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WIW...something every woman should have...

Carla

Veteran

LOL! Back when I fist joined YLF (6 years ago) I was quite keen on those lists of wardrobe essentials that started with 'What Every Woman Should Have in Her Closet by (insert age)'. I spent a great deal of time searching for the right-for-me denim top. It has touches of cognac faux suede trim that picks up my hair colour.

Denim shirt - Jessica/Sears - 2013
White jeans - Ralph Lauren - 2018
Sneakers - Sketchers - 2018
Straw and fabric bag - gift - 2018

I'm not a fan of button downs, but I wear this shirt a dozen times a year and it goes on trips with me. I like it as a layering piece over a T-shirt as well as on it's own. Paired with white jeans is a favourite combination.

Do you have a denim shirt? How do you style it?

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37 replies

Latest reply was from Laurie

Windchime

Veteran

Your denim shirt is fab on you; no wonder it’s a wardrobe essential for you!

I had one for a few years and never wore it that much; I eventually passed it on and haven’t replaced it; at this point, it’s not an essential for me. I do see it on plenty of wardrobe essentials lists, just as you have.

Gretchen

Veteran

Looks great on you!

I have a love-hate relationship with button downs but keep both a white one and a chambray for layering, typically under a sweater.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

Have never owned a denim top or jacket in my whole life. Only jeans for me and once a skirt when I was 15. They are not my thing, but you look great in yours! I never liked those lists and am glad Angie doesn’t believe in them.

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I got a denim shirt around the same time, thinking it would be an essential. It never worked for me, and I passed it on years ago.

Nebraskim

Veteran

I have several denim shirts and love them. I would say they are workhorses for me. My favorites include a popover tunic that I wear with leggings; a straightforward GAP button-front in medium wash denim that I wear with jeans, skirts, etc. topped with jackets or a cardigan. I love the juxtaposition of the casual fabrics with the sort of tailored idea of a button-front shirt. I iron my shirts so they have a crisp look. I also have a couple of denim shirt dresses in different washes. I wear with leggings or over slim-fit pants. Denim blue functions as a neutral color for me. I have moved to this color as I have aged as it's a bit less severe than black (although I love black). I like the look of the blue with black pants or skirts, or with complementary colors like brown, yellow or orange. I also like the look of denim as a fabric.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Love this look! I have a denim shirt with a western vibe and sort of overshirt with cognac that I just wore to see if I could pretend it could be a chore jacket .

JAileen

Veteran

You look great! I used to have a short sleeve denim shirt with a vest-like front that I wore with a red chiffony skirt. I have a western style denim shirt now, with snaps.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I have 2, a light and a dark one. Like you, I like them for travel because they layer well. With high waisted bottoms, I tend to tie the front.

Gigi

Veteran

I like the outft! The top really works well with the white bottoms and sneaks.

I have had only one denim shirt in my life, and I wore it A LOT. It had snaps instead of buttons (which made it super easy to take off!), and it had a tonal thin vertical stripe on it. I just wore it untucked, like you show here. That was many years ago, and I haven't felt drawn to denim shirts since then. I think it must have been something about the tonal stripe that made it interesting to me.

Liesbeth

Veteran

I bought one years ago when they were everywhere, but that one wore out. I’m half-looking for a replacement for the reasons already stated: easy layering piece, matches my personal style and coloring. Yet I don’t know if I would wear it as much now as I used to, even though the look is classic I’ve been tired of it for a while now. I mean, at some point they were in every capsule wardrobe/ everyday styling blog.
I like yours though in the streamlined styling and with the cognac accents.

Anonymous

The denim shirt looks beautiful on you

Jane

Veteran

It’s a super shirt, and I’m impressed with your listing a research skills.

I’ve just got a denim y type shirt which is a softer material, and I’m pleased with it.

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rachylou

Veteran

I have a denim-ish shirt. It’s got a bit of ruffled edging at the collar... I think. Lol. I don’t remember. I wear it with black skirts and (fake) jeans.

Mainelady

Veteran

Your denim shirt does look fab with your white jeans! Nice choice! I have two denim tops. One is a button down chambray, slightly oversized. I wear it like you, in that I often wear it open over a tee or other top. I take mine on vacations, too. I wear it over pajamas instead of a robe. It takes up so little space. I also have a darker colored chambray blouse. It is almost a peasant style. It has Pom poms for trim. It is a very feminine version of a denim top.

