How to Style a Button Up Shirt?
24 Sep 2024
Only 100 years ago, button-up shirts, like pants, were only for men. Everything changed after the First World War: military uniforms were unified and a good half of men's closet was transferred to women's. Today, there are so many variations of women's shirts that they overtake men's shirts by 110 million searches on Google. Shirts are one of the must-have items in a woman's closet, worn all year round. It is one of those items that can be worn differently every time.
A basic closet should definitely include a couple of button up shirts in different styles and colors. Oversize shirt models give images of ease, classic cut, a vibe of confidence, and a special magnetism, as well as fitted femininity. In the new season, designers suggest replenishing your closet with plaid shirts, vintage denim, silk blouses for special outings, linen shirts for summer, and, of course, classic models. We reveal the secrets of how and with what to wear a shirt in 2024. We share fashionable fly hacks, how to wear a shirt and stand out. You can learn these fashion tricks and put them into action!
A basic closet should definitely include a couple of button up shirts in different styles and colors. Oversize shirt models give images of ease, classic cut, a vibe of confidence, and a special magnetism, as well as fitted femininity. In the new season, designers suggest replenishing your closet with plaid shirts, vintage denim, silk blouses for special outings, linen shirts for summer, and, of course, classic models. We reveal the secrets of how and with what to wear a shirt in 2024. We share fashionable fly hacks, how to wear a shirt and stand out. You can learn these fashion tricks and put them into action!
How to Style a Button-Down Shirt, According to Stylists
A shirt is an indispensable basic thing in any woman's closet, especially in spring and summer. Models made of natural fabrics are comfortable in any weather. However, many people associate the shirt only with classic combinations, such as 'shirt + denim shorts' or 'shirt + business suit'. So if you already think that outfit with the button-up shirt is a bit boring, keep reading - we will tell you about several ways to wear a shirt to make your look more interesting and create a stylish appearance.
Buttoned
A solid-colored oversized shirt can be worn buttoned up with all the buttons, but this is not an alternative at all. To make this way more interesting, pay attention to details. You can, for example, leave the top or bottom buttons unbuttoned for a more refined look. Also, choose where to hide the ends of the shirt - inside the pants or outside. Alternatively, tuck the shirt in on one side only. This fashion trend gives you more freedom in summer. If you want to create a playful mood in your image, leave all the buttons under the chest unbuttoned.
On the shoulders
A fashionable way to wear a shirt that many women don't know about is an open-shouldered shirt. The secret of how to achieve this style of dressing is to buy shirts two to three sizes larger. This way you'll be more comfortable and you'll have room to create the design you want. Pull the shirt down to your shoulders and button up to your chest. This way, you will have a simple outfit that can be worn elegantly and in different ways.
Wear it like a cape
This style of wearing a button up shirt is very trendy lately. Choose a solid-colored cropped t-shirt, bodysuit, crop top, or bralette, and wear your shirt on top. Don't button it up, leave it open so it looks like a cardigan. If you wish to create a put-together look, tuck your shirt into jeans or shorts. This is an idea that can be worn at any time of the year if you choose the right fabrics. For summer, choose thin fabrics like linen or cotton, and for winter, thicker fabrics like corduroy or flannel.
Backwards
Button your button up shirt backward so that the placket is on the back for a fresh, original look. You can make a V-neck at the back or close the buttons at the top and bottom, creating a gap in the middle. You can tie the shirt only at the bottom to secure it and provide stability.
Wear a tie or bow with it
A frivolous schoolgirl look? Not at all. It's just that ties are back on the trend lists, and bows - of various kinds, shapes, and sizes - have not gone anywhere yet. Combined with a classic white shirt, these charms (preferably black to keep the atmosphere back to school) look unexpectedly fresh. And it happens both in “library” style - with a plaid wool midi length skirt and loafers, and in more sexy combinations - say, also with a pencil skirt and eco-leather.
Styling tips: the trendiest tie right now is the skinny tie, AKA herring, AKA thin tie, which has nothing in common with the wide and a bit clumsy retro models.
Tuck it in
The volume makes any girl look fragile and petite, and some sloppiness looks like a French charm. Tuck your button up shirt into your pants/ jeans/skirt, raise your arms, and don't forget to lower them. This way you'll get the perfect amount of bulk and volume. The sleeves can be rolled up or left rolled down without buttoning the cuffs.
Tie a knot
Leave the bottom edges of the shirt loose and tie a loose knot. Do not tighten it too much, even in a detail like a knot, volume is important. Make sure it's as neat as a pioneer tie. Between carelessness and unkemptness, the ice is thin.
A shirt tied in a knot softens a strict style in images with a sundress, a footlocker dress, or a maxi skirt. Following the trend for layering, a classic shirt can be worn under a jacket dress. And if it is combined with a skirt in sequins and large geometric jewelry, you can get a universal bow for parties.
Cross over
Repeat the manipulation with the knot, but do not tie the halves of the shirt, but tuck it into the pants/jeans/skirt crosswise. You can play with the back: leave it straight or tuck the tip and tuck it in too. Choose the option that makes you feel like a queen.
Tuck in the front
Tuck in only the front of the button up shirt and leave the back loose. You can unbutton the bottom buttons and tuck in only part of the shirt, the “shelf”, right or left, whichever you prefer. It's a great way to emphasize your waist and hide what you don't want to show at the same time.
Buttoned
A solid-colored oversized shirt can be worn buttoned up with all the buttons, but this is not an alternative at all. To make this way more interesting, pay attention to details. You can, for example, leave the top or bottom buttons unbuttoned for a more refined look. Also, choose where to hide the ends of the shirt - inside the pants or outside. Alternatively, tuck the shirt in on one side only. This fashion trend gives you more freedom in summer. If you want to create a playful mood in your image, leave all the buttons under the chest unbuttoned.
On the shoulders
A fashionable way to wear a shirt that many women don't know about is an open-shouldered shirt. The secret of how to achieve this style of dressing is to buy shirts two to three sizes larger. This way you'll be more comfortable and you'll have room to create the design you want. Pull the shirt down to your shoulders and button up to your chest. This way, you will have a simple outfit that can be worn elegantly and in different ways.
Wear it like a cape
This style of wearing a button up shirt is very trendy lately. Choose a solid-colored cropped t-shirt, bodysuit, crop top, or bralette, and wear your shirt on top. Don't button it up, leave it open so it looks like a cardigan. If you wish to create a put-together look, tuck your shirt into jeans or shorts. This is an idea that can be worn at any time of the year if you choose the right fabrics. For summer, choose thin fabrics like linen or cotton, and for winter, thicker fabrics like corduroy or flannel.
Backwards
Button your button up shirt backward so that the placket is on the back for a fresh, original look. You can make a V-neck at the back or close the buttons at the top and bottom, creating a gap in the middle. You can tie the shirt only at the bottom to secure it and provide stability.
Wear a tie or bow with it
A frivolous schoolgirl look? Not at all. It's just that ties are back on the trend lists, and bows - of various kinds, shapes, and sizes - have not gone anywhere yet. Combined with a classic white shirt, these charms (preferably black to keep the atmosphere back to school) look unexpectedly fresh. And it happens both in “library” style - with a plaid wool midi length skirt and loafers, and in more sexy combinations - say, also with a pencil skirt and eco-leather.
Styling tips: the trendiest tie right now is the skinny tie, AKA herring, AKA thin tie, which has nothing in common with the wide and a bit clumsy retro models.
Tuck it in
The volume makes any girl look fragile and petite, and some sloppiness looks like a French charm. Tuck your button up shirt into your pants/ jeans/skirt, raise your arms, and don't forget to lower them. This way you'll get the perfect amount of bulk and volume. The sleeves can be rolled up or left rolled down without buttoning the cuffs.
Tie a knot
Leave the bottom edges of the shirt loose and tie a loose knot. Do not tighten it too much, even in a detail like a knot, volume is important. Make sure it's as neat as a pioneer tie. Between carelessness and unkemptness, the ice is thin.
