Contemplating a single piece and whether it fits with my style or not... - YouLookFab Forum

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Contemplating a single piece and whether it fits with my style or not...

trekkiegirl

Veteran

For a long time, I've been coveting a good chambray shirt. I've seen so many cute outfits with one, and have collected quite a few pins on Pinterest of them. But I'm starting to have doubts, now that I'm revaluating my style: Is this item truly me, or do I just want it because everyone else has one? If I did have one, would I really wear it that often, and if so, how would I keep it edgy? Perhaps if I could find one with studs or other metallic details. Is there something else in my wardrobe that I could wear in place of this? I have tons of button downs, and even two blue ones, but of course that's not the same as the thin, soft denim look. I have several black button downs, and a couple of them are constructed similarly to the shirt in question, but the fabric is still a bit more dressy. I'm not really a big fan of the color blue, so maybe a gray wash denim shirt might be what I'm after. Does that even exist??

I think I need to reevaluate the outfits I've seen with the shirt, to see where or not they are really "me" or if I just like them on other people.

What do you think, would a chambray shirt fit my style, or should I let this one go?

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36 replies

Latest reply was from frannieb

Gennifyr

No advice just a solidarity fistbump. I've been having the same thoughts about chambray shirts.

viva

Veteran

I am sure I have seen someone on this forum in a gray chambray shirt. I just found the one below at Nordstrom.

That said, I do think chambray could fit with the rocker side of your personality, but maybe less easily with the sexy librarian side? Although it is styled here with a skirt ...

Halogen Long Sleeve Chambray Shirt (Regular & Petite)

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Anonymous

First off - I have to thank you for writing something above that just hit me over the head in a major way: " or do I want one just because everyone else has one?" . This made me think of a few things I've decided I had to have from what was going on here on the forum - and those things were not really in my style zone nor anything I would have bought otherwise. And guess what? I wore it/them once. The ubiquitous plaid shirt from last fall - was all we talked about for WEEKS on the forum and was the subject of lots of WIW's. I had to have one - no, not one , actually, but TWO. Became obsessed with finding the right ones - bought them, wore each of them once. And then that was it. I have never worn a plaid shirt in my life, and why did I decided I'd want one now??

So, this huge digression aside, good question : do you really want one? Would it really fit your look? From what I've seen of you, maybe, but I wouldn't spend much on it. It's not going to give you a body-con feminine look , that's for sure.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

So I went through my Wardrobe Dreams and Fantasies board, and was surprised to see I only had a couple pins with chambray shirts. A lot less than I thought I did! I had one outfit with a denim jacket, which has much more of a rock n roll feel to me - so the jury is still out, pending more comments from you wise ladies, but I think I may lean more towards a denim jacket instead of a chambray shirt. Off to pin more denim jacket outfits now!

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Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

There's about 100 ways to wear a chambray shirt in this Pinterest set. If you don't see anything there that you'd wear, I'd skip. But I could see you in some of the ones that use it as a contrast to either something really feminine (like a tulle skirt or bombshell pencil) or leather. For some reason the ones buttoned up high, like how Angie showed a denim jacket with a skirt not long ago, seem more in line with some of the WIW I remember you posting. And I don't recall whether you do much in the way of jewelry, but the ones with a heap of necklaces are very different than the rumpled country casual or boho styles too.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

LisaP - isn't it funny how easily influenced we can be? We are such SHEEPLE sometimes lol... It's an odd feeling for me though, because I used to be adamant about NOT looking like anyone else. Went the uber-hippie route for a while. Consequently, I ended up with a whole closet full of clothes I figured out later that I didn't like (plus stuff I just took because it was free, hand me downs etc). The process I'm working through now is so cool though, I'm amazed at how happy I am to get rid of things I don't really want, whereas before I would nearly have panic attacks over getting rid of one thing. Slightly off topic, but there you go. Here's to defining our own personal style!

viva

Veteran

I'm a sheeple too.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

It depends on several things to me - *if* you wear dresses, skirts and non-denim bottoms a lot if makes more sense unless you really like the denim on denim look, or the denim on casual look.

I also bought not one, but several chambray shirts over the course of a couple of years- trying to find "the" one. Finally, for me, it was a faded version that felt the most comfortable out of them all. Which surprised me because I didn't like a faded denim jacket on me and opted instead for a dark wash jacket. Anyway - even though I found the one I wanted (see Finds) and like it - I still don't find that I wear it all that often. I wear a lot of jeans and casual pants and I feel the chambray shirt looks best with dressier bottoms to keep the whole look from being too "country" or "rate" for me. It works with white bottoms and it will also work as a swimsuit coverup for me which makes it worthwhile, just not a workhorse in the wardrobe.

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Astrid

Veteran

I also wanted one for a while, but every chambray shirt I tried I was feeling kind of meh about. In the end I stopped looking. I think I wanted one because I felt like it would be the perfect versatile piece for my casual life, like the white button down for the dressy woman. And of course chambray looks great on my coloring.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Well, I don't know if this helps, but I usually go for a style that is a little darker and grittier than most -- so perhaps the same sort of thing you mean when you say 'edge' -- and I have no desire to add a chambray shirt to my wardrobe.

Marilyn

Veteran

I went through the same thing with chambray shirts. I tried shirt after shirt looking for the right one and none of them looked right with my other pieces. In the end I came to the conclusion that maybe the look just isn't me.

Lisa hit the nail on the head.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Good point, texstyle. I do wear plenty of dressy things at work, so I could pull this off. On weekends I tend to wear black leggings a lot, so I think I could get quite a bit of use out of the shirt then. I'm so torn now, because I just remembered that one of my favorite outfits is the black leggings, white tank, and chambray shirt look. Especially with leopard flats or brown boots. Super comfy and casual but cute. I know it's the ubiquitous college girl uniform, but I like it, so there And I did happen across a couple other slightly dressier looks that I like, and are a bit more edgy. But again, those could be just as easily recreated with a denim jacket instead... in most cases... ARGH! The decision!

And if you're wondering why I'm putting so much into this, instead of just getting one of each, it's because my shopping budget is usually pretty limited so I have to be very careful about what I purchase. I also don't want any more pieces I don't absolutely love. The only exception to this will be if I go to another 3/$1 sale at the thrift store. And even then, I still want to make sure I'm not just buying to buy, because it's so cheap. I need to still be intentional about my purchases!

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Susie

Veteran

2 or 3 years ago I thought that I "needed" a chambray shirt....doesn't everyone?... and bought one that I probably wore 2, maybe 3 times. It just wasn't me. And I am nodding my head at Lisa because last fall I too almost succumbed to the plaid shirt trend before asking myself why, because I haven't worn plaid in ages.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Aziraphale and Marilyn - thanks for your input. It's certainly a tough decision! I honestly don't know if I really want one or not, and almost feel like I need to just get one and start wearing it, then see what happens. But that is a waste of money I can't justify.

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

If you got one and ripped the sleeves off into an edgy tank top, how would that be? A problem with a lot of them is they are loose and floppy, which doesn't match your style at all. Size down? Tailoring to give it some waist definition?

Not saying you need one, but being able to say what doesn't work helps me avoid similarly inappropriate purchases.

ETA: you need those leather leggings.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I should add, I'm not sorry I bought the shirt I finally settled on as it satisfied my "need" - rather it was a real need or a perceived one. Now I have a perfectly good chambray shirt in my closet for whenever the mood strikes me. And I'm very mood oriented when it comes to dressing.

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Rambling Ann - I have some!!! Love them to death I'm afraid to wear them too often though, because they aren't high quality and I want them to last. They have an inside panel like riding breeches, which, being a horsey person, I also love!

Texstyle - I'm a mood dresser too, but within the confines of my preassigned "weekly schedule" lol... I often look at my pins for outfit inspiration too.

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Janet

(website)

Veteran

I understand exactly what you mean! I've been convinced at various times that I "needed" some item that came into my consciousness (often via YLF), even though I'd never considered it before. Yet somehow I managed to get dressed before I had that item, right?

That said, I do own a couple of chambray shirts (plus, um, a couple of old "imperfect" ones that stay in Texas for my grungy ranch wear collection). One is a classic fitted Levis one in a mid-wash, one is a roomy light wash blue, and one is a gray Tencel roomy fit from Club Monaco (bought while shopping with Angie and the fabbers in Boston). I find them useful when I want to wear something with non-denim bottoms (they dress down black or patterned trousers really well), dress down a skirt, or layer over a tank or tee in changeable summer weather (almost like a jacket substitute). They also look good with white or cream jeans, although I have to be in the right mood to wear light jeans. In colder months, I sometimes like layering the chambray shirts over a long-sleeve tee when I'm sick of sweaters, and layering a leather jacket over top can provide just enough warmth for the not-so-cold days.

My style (when I'm actually making an attempt, which I haven't been for the last month!) is definitely more rock inspired and casual, so I think a chambray or denim shirt can work for that kind of style -- it's all in the styling! I'm definitely a mood dresser too.

AM

Veteran

Wow. Janet describes exactly how I wear a chambray. And I have about five of them. I find them incredibly useful for the work from home life.

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I had one a few years ago that I loved. For me it is the hand of the fabric - I want some softness and good drape -- and the color quality -- I like a 'dirty' chambray that skews brownish or grayish rather than baby or royal blue. I wear chambray with black denim, white denim, khaki chinos, army green fatigues, leopard prints and red. I'm looking for a new one now. Madewell has some decent examples. I bought a plaid shirt last fall, too, and I've worn it over 20 times (I track)... Very little would make me more bummed than tying up money in clothing that goes unworn! A dress or cocktail top I realize might only get used a few times a year but I expect every skirt, jean, shirt, jacket or shoe that follows me home to be a real workhorse for at least 3-5 years.
(My old one was BR ca 2008... I wasn't as careful with my laundry then & gradually it's perfect fit became gapey in the bosom. It had snaps so I couldn't just move a button. It ended it's useful life as a sun layer open over a tee in the garden or on hikes...as many of my clothes do!)

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Rambling Ann - I don't know how, but I somehow missed your post with the Pinterest link. Definitely saw a few in there that I liked!

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I could see you wearing one in the way that Janet describes. Also your examples with the black leather and non-leather leggings. It might be more useful for you than a jacket. I like the way a chambray shirt can serve as a jacket or a shirt.
For me, I've found my denim jacket way more useful than my two chambray shirts, though. I just don't wear collared shirts that much.

Marlene

Veteran

I like my chambray shirt. Its the "boyfriend" style from Gap and is very neutral with its details so I find I wear it many different ways. I also like that its 100% cotton (not tencel, which I do not like the feeling of on my skin). I tend to not like collars in general but this one sits perfectly on my neck so it doesn't annoy me the way most collars do. I like to do the denim-on-denim look so it fits into many of my outfits. I don't have ANY white button-front shirts because I find them fussy and stiff but the chambray shirt fills that "must have" role for me in my wardrobe. I find the color of chambray works better with my coloring than a white shirt these days. It may not be my favorite piece of clothing but it does work hard and I'm really glad its there.

rachylou

Veteran

They're good with the black leather leggings. Still, I'm not sure if it's not a distraction. Doesn't seem quite polished enough. I'd lean towards black or grey tho definitely, if I were you.

Meanwhile back on the ranch... annagybe found this patched ruffle denim skirt for me last year, and I'm still thinking about it...

DonnaF

Veteran

I'm wondering if a dark denim shirt might suit you better than a lighter blue chambray?

Marley

Veteran

I have a board on Pinterest right now on the chambray shirt. I have several of them hanging in my closet but haven't worn them for several years - but, I'm thinking about giving them a try again this spring.

https://www.pinterest.com/mmil...../chambray/

trekkiegirl

Veteran

Oh yeah, some of those are really cute!

Gennifyr

Did you make the decision yet? I came across a really light one today for $10 and grabbed it. It's similar in colour to the other light blue stuff I've added for spring.

Aida

Veteran

Sometimes considering items in isolation is tricky; the right chambray shirt could certainly be styled in a more rocker way, even blue ones. In cases where I'm looking at a single item I try to think in a more abstract way. For a chambray shirt: Is denim part of my style core? Are button-ups part of my style core? Would I prefer a jacket in the outfits using I'm drawn to? Could I achieve the same vibe with a different kind of shirt?

FWIW I have a "classic" chambray shirt which I haven't worn in a couple years that I'll be purging. I also have a faded, very boxy, rather stiff denim shirt which I do enjoy wearing but only as a shirt (as you mentioned, a denim jacket will be cheekier and punkier in most outfits). Since denim and button-up shirts are part of my style core, I've been thinking of also adding a soft white or a vintage-wash denim shirt because I know I'll wear them (as opposed to the more classic chambray).

And of course, sometimes we really do just need to get an item and work it into or out of our system

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