Several of my favorite summer “uniforms” center around fabulous button-down shirts, like the Sezane tomboy shirt above. I’m providing detailed reviews with notes on sizing and styling below, but first! Some easy outfit formulas that center around the glorious and versatile button-down.
Outfit Formulas that Spotlight the Button-Down.
Casual-cute mom uniform: boxer-style shorts and a big oversized button-down, finished with a rattan/basket bag. Easy, trend-conscious, and fun.
FRANK AND EILEEN EILEEN BUTTON DOWN // EMI JAY HAIR CLIP // MADEWELL SANDALS // J. CREW BOXER SHORTS // LOEWE BAG
More polished everyday — errands to margarita lunch: button-down tucked into white denim shorts
RAG + BONE MAXINE SHIRT // AGOLDE SHORTS // DORSEY PARACORD NECKLACE // TOTEME CROCHET BAG // STEVE MADDEN SANDALS
Dressier — for cocktails, book club, and other gatherings: layered over or tucked into statement pants or midi-length skirt
TUCKERNUCK ADAIR SHIRT // DOEN SEBASTIANE SKIRT (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // JANE WIN COURAGE PENDANT // J. CREW COMO BAG // MADEWELL BAG CHARM // VERONICA BEARD SANDALS (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)
Nancy Meyers vibes: button-down paired with matching pants or shorts
FRANK AND EILEEN TUSCANY SET (LOOK FOR LESS WITH THIS, THIS) // LA LIGNE MINI MARINA // LIZZIE FORTUNATO CAMPER NECKLACE (20% OFF WITH ALLWEEKEND) // STRAW BAG // STAUD X BIRK
Sizing Details + Notes on My Favorite Button Downs.
A few of my favorite button-downs to achieve these looks:
01. Rag + Bone Maxine — truly an all year round investment; looks great layered beneath a crisp blazer or paired in summer with white shorