your thoughts on 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

your thoughts on buttondowns.

always trying

Veteran

There has been discussions about button downs on here previously-things like the fit-gaping between the buttons, etc. I have a white cotton shirt worn previously under crew neck sweaters, a red plaid one worn over a tee, unbuttoned, and an oversized beige silk that is a "why did I ever get this" item. I have just tried them on today -tucked into high rise pants (not the oversize). I never wore this look before-I always thought I looked dumb-like my waist was too high under my armpits. Now that I have lost weight I think I can do this. It was not my short waisted body, it was just the overweight middle. How do you wear your buttondowns, and what about the high rise bottoms????

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from ClaraT

Anonymous

I've only worn buttondowns over tank tops, like a thin jacket cause I don't trust buttons.
No matter what size I am, tucking doesn't work on me. It's not just my short waist, but my high hips. But I do prefer higher rises, not so much the front that matters, but the back. I don't like having my low back feel bare!

jacquez

I often semi-tuck my buttonfront shirts; if I'm wearing a belt it's ALWAYS semi-tucked. Without a belt I wear the shirts out, often with the bottom few buttons unbuttoned over the hips.

The only buttonfront shirts I wear over other shirts are flannels, which I wear over tees or tanks for outdoor work.

Runcarla

Veteran

Button down shirts have been love/hate for me. I’ve narrowed my collection to a few that I really like (love?), so that helps. I do tend to wear the cotton ones in warm weather (cooler than t-shirts) and flannel in cold weather. Angie did a blog post on button downs under turtlenecks - and I do this look from time to time - stand collar up so it peeps out of the turtleneck, and let the tails of the shirt hang out below the sweater.

LaPed

Veteran

I love my button-front shirts: oxford and chambray in warmer weather, and flannel when it's cold. That said, my shoulders are quite a bit wider than my bust, so it's rare for me to have gaping issues. Like jacquez, I find most shirts sit better if I leave the bottom button open (I do this with most cardigans too). I like the look of shirts worn open as toppers and do this a lot in the summer. when it's too hot for a jacket but I want long sleeves.

Anonymous

Total like- hate relationship with them here . I think they look fantastic on those who can wear them well . I put one on and feel like something I don’t know how to articulate without offending someone . My favourite way to see them styled is a fluid fit silk shirt worn loosely tucked into a pair of expensive trousers and worn with a great belt and leather boots . One of my best friends wears loose linen button downs untucked over skinny jeans as her uniform and she looks stunning . I do have one plaid shirt I wear once in a blue moon - untucked over jeans . No fussy styling going on here . I femme it up with a bunch of jewellery .

Irina

Veteran

I like them and wear often. Mine are mostly oversized, so tucking in would not work. I like straight cut silk shirts but unfortunately their fit doesn’t work for me. I still hope to find it one day.

Anonymous

Irina , what brands do you like for your shirts ?

Joy

Veteran

I don’t get button gaps and like button downs rather than knits. Nothing is high waisted on me. I wear them tucked with a topper or semi tucked and like them to be crisp. I like silk button downs worn out on others but haven’t figured out how to wear them myself.

slim cat

Veteran

Over tank tops as a sorta jacket-topper ( worn open with sleeves rolled up most of the time ). I like them in spring/summer time. The last one was actually a beach wear - oversized, very thin, in a beautiful aqua color - love.

MsMaven

Veteran

Although I like the look on others, button downs rarely work on my body. Only ones that do are the soft drapes rayon ones from Uniqlo, but they don’t come in many colors

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I am a Nay. Own precisely one, which I wear under knits, because with small shoulders and fairly small bust but sticking-out abdomen and wider hips, the lower buttons won’t do up. They look too formal on me too. Drapy tops FTW!

Synne

Veteran

I love the idea of button downs. Classic and timeless style. But I neither feel nor look good in them. I prefer blouses (especially bias cut, with some drape!). Fitted button downs can look very "office wear" to me, I'd say I prefer looser, oversized versions.

The Cat

Veteran

Having a slim waist but high hips, I have finally realized that my button-downs have to be slightly fitted, never boxy.
And I prefer ones that look fine whether tucked or untucked. (This means: not too short.)

In the three coldest seasons, I wear them as tops, often over a camisole/tank top and/or with a topper and probably a scarf. In summer, I wear the most breezy ones as jackets, over sleeveless tops and dresses.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am always drawn to them but have backed off of the style. For one, I have the gaping button problem quite often because I have a narrow back and large bust. When I am at a lower weight than I am now, the problem is not quite as pronounced and I can fit them better, but it’s still an issue.

Styling wise, I sometimes feel like the collars of shirts fight with the collars of my jackets and blazers — soft, draped fabrications slip down inside at the neck, stiffer ones beg the “inside or outside” the lapel/collar question. They also can take on a preppier appearance than I am into these days. I used to layer solid color button front shirts under sweaters all the time but I’ve gotten away from that look.

I do still have a small collection of collared shirts. Mostly soft, drapey, unstructured fabrications. A chambray, a handful of flannel (I wore one yesterday around the house layered over a Heattech tee), and some silkier ones. Occasionally I will wear a patterned one tucked into bootcut mid rise jeans with a belt, but not much these days as my weight is up and I don’t like the way tucking shows the extra fluff around my middle. I think I’m having the same issue you describe — the high waists and tucking do not work well on my short torso, and even less so when I’m carrying extra weight. So no tucking for now.

I still have these two old Equipment patterned semi-sheer shirts in my holding zone. I am thinking it might just be time to give up on them, but somehow I never quite let go. I wore them over tank tops or thin layering tees, usually untucked back when longer tops with skinnies were ubiquitous. I also wore them tucked with skirts or wider leg pants sometimes, but tucking a shirt with a layering tee underneath is always a little awkward. I wore them tied at the waist sometimes too. Sometimes tying button front shirts at the waist works better than tucking for me because I can control the length better to disguise my short torso. I should play around with them before I let them go.

This post has 2 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.

cjh

(website)

Veteran

I’ve never had much of a problem with fit, though if buttons aren’t placed correctly, gap can happen. And I don’t feel they have to be inherently preppy, maybe because of the colors or how I coordinate them.

Button shirts under sweaters or cardigans was my cold weather uniform for working years. After retiring, I opted for long sleeve tee shirts as my first layer, but still wore button shirts over tanks or tees in warmer or transition weather. Nowadays, I’m back to button shirts under sweaters most days, finding that the shirt collar provides more warmth and I resort to a scarf a little less often. We haven’t hit the coldest part of winter yet, so scarves may still play a big role.

My button shirts are flannel or cotton plaids, black or gray and white stripes, and a scattering of subtle prints. Most of them intermix playfully with various colors of sweaters or toppers without being exact matches.

cat2

Veteran

I really like button downs. I look for stretch cotton poplin or heavy silk so they have a bit of give. I wear long sleeves in Spring and Fall and sleeveless year round layered under jackets. I usually pick up pieces from Antonio Melani at Dillard’s, it’s a reasonably priced house brand that is often on sale and has solid quality.

delurked

Veteran

I’m generally a no. Mostly I gave fit issues, but I also don’t feel like my best version in a button down unless the fabric is softer.

Irina

Veteran

Sorry, missed it.
Lisa P, my shirts are mostly from COS. Because their styles are oversized I don’t have to size up to get enough fabric in the chests area. I also try Massimo Dutti but the cut is straight and when I size up shirts are too big in the shoulders and around hips. They make really nice and reasonably prices silk shirts. Unfortunately, they are not petite friendly.

I must admit I have a bit of obsession with white button down shirts. I’m one of those who believe everything looks better with a white shirt
I could do a post on white shirts but I don’t think there would be enough interest for it.

nemosmom

Veteran

I love them, but they MUST be drapey or fluid and NOT crisp. Like a silk or tencel; not a poplin. I wear them as a topper over a tee or turtleneck - sometimes unbuttoned or partially buttoned. When worn alone (usually in a thin cotton in lieu of a tee shirt), I roll the sleeves and button them. I don't tuck them ever, otherwise I look like Ed Grimley.

This post has 1 photo. 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.

whidbeygirl

I like the look and generally wear them unbuttoned as a light topper. Usually, mine are cotton or a blend and require ironing so they tend to be worn only occasionally.

jacquez

I've mentioned before that I end up making a lot of my own buttondowns now due to fit issues, but one button-gap solution is to fit either buttons & buttonholes to the reverse of the button band, or use hook & eye fittings. Most of the flannels I have purchased I've added hook & eyes between bust buttons; with thinner fabric I use my machine to add buttonholes and then hand-sew buttons on.

I find that for the best gap-closure, you need more than one, and they need to be in locations you might not expect. I uploaded a pic of a shirt that would have a gapping problem on most people with above a B cup.

