Simple Wardrobe | The Classic Button Up
And the many ways to wear it
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Classic. Effortless. Casual. Dressy. How is it that one shirt can do it all? Thankfully, we don’t have to figure this out, we can just go with it and bask in the thrill that it’s true. The simple cotton (or linen, or denim!) button up shirt can take us where we need to go.
Think Jacqueline Kennedy, Carolyn Bessette, or a woman you might see on the streets of Paris.
Wear it with jeans and sneakers, jeans and ballet flats, jeans and loafers. Wear it with a pencil skirt and pumps, a maxi skirt and sandals (or thin-strap flip flops). Wear it with cut-offs and a cable knit sweater. Wear it with a pair of cropped pants and kitten heels. Or baggy pants and clogs. Press it and wear it crisp and smooth. Hang it to dry, then let it tumble in the dryer for a few minutes and wear it rumpled with the sleeves rolled up. Wear it with pearls. Wear it with a single, delicate chain, or a layered stack of them (or, my goodness, wear it with turquoise beads). Wear it with a simple drop earring or thin, hammered hoops. Loves, you could even wear it to bed.
Do you see? I’m quite certain we can’t mess this up.
Wear it tucked, untucked, French tucked. Or! How about wrapping the front tails, then tucking them in, like this? Or tying! No, not in the standard knot, which can look a little wonky. No, no. Faux tie the front tails like this (I’ve been wearing a button up shirt this way, lately, with a pair of ankle length, distressed jeans and plaster splattered Keds kickbacks. Today, I’m wearing the denim shirt and relaxed-fit green jeans, you see up there). The tied-at-the-waist look is especially fun for summer, and is especially easy with a shirt that might be slightly long.
If you could only have one shirt in your closet, now you know which style to choose. I urge you to buy the best button up you can afford, in quality cotton poplin or oxford, or in European linen, with or without front pockets, it’s up to you. I’ve linked several below for you to browse.* Bring one (or two - a white and a denim!) into your closet, the first basics in your simple wardrobe.
Everlane - the Must-Have in linen
Frank & Eileen - the Eileen in famous denim
Julia Amory - the Halsey linen shirt
*Some links are affiliate. I may earn a commission from purchases made, at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Simple Wardrobe is a series about timeless garments and how to wear them in an effortless, feminine way.
Yes yes yes! Linen button-ups have been my spring staple, all thrifted, mostly from the men's section! I've found going up one size from my usual, and in the men's cut, gives me the best casual, oversized (but not drowning) look, and balances out shorts.
Beautiful shirts in this line up 🥰♥️🥰