5 Chic Ways to Wear a Button-Down Shirt

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If there is a top we recommend you should always have in your wardrobe, it’s the classic button-down shirt. Never go without it in your closet or your luggage because it offers a multitude of styling options that won’t go out of style.

Aside from wearing it with just a basic pair of jeans or a skirt, go the extra mile in styling it. Here are a few inspiring looks from bloggers on how to give a fresh look to your button-down shirts:

1. Plain Button-Down Shirt With Printed Bomber Jacket

Mary from Layers of Chic blog wore a chambray shirt with a tartan bomber jacket and cute leather shorts.

We like the fusion of preppy styling and edgy pieces in this outfit because it made up an interesting winter ensemble. You can punctuate the look by wearing thermal tights and rain boots.

Mary in a chambray shirt with a tartan bomber jacket and cute leather shortsMary in a chambray shirt with a tartan bomber jacket and cute leather shorts

Get the Look: Isabel Marant Candice Shirt, $247.93 / Stella McCartney Matchstick Printed Silk Satin Bomber Jacket, $1,665.00 / 3.1 Phillip Lim Volume Shorts, $295.00 / Hunter Boots Belsize Mercer Rain Boots, $195.00

Plain Button-Down Outfit Idea

2. Loose Shirt With Skinny Pants

Nena from Turn it Inside Out blog made her button-down shirt more interesting by wearing it with an animal-printed coat. Do what she did and opt for something metallic for your footwear.

Nena bundled up in a printed coat and kept the outfit comfortable with a pair of slip on shoesNena bundled up in a printed coat and kept the outfit comfortable with a pair of slip on shoes

Get the Look: N˚ 21 Lace Detail Shirt, $361.77 / Sylvie Schimmel Leopard Print Fur Coat, $1,976.62 / Dolce & Gabbana Skinny Jean, $525.00 / Sergio Rossi Hutton Tassel Flats, $560.00

Leopard Print Fur Coat Outfit Idea

3. Shirt and Pants Combo With Cropped Sweater

Erin from ‘Simply Just Lovely’ updated the shirt and pants combo by wearing a cropped sweater over her top. You can go crazy with the cropped sweater by opting for something printed or glittery. Her fashion blog is unfortunately no longer available online.

Erin updated the shirt and pants combo by wearing a cropped sweater over her topErin updated the shirt and pants combo by wearing a cropped sweater over her top

Get the Look: Saint Laurent Collared Shirt, $458.63 / Narciso Rodriguez Ribbed Cropped Cardigan, $795.00 / Dolce & Gabbana Slim Fit Jean, $625.00 / Loeffler Randall Grace Monk Strap Flats, $295.00

Ribbed Cropped Cardigan Outfit Idea

4. Blazer and Coat Over a Shirt

Sasa from Shall We Sasa blog showed us that layering can be done in a cinch. She wore a basic grey button down shirt with a white blazer and finished off the outfit with an oversized coat.

Balance the look with a pair of cropped pants. Add colorful pieces here and there for a surprise factor.

Sasa in a basic grey button down shirt with a white blazerSasa in a basic grey button down shirt with a white blazer

Get the Look: Salvatore Piccolo Long Shirt, $385.00 / Helmut Lang Ruched Sleeve Blazer, $532.00 / Valentino Oversized Coat, $2,258.99 / Chloe Cropped Pleated Trouser, $729.47 / Gianvito Rossi Pointed Toe Pump, $500.67

Ruched Sleeve Blazer Outfit Idea

5. Layer Cropped Sleeveless Top Over a Shirt

Here’s a way to make use of your cropped tops. Do what Jane from Fit Fab Fun Mom did and wear it over your buttoned shirts. This look will work with either a skirt or a pair of skinny pants.

Jane wearing a cropped sleeveless top over her shirtJane wearing a cropped sleeveless top over her shirt

Get the Look: L.A.M.B. Plaid Button Down Shirt, $285.00 / Emilio Pucci Cropped Tank Top, $548.49  / Sylvie Schimmel Side Zip Trouser, $1,850.00 / Stuart Weitzman 5050 Stretch Suede Boots, $598.00

Cropped Tank Top Outfit Idea

These are just but a few of the styling options opened up by the classic button-down shirt. Don’t be afraid to mix and match pieces and find ensembles that will really suit your style.