A shirt tied in a knot softens a strict style in images with a sundress, a footlocker dress, or a maxi skirt. Following the trend for layering, a classic shirt can be worn under a jacket dress. And if it is combined with a skirt in sequins and large geometric jewelry, you can get a universal bow for parties.
Cross over
Repeat the manipulation with the knot, but do not tie the halves of the shirt, but tuck it into the pants/jeans/skirt crosswise. You can play with the back: leave it straight or tuck the tip and tuck it in too. Choose the option that makes you feel like a queen.
Tuck in the front
Tuck in only the front of the button up shirt and leave the back loose. You can unbutton the bottom buttons and tuck in only part of the shirt, the “shelf”, right or left, whichever you prefer. It's a great way to emphasize your waist and hide what you don't want to show at the same time.
The Best Button Up Shirts to Wear Now
Before we get to the main point, let's run through three rules that will help you choose the perfect button up shirt:
Oversize always looks better than a fitted silhouette. Even if you want to emphasize your perfect figure, be careful with silhouette shirts. Simply because with them, the risk of looking unfashionable is many times higher.
“Men's shirt” and ‘men's cut shirt’ are not the same thing. You can, of course, steal a button up shirt from your lover and make a couple of stylish looks with it. But usually under the “men's cut” designers mean quite a woman's shirt length to the middle of the buttocks, straight and without unnecessary details.
Be sure to pay attention to the fabric. Boiling-white shirt looks extremely spectacular, but only if the thing is sewn from dense quality cotton. Therefore, if you need a shirt not for a photo shoot in business style, but for life and bright images, do not save money.
Today, the button up shirt is an integral part of a woman's closet, with which you can make a variety of outfits: from casual to evening. If your closet does not yet have such things, we recommend you consider these models of shirts, that will make the full outfit look on-trend this year.
👍Stand-up collar shirts
Shirts with a stand-up collar (also called “mandarin”), are not one hundred years old - and in 2024 we are again returning to the closets of such a closet element. To choose the actual button up, you need to pay attention to the cut and material - a spacious shirt should be made of dense cotton. Color is also important: it is best to look at monochrome options, such a model will be the most functional. Wear a shirt with a stand-up collar that should be slightly unbuttoned (a couple of buttons on top) to reduce the “degree of severity”.
👍Shirts in the Preppy aesthetic
The basic button up shirt is the foundation of the Preppy style. Here I don't want to show you any special shirt, but rather small nuances that will make you look special. First of all, it is a small neat embroidery on the shirt. It is just such a small detail that will take your style to a whole other level. Such shirts work very well in Preppy style, in the bourgeois aesthetic of closed elite clubs, and in the quiet luxury aesthetic of “old money” with its tradition of yachting and other elitist sports.
Oversize always looks better than a fitted silhouette. Even if you want to emphasize your perfect figure, be careful with silhouette shirts. Simply because with them, the risk of looking unfashionable is many times higher.
“Men's shirt” and ‘men's cut shirt’ are not the same thing. You can, of course, steal a button up shirt from your lover and make a couple of stylish looks with it. But usually under the “men's cut” designers mean quite a woman's shirt length to the middle of the buttocks, straight and without unnecessary details.
Be sure to pay attention to the fabric. Boiling-white shirt looks extremely spectacular, but only if the thing is sewn from dense quality cotton. Therefore, if you need a shirt not for a photo shoot in business style, but for life and bright images, do not save money.
Today, the button up shirt is an integral part of a woman's closet, with which you can make a variety of outfits: from casual to evening. If your closet does not yet have such things, we recommend you consider these models of shirts, that will make the full outfit look on-trend this year.
👍Stand-up collar shirts
Shirts with a stand-up collar (also called “mandarin”), are not one hundred years old - and in 2024 we are again returning to the closets of such a closet element. To choose the actual button up, you need to pay attention to the cut and material - a spacious shirt should be made of dense cotton. Color is also important: it is best to look at monochrome options, such a model will be the most functional. Wear a shirt with a stand-up collar that should be slightly unbuttoned (a couple of buttons on top) to reduce the “degree of severity”.
