteran

I love 'em. I have two -- one very casual cotton and one slightly less casual in tencel. I especially love a chambray shirt with a bright colored bottom.

Windchime

Veteran

I don't yet own one, but it's on my list. I think it can be a staple, depending on your style. I've seen some really creative uses of them as layering shirts and as stand alone shirts. One look I'm eager to try this spring is a chambray shirt with a lime green, black, and white skirt in my closet.

Carla

Veteran

Never had one until about 6 months ago. Loved the juxtaposition of the casual chambray shirt with dressier items, like pencil skirt or black dress pants. Tried on dozens before I found one that fit and I'm having so much fun with it. It is one button down I don't find uncomfortable--maybe because it is soft, maybe because I looked so long and hard that I ended up with a really well fitting garment.

Echo

Veteran

I'm with Mo. I tried SO. HARD. to like chambray shirts and denim jackets. I just cannot get over my own preconceived notions about them enough to enjoy them. I, too, try never to say never, but in this case, after this many years, I think I can probably safely say that I cannot/will not make the look work for me.

Gigi

Veteran

I just don't like chambray shirts and denim jackets either. I did own a chambray button-down from J. Jill that I bought a few years ago that didn't look so boring and utilitarian and masculine, but it's probably going to get culled because it's at least a size too big. I used to wear it a lot when I had hardly any clothes, but now that I have stuff that actually fits, it hasn't seen the light of day. I've looked at the chambray tops from BR and Loft, and although they are more feminine and have a more fitted silhouette than most, they're still not tripping my trigger.

I might end up buying a denim jacket anyway simply because I need a lightweight topper for some summer dresses, and light-wash denim goes with pretty much everything. But maybe I should hold out for something else, seeing as I don't like denim jackets.

qfbrenda

Veteran

I recently found a light colored denim shirt and I've already worn it a ton of times. I don't think it's essential for everybody but it is for me. I made sure to buy a light blue because my blue denim jeans are all dark, so they work together just fine. I also made sure it has nice shirt tails so I can easily tie it over a summer dress. It really depends on your style, I guess. If you keep wishing you had one, I would get one and see how it goes.

Suja

Veteran

I have one but haven't worn it much. It is too casual for work and a tucked in buttondown with a pencil skirt is too dressy for my casual style. So it hangs in my closet unworn. I am going to try it with colored skinnies and maybe flared skirts!

Ariadne

Veteran

I've owned a few because I was convinced they'd be a staple for me, but \ I just never wear them. I'm not sure if it's because my DH really dislikes them or if it's that I've never found "the one," but they always make me feel like a lumberjack. They also always seem to bunch up or sit strangely on me after I've moved around a bit. It's a mystery.

Eliza

Veteran

I have one "almost" chambray shirt if that counts. Looked for a long time for the right one that played well with my denims and other trousers, had the right fit and "hand". Very happy with the one I eventually found, after giving up on it. I like blue for shirts and have room for casual in my wardrobe, so it made sense. I wouldn't assume everyone needs one, as many other styles could work in different wardrobes.

Ginkgo

Veteran

I'm wearing mine today for the second time, after buying it several months ago (not on Team Wear). It's comfortable and somewhat fitted, but not sure if it will be a workhorse as I don't like clothes that look mannish on me (they look great on other people). I have never been tempted by denim jackets.

vipanchi

I never had one but I recently got one and like it quite a bit! - I like how it looks with my red pants and its lovely to use it in layering. I could have lived without it (its not a staple for me) but I like the casual classic touch it adds to my wardsrobe

Anonymous

I don't own one, but then I don't own a single button-down. It's just not my style.

Deborah

Veteran

I had one about 15 years ago:). I like them on others but I feel it's not a look that's fits my current style.

Jules

Veteran

I bought one soon after finding ylf (I previously had no clue they were back in style - I last wore them in the early 90s and I don't see them around much on adult women). I can see the versatility in theory but I've realized
the one I bought isn't very nice (Old
Navy) and is a funny in-between length. Well I guess it's meant for tucking but I didn't like it with my one pencil skirt, will have to try again with my new ones when it warms up.
It did not turn out to be the workhorse I expected based on those blogger '30 ways to wear' posts. I have come up with a few outfits I liked but none were repeated. It's definitely a item that can add something to a mix rather than a standout piece that I want to style around. A summer cover up, something to wear when I want a blank canvas to showcase a scarf.
A nicer one would perhaps be better but I haven't been sold on the really dark ones or the really light ones coming out now. Maybe for spring...

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I have three! Nordstrom sells one that is very nice and slightly fitted. It's my favorite.

E

Veteran

I don't have one, although I love the blue/grey colours of chambray, because traditional button downs aren't my friend. If I came across one with a little peter pan collar, maybe some puffed sleeves or yoke detailing, I'd definitely get it! Especially as I don't wear denim bottoms that frequently. (I do have a tunic with fun pleating details that would probably be called chambray; I think I would wear it more if it were a traditional shirt length, but as it is I enjoy it tucked into skirts.)

I received some light coloured linen/cotton 'chambray' fabric for Christmas to make a skirt. I'm very excited about that, as I've been wanting a chambray skirt for ages.

Nicole D

Veteran

I have been through several iterations of chambray/denim shirt, and they have never really been a go to staple, except for under crew neck sweaters. I think I am with Thistle in the button down boycott. Maybe because of my relative top-heaviness, they just look bulky on me. I am sure with an intensive search I could find a good one, but...meh.

catherine

Veteran

These are definitely a wardrobe staple for me. I have several and wear one a couple of times a week. I am also really glad that denim on denim is ok now

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.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I've noticed I keep pinning and noticing outfits with a chambray shirt, so I'm trying to find one I like to give them a go. I seem to have some black bottoms... velvet, pleather, that would be a great contrast to a chambray top. I've just found a dark one from the Gap that I may try. Not a whole lot of money if it doesn't work out. I think I will contuine to look for a good light blue one if this dark one does seem to "suit me".

shiny

Veteran

It's never been clear to me what chambray is. Is it a denim shirt? Or is chambray something different?

I do have a light blue denim shirt, from BR. It's soft and comfy yet a little tailored and structured. Normally button downs don't work for me (too stiff & starched) but this works for me. As others mentioned, I love the juxtaposition of it pared with dressier clothes like tucked into a pencil skirt (brocade, lace, bright color), worn under a velvet blazer, etc. But mostly I like wearing it untucked over black ponte knit skinnies with fun ballet flats.

I don't wear jeans all that much, so this is an easy way to look casual and blend in when everyone else is wearing denim. For similar reason, I am apt to pop a jean jacket over everything.

12