The shirt in the picture demonstrates a HUGE problem with many of the shirts on the market -- no button at the bust point. That's just poor design, I think -- a button at the bust point makes a big difference. The shirts that I have that are patterned for bust sizes usually have around 11 buttons, rather than the 4-5 many purchased shirts have, and often are spaced from the button at the bust point -- the most important one for security.

The pink line is the bust point, the blue circles are the extant buttons, and the green Xs are where additional buttons/hook & eyes are needed (including the all-important bust point button). The lower of the Xs always _feels_ unnecessary (even after all this time!) but makes a huge difference to gapping.

All this to say, if you have gapping problems, look for shirts with bust-point positioned buttons OR which have a place at the bust point for you to add a button on the reverse!

This post has 1 photo. 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.

Diana

Veteran

I like them oversized and drapey and soft. (generally flannel, soft cotton gauze, or silk/silky material). More fitted and/or structured ones feel too constricting to me. I do have a couple of fitted ones that I have kept because they are Liberty prints that I adore, but I don't wear them very often.

Jacquez makes a great point about the bust-point buttons! Even on an oversized, soft shirt sometimes gaping can be a problem. I've actually found that most buttondowns have a double layered placket that makes it pretty easy to hide a safety pin underneath to hold the gaping area closed. (I actually prefer a safety pin to snaps or buttons because it's long and thus holds a larger area closed. Plus you can adjust it as you need.) On some of my shirts I just keep the safety pin there all the time and put them on over my head.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I bet you look great in the outfit you've described, always trying. Good job giving it a go

Personally, button-through shirts are a slam dunk for me. There is seldom an item that instantly fits better because of the structure and fluidity in all the right places. My neck LOVES the collar. I have several. My go-to Summer top.

I wear them tucked or semi-tucked with just about any bottom. I also wear them big and boxy. Or layered under a pullover Preppy Style. Here is my current collection:

Modern Classic Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

5

Banana Republic

Quinn Straight-Fit Denim Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

8

Asymmetrical Poplin Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

15

Modern Classic Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

12

Boden Modern Classic Print Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

16

Modern Classic Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

11

View Info

Banana Republic

Quinn Straight-Fit Cotton-Linen Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

7

Modern Classic Shirt

View Info

Top Pick

9

View Info

Top Pick

20

Perfect shirt in Stewart plaid

View Info

Top Pick

20

cindysmith

Veteran

Major love/hate relationship with button front shirts. While I do often experience the button-gap issue, my chief complaint with them is the fit of the shoulders and sleeves. I have strong arms and shoulders, and I have not found many button front shirts that actually accommodate my arms/shoulders. I've tried blends with spandex, sizing up, wearing them unbuttoned like a topper... it is very rare for me to find a button front shirt that I like aesthetically AND that fits properly UNLESS it is a knot fabric and even then it's not easy

Cee

Veteran

I'm 2020 lazy and so that means I literally haven't worn a button-down shirt since 2019 and my iron sits in the corner collecting cobwebs !

Before that I'd simply layer one over a crewneck T-shirt or a lightweight turtleneck ( we call them skivvies down here ).

Greyscale

Veteran

I wear buttoned shirts for work most days, oversized so no button gap problem. Usually untucked, but I have a few oversized ones in lightweight fabrics that look very current when tucked into high waist pants and bloused out. It reminds me of how that was the look when I was in early high school, early 90s. For band concerts we had to wear a white blouse and black skirt. I tucked my oversized white shirt into my skirt one night and my mother tried to talk me out of it because it looked absurdly puffy. Then after the concert, she said she realized I was wearing it exactly like all the other girls!

Sal

Veteran

I want to like them, but often struggle. More fitted ones suit me much better than oversized. However every now and then (every 10 years) I find one that appeals and that I love.

Roberta

Veteran

I fall for them because of the pretty patterns you can't often find in other tops (tartan! Polka dots! Houndstooth!), and then don't wear them. For me, I think it is the collar, which looks small against my generous bust and never seems to lay right. So I have learned to search out the pattern in a collarless shirt. Learning the word "popover" was magical for me. But I still have four lovely button-front shirts in my closet. I am saving up my work discards for Dress for Success in the spring, and will try to weed these shirts then.

ClaraT

Veteran

Like them on others, but too constricting / businessy / fussy for me. I don’t necessarily view them that way in others, but if I’m going to reach for something lovely and comfortable that makes me feel good? It’s never a button down.