Anonymous

That one has a nice shape-though my magpie eye went straight to your bag
When ruffly peasant blouses were trending in the early 90s, I had one in chambray, but none since that I can think of. I don't expect to buy one, since I don't trust or like the look of buttons on me, and blue (except teal-turquoise) is not good on me.
Those lists never worked for me. They assume that everyone is a Classic type, with Winter coloring, works only part time, and lives in a mild climate! You'd think I'd have met thousands of these ladies, based on these lists, but not one yet

lyn67

Veteran

Love it! Thanks for the reminder and the inspiration. I have 3, different washes and levels of dressiness, I used them the same way like you (as a top layer for casual, esp. for white jeans) + one which is dressiest from all and a dark ink to a cream pencil for work but never quite a workhorse-for a matter. Nowadays I hopped on the khaki trend and am better satisfied with the combo I came up with.

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Aquamarine

Veteran

I like them in theory but have had mixed success in finding one that is flattering and well-fitting...a problem with most button-downs on me. I do have a popover denim-looking one which is a good stand-in meanwhile, I think.

Yours looks great on you.

nemosmom

Veteran

I used to love those lists, and made many shopping mistakes trying to build a wardrobe from them. The challenge is always finding the right ____ FOR ME. Black blazers and white button ups look like death on me, yet all the lists said I needed them! Good thing I discovered you wise women at YLF!! Denim shirts never looked or felt right, and I’ve been through a couple of them.

A couple of years ago I found an olive one in a soft (maybe tencel?) fabric and I always travel with it. It’s a workhorse, serving as a lightweight topper in spring/summer and layered in fall/winter. I guess it’s more of a chambray of sorts?

Yours is perfect for you! It’s great for casual lifestyle, but looks dressier than a chambray. I love the cognac on it and it looks great with your white jeans!

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RobinF

Veteran

I like this on you, I can see why it gets a lot of use. I don't really like button downs but usually have a denim shirt in my closet that rarely gets worn. Right now I have a slightly fitted version that is kind of stiff so not super comfortable and an oversized chambray one that I like and is comfortable but seems too sloppy for wearing outside the house. So neither get much use.

Glory

Veteran

Another hand up for loving those lists and falling prey to trying to make my wardrobe around them. I have two denim shirts and for awhile did enjoy a button down. Last year I did not wear either one. This year I have worn one of them once. I have one currently sitting in the donate pile and the other is in a ? zone. I am in the midst of a closet purge

Sara L.

Veteran

Great look with the white jeans. I have a longer tunic length denim top that I tend to forget about. I like it fine but I don't love it. I should try pulling it out this spring before it gets too hot to wear.

Bonnie

Veteran

I still like to look at those lists but have never found one that worked for me. I had a RL chambray shirt that I wore like a denim shirt but it's getting pretty threadbare these days. The item on every list that didn't work for me was a trench coat - that was an expensive mistake.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You look fab, RunCarla. I don't have a denim shirt at the moment, but am not opposed to one.

anchie

Veteran

You look great in it, I think it suits your style. I had denim shirt in my previous ‘every woman should have’ phase, but never felt good in it. Maybe it was just the wrong shirt.

Anonymous

Looks great, Carla. I like the fact that it's nicely worn-in and comfortable looking. I have bought what seems like 100 denim shirts throughout my life, and never wear them. I love how they look on others, and in my fantasy life I"d wear one under a blazer, but .....buttondowns in general are so not me, and denim makes them look even worse on me , lol.

Helena

Veteran

It looks wonderful Runcarla! I was looking for a dark denim shirt but ended up with a mid-blue linen chambray shirt instead - it's a nice alternative and I suspect I'll get a ton of wear out of it.

YLF!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I like it - esp. the little cognac detail. I have 2 denim type shirts, one is dark, the other is faded. I wear the faded one mainly as a swimsuit type coverup as it's oversized. The dark one I only wear once in a while - usually with black pants in fall/winter. Too hot here most of the time to wear it otherwise.

Staysfit

Veteran

I have a denim shirt, but almost never wear it.

Belladogga

I wore my denim shirt today! It's a JCrew Western denim shirt and I wear it as you do- layered over a t-shirt or on its own with black or white jeans. I really enjoy wearing it as it feels very "me". Sadly, it's somewhat heavy for my climate at home so mostly gets worn when I'm travelling.

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