Styling an oversized shirt - YouLookFab Forum

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Styling an oversized shirt

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’m always drawn to a good oversized cotton button-front shirt and they look so easy and cool on others, but I feel like I can too easily look like a big blob in them. LOL

I succumbed to a little cheap impulse buy in the form of this button-front at H&M. I love the color. But I’m struggling with styling. I’m going to meet some friends for a casual lunch today and tried a couple of vests. I think I’m going to wear the pinstripe. Any other thoughts or ideas?

Bonus pics: Woody captures the mood and takes over the pillows on a rainy day.

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Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

CarolS

Veteran

I love it with the pinstripe! Will you roll the sleeves? I can’t remember if that’s something you like to do, but I do think it would add to the vibe.

Great colour on you, too!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I have the same issue. I finally realized that it was the fabric that was the issue for me. I need a drapey fabric for this look to work on me.

LJP

Veteran

I don’t know . I like the idea of an oversized shirt too , but the vest overtop isn’t giving me the statement vibe you’d want from a shirt like this ? It hides the interesting part of the shirt . I have no better ideas though - just not feeling it as a piece that is worthy of your style ? And how often would you really wear it once it needs the washing / ironing endless cycle ?

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I’d wear that one open over a printed tee. If I wore it under knitwear or a blazer, I would probably fasten the top button. I like it with the pinstripe vest. How about a necktie?

I’ve done various iterations over the years. It’s not easy to get right. I think chewyspagetti has a point about fabric drape.

JAileen

Veteran

I have several similar shirts that I can’t make work. Chewy nailed it: drapiness is key for me.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

You all make great point — I have other roomy shirts that have better drape, which makes them work better (and also, no ironing necessary!). It’s the kind of style for which I think you just need to embrace an architectural vibe, and I think it harder to carry that off in a top for someone with my build.

I did wear it to lunch today, and may make another stab at it, but it may just be a $20 mistake that goes to consignment.

Jonesy

Veteran

I really like it! The color is gorgeous--I can see why you were drawn to it. It's funny: it doesn't look that oversized to me, but that's probably because I've been drawn to very oversized things lately :). I like it with both vests, especially how you've styled it with those jeans and boots. Oftentimes I will semi-tuck a button down like this (though I like it out with the vests, for sure).

ETA: It seems to me that you are carrying off this shirt very well :)!!

cjh

(website)

Veteran

Very pretty color on you. I like the shirt but feel you’d be more comfortable with a softer fabric. As i am currently leaning towards what I can only describe as skater girl-Tom boy sans beanie, I’d probably try this over a tee and under the open vest, or over two under layers, such as tee and cardigan, or peasant blouse and open vest.

Hard to describe. I’ll look for a picture.

Indigoprint

Veteran

Love the color on you. Would you consider wearing something under as opposed to on top? One of your statement T's or that pinstripe vest?
Sometimes I wear a higher necked muscle tank and unbutton a bit with a fun necklace

Irina

Veteran

Pretty color on you. I would try to button it all way up and scrunch the sleeves. Shirts like that need some structure.

Woody is lovely!

Runcarla

Veteran

I love the colour and a bathing suit or bikini in that colour is a HEWI! One day…. Anyway, with regards to styling, would a long, heavy, statement necklace - help weigh down the volume in the front and keep it closer to the body? I think it’s a shame to hide the great colour and detail behind a vest (although it certainly works.)

My J+ shirt poses the same challenges, but I like it as an alternative silhouette, even if it’s not conventionally flattering. I style it as Irina and approprio describe - buttoned all the way up with sleeves scrunched.

Sal

Veteran

I also struggle with oversized shirts. I think you have to go for flattery in a different way eg great colour, accessories and also know that they look better on reality then in a photo. I see the cool young people wearing them undone with midriff etc and they look awesome.

I like this on you though. I like it best with no topper. I could see it over a tank too. I’d just wear and enjoy because you look fab.

Minaminu

Veteran

Woody is sooo lovely!

I like oversized shirts, especially when they are left open over an outfit with the same colour. The colour is very pretty for you!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Woody is DARLING. What a lucky boy

I echo Approprio and Jonesy. Cute shirt! Fun to see you in something like this for a change. Boxy and crisp. Boyish. Try the shirt semi-tucked!

Do you have a brooch? The version with the pinstriped waistcoat is begging for a brooch - '80s style. And a beret! Remember when we used to pin brooches onto berets....

Sally

Veteran

This is the same or similar size and shape to my white one I don’t wear often, so great to see your post. I like it without a topper best. I like the jeans and boots and might try something similar

Chiara

I love the colour, and agree with others that it doesn’t look very oversized.
So nodding to Angie’s suggestion to semi tuck- maybe black mid rise bootcuts if you have them? And I always like scrunch sleeves with wrist bling.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Love the color on you! It looks good on its own, and might also work with a very oversized vest.

lyn67

Veteran

Hah, what a coincidence!! I struggle the same with this looks and I too am busty! This morning I wanted to do my white jeans with a black&w graphic top and chunky white soled black loafers when felt I need a black shirt over it all. Kind of like a topper so wanted to leave it open.
I do have an older, kind of oversized (roomy and not tailored-but length on the hips, like yours here) black cotton button down but when tried on it was still not giving me the vibe...too short, too smallish...nothing to do with the vibe I wanted.
Then breefly tried on my trully oversized crisp white shirt (bought last summer-much LONGER-to mid thigh-...and also much roomier) and I was really pleased with what I saw in the mirror ref. fit and vibe-only it was a white.
Then wondered about the reasons.
In my mind both shirts were purchased as "oversized" but the black one was my first try with the silhouette years ago...and was totally lacking the drama of a trully oversized style- but beeing such a big departure from my usual silhouette back then I really thought this has it. Still, after some unsuccessfull trying ons I've given up on the silhouette and my shirt was left unused and forgotten. Thought it was the black color.Then last summer wanted to give myself another try with the oversized shirts, and bought me this time a white one, thinking is exactly the same cut like my black one...! Wow! Was I really wrong...
My revelation was that probably my eyes and brain needed more time to adjust to the new vibe and that maybe some of us really need more drama and exagerration for achieving the correct oversize look.
Long story short I think you could try a much longer shirt but I like the color of this one and the styling with the tweed gillet:-)). IMHO the knitted one doesn't do it any favour(like lisap said it so well).

ETA-I see after reading comments that my ideea was kind of the same to Approprio's. And, I know what others say about drape, too. But think, that is a completely another vibe vs. what I am reffering to.....for which I need length, width and crispiness.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Geez I entirely feel with you about these shirts. Reading what you wrote about feeling like a blob, I was nodding along in empathy. Then when I clicked on the picture, man it was not what I expected at all. You look fab! The simplest look, the first one, is my favorite. It lets all the elements shine—the shirt, the cuffed jeans, the boots, your hair. They all play together really nicely in that one. If it’s chilly & you need another layer, wear an undershirt

Bijou

Veteran

I like the crisp look of this shirt and how you have styled it (in all ways). The colour is gorgeous on you. If this is not something you like to wear with jeans, I would wear it as a sun-smart cover up in summer, even with shorts to the beach.

kkards

Veteran

I love the idea of woven shirts like this…but the reality is something I also struggle with. I like both vest versions, I think if I was wearing it alone with jeans I’d try sneakers instead of boots- offsetting the crispness of the woven shirt with a softer shoe

cat2

Veteran

Maybe over a slim skirt or dress? I have one I wear with a tube skirt so I don’t look like a blob.

approprio

(website)

Veteran

I think you should persevere. It is a great colour for you, if you can get the proportions right.

Looking again, I think it might help to elongate the silhouette and dress it up a bit. Full length boot cut or flares? Dressy boots? Another idea: try it over a black turtle/mock neck.

Anonymous

Awwwww Woody!
I like the shirt most with the pinstripe vest, but also agree you should try wearing it open as a topper. I also prefer my button up shirts with my pleather pants to push them out of Classic territory. Great color!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Thanks for all the great suggestions. The shirt is in the laundry now, so we’ll see how well it washes, and I may attempt some other styling in the future. But if it was a cheap but failed experiment, I’m at peace with it.