👍Shirts in the Preppy aesthetic
The basic button up shirt is the foundation of the Preppy style. Here I don't want to show you any special shirt, but rather small nuances that will make you look special. First of all, it is a small neat embroidery on the shirt. It is just such a small detail that will take your style to a whole other level. Such shirts work very well in Preppy style, in the bourgeois aesthetic of closed elite clubs, and in the quiet luxury aesthetic of “old money” with its tradition of yachting and other elitist sports.
👍Pajama-style shirts
For more than one season the linen style button up shirt has been on the highest trend. Very fresh-looking pajama-style shirts made of silk, viscose, polyester, or blended fabrics. They can be worn complete with palazzo pants as a costume. Or you can combine them with other bottoms. I personally really like how such shirts look with jeans or straight denim skirts.
👍Flowing shirts with a flat-front collar
If you like more elegant shirts, we suggest you look at models made of soft and delicate fabrics - silk or satin. And the collar of such options should be flat - in the style of the heroine Catherine Deneuve from “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg”. By the way, flowing shirts with bright prints or gradients are in trend now - such variants can be safely worn in spring and summer, especially in tandem with denim clothes.
👍Fine striped shirts
In 2024, we'll be wearing pinstripe button up shirts with just about everything in our closet (from casual jeans to classic skirts and pants). The most relevant options are white and black models with a contrasting stripe. The cut of such a product should be straight or oversized, and the lapel collar. Decorating the shirt can breast pocket in the tone of the fabric, but models with additional print or embroidery are better to avoid - otherwise, the bow may turn out old-fashioned.
👍Bishop sleeve shirts
In 2024, button up shirts with wide bishop sleeves will be in trend. Such a sleeve extends from the armhole to the forearm and is collected at the wrist in a tight cuff, finished with a ribbon or elastic band. To make such a product worn for a long time, we advise you to choose a solid-colored shirt without print and decoration. Decorating a fashionable element of the closet can only drape at the bottom of the sleeve or collar-tie. By the way, the more voluminous will be the sleeve of the shirt, the more spectacular and fashionable will be the image. However, if you have a “triangle” figure, you should be careful: wide sleeves can visually increase the hip area.
For more than one season the linen style button up shirt has been on the highest trend. Very fresh-looking pajama-style shirts made of silk, viscose, polyester, or blended fabrics. They can be worn complete with palazzo pants as a costume. Or you can combine them with other bottoms. I personally really like how such shirts look with jeans or straight denim skirts.
👍Flowing shirts with a flat-front collar
If you like more elegant shirts, we suggest you look at models made of soft and delicate fabrics - silk or satin. And the collar of such options should be flat - in the style of the heroine Catherine Deneuve from “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg”. By the way, flowing shirts with bright prints or gradients are in trend now - such variants can be safely worn in spring and summer, especially in tandem with denim clothes.
👍Fine striped shirts
In 2024, we'll be wearing pinstripe button up shirts with just about everything in our closet (from casual jeans to classic skirts and pants). The most relevant options are white and black models with a contrasting stripe. The cut of such a product should be straight or oversized, and the lapel collar. Decorating the shirt can breast pocket in the tone of the fabric, but models with additional print or embroidery are better to avoid - otherwise, the bow may turn out old-fashioned.
👍Bishop sleeve shirts
In 2024, button up shirts with wide bishop sleeves will be in trend. Such a sleeve extends from the armhole to the forearm and is collected at the wrist in a tight cuff, finished with a ribbon or elastic band. To make such a product worn for a long time, we advise you to choose a solid-colored shirt without print and decoration. Decorating a fashionable element of the closet can only drape at the bottom of the sleeve or collar-tie. By the way, the more voluminous will be the sleeve of the shirt, the more spectacular and fashionable will be the image. However, if you have a “triangle” figure, you should be careful: wide sleeves can visually increase the hip area.