I can’t imagine it’s already April. I felt like January and February crawled by, however now—increase—it’s April! Final yr, I began publishing extra styling posts and obtained a number of nice suggestions, so I vowed to do extra in 2025. Thus far, I’ve touched on animal print outfit concepts, basic style suggestions, and tips on how to fashion dishevelled denims. And at the moment, I’m coming at you with a subject that has been on my to-do record for a while—tips on how to put on a button-down shirt.
I’m actually enthusiastic about this put up as a result of there are infinite methods to fashion button-downs. Their versatility permits them to be worn in outfits starting from informal to dressy, making them a lot enjoyable to mess around with! On this put up, I’ll be diving into just a few of my favourite shirts, styling suggestions and tips, and, after all, some button-down outfit concepts.
My Favourite Button-Down Shirts
An excellent button-down shirt is a basic style staple, so after I discover one I like, it will get a number of put on. Currently I’ve been reaching for my Veronica Beard Llyod button-down nonstop. Sadly, it’s not in inventory, so I went on the hunt for some shoppable kinds to share with you all. And wow, did I discover some gems! Not solely are they in inventory, however they’re all underneath $100—most are even underneath $50!
1. Blended Stripe Button-Down
First up is that this enjoyable blended stripe button-down. This fashion is barely outsized with a drop shoulder, giving it a extra informal, lived-in really feel. You’ll discover that fairly just a few of the shirts on at the moment’s record are outsized—that’s the pattern proper now! Whereas many outsized seems to be are strictly informal, I’ll even be highlighting some dressier button-down shirt outfits later on this put up.
2. Go-To Button-Down
In case you’ve been following me because the early days, you understand I wore this prime for years. I all the time obtained so many feedback, DMs, and emails asking about it, however it was consistently offered out. After years of looking out, this stylish off-white button-down is essentially the most related fashion I’ve discovered. I needed to retire my trusty MK prime after it began trying far too ratty, so I’m thrilled to have discovered a alternative in spite of everything these years!
This is the button-down that may do all of it. Whereas it has a barely unfastened match, it’s not outsized, and the slick, cool cloth offers it a dressier really feel. It’s additionally out there in additional colours right here and right here, plus there’s a short-sleeve model right here—excellent in case you’re questioning tips on how to put on a button-down within the summertime!
3. Gauzy Button-Down (Below $20!)
Talking of summertime, this light-weight gauze button-down is one other nice possibility—and it’s solely $20! Made from100% cotton, this prime has a looser match and a barely longer physique, giving off effortlessly informal vibes. With almost 600 five-star critiques, you understand it’s an excellent one!
In case you’re trying to create colourful button-down shirt outfits, this fashion is available in some enjoyable summer season hues. However personally, I opted for a timeless white!
4. Linen Button-Down (Below $50!)
I would as effectively preserve the spring and summer season materials rolling…subsequent up, linen! Obtainable in three basic colours, this button-down is my present favourite linen possibility—and I didn’t come to this determination calmly. I examined out a number of kinds and weights from 4 completely different manufacturers, however this $45 fashion was the winner! It’s the right weight, and since I’m into the outsized look, the match is a ten/10.
5. Basic Cotton Button-Down (Below $20!)
No put up on tips on how to put on a button-down could be full and not using a timeless cotton possibility. This under-$20 shirt has all of the basic shirting particulars, and I’d say it’s essentially the most versatile fashion on at the moment’s record. Whereas it’s technically labeled as “outsized”, it feels extra like a relaxed boyfriend match than actually outsized, for my part.
This button-down is available in over ten lovely colours. I grabbed the yellow stripe—as a result of everyone knows yellow is having a second!
Ideas & Tips on Methods to Put on a Button-Down
Styling a button-down is straightforward and enjoyable as a result of there are infinite potentialities. And you understand the drill—I don’t imagine in style guidelines—however I do love sharing my private styling suggestions and tips within the hopes of offering some outfit inspiration.
Listed below are my prime 4 items of recommendation on tips on how to put on a button-down.
1. Play with Proportion
One tip I’ve talked about in lots of my styling posts is “don’t be afraid to play with proportion“. This rings very true right here, as lots of the button-downs I’ve highlighted are outsized or relaxed.
Attempt balancing the quantity by pairing an outsized button-down with a slim mini skirt for a classy mixture of unfastened and fitted. Or, check out the alternative finish of the spectrum and elegance it with unfastened, wide-leg denims for an effortlessly cool look!
2. Add Layers for Curiosity
From my early days in San Francisco, I discovered the artwork of layering—and it has caught with me ever since. There are such a lot of nice button-down shirt outfits you’ll be able to create simply by taking part in with layers!
Attempt popping a striped crewneck tee underneath a striped button-down, layering a cropped sweater over an extended button-down, and even carrying two button-downs for a daring double collar second. These are just some methods layering can preserve your styling feeling recent and surprising.
3. Check Out Totally different Tucks
Untucked, absolutely tucked, half-tucked, French-tucked…this record goes on and on! In terms of tips on how to put on a button-down, there aren’t any guidelines—so experiment with completely different tucks to see what works finest for you.
And keep in mind, the way in which you tuck a button-down can fully change the look. This lets you put on one easy prime in so many various methods!
4. Decorate, Decorate, Decorate
Personally, I’m thrilled that we’re again in a style cycle that embraces maximalism and many layered equipment. Even essentially the most fundamental denim-and-white-button-down outfit can get infinitely cooler just by opening the collar a bit and including some layered necklaces. Rolling up the sleeves and stacking bracelets is one other simple option to elevate the look.
In case you’re in search of some jewellery inspo, take a look at this put up, this put up and this put up.
Button-Down Shirt Outfits
Now that I’ve shared my favourite button-downs and a few styling suggestions, let’s dive into outfit concepts. In case you’ve been questioning tips on how to put on a button-down, these seems to be offers you loads of inspiration—from informal on a regular basis outfits to dressy night-out ensembles!
A Informal/Dressy Combine
First up, let’s play with proportion and create a glance that’s a mixture of dressy and informal. For this look I paired this striped button-down with certainly one of my favourite Oscar De La Renta skirts. I added these sparkly heels in yellow, to tie the colour scheme collectively.
This button-down shirt outfit is a superb instance of volume-on-volume styling—with out feeling overwhelming!
A Informal Summer season Look
Now, let’s bounce right into a extra informal, summer season look. I paired this under-$20 gauze prime with these Ikat pants for a simple, breezy vibe. Currently, I’ve been very into turquoise jewellery, so I added numerous turq touches, together with this necklace and this necklace.
To maintain issues simple and lightweight, I styled the look with these easy sandals and this bag, which I not too long ago snagged on The RealReal.
A Dressy Outfit
I actually beloved this look that I not too long ago posted, so I assumed it could be enjoyable to reimagine it in a brand new method. As a substitute of the plain white tee, I paired this inexperienced printed blazer and stylish pencil skirt with this mild blue fluid prime. So as to add a bit extra blue, I wore these velvet flats. Nevertheless, I did resolve to maintain the inexperienced bag!
An Americana Look
Two issues I like—numerous layers and an Americana vibe. This look has each! I paired this blue-striped prime with an older crimson mini skirt I picked up at Mango, this basic sweater, and these reasonably priced sunnies. For footwear, I went with these new crimson, white, and blue flats. And to present this button-down outfit a extra informal really feel, I merely grabbed my boat tote!
Methods to Put on a Button-Down for Each Event (H2)
In case you’ve been on the hunt for concepts on tips on how to put on a button-down, I hope this put up has been useful. The excellent news is, there’s actually no improper option to fashion these tops. They’re extremely versatile, and with so many nice, reasonably priced choices, they’re a complete win-win!
For extra warm-weather fashion inspiration, remember to take a look at these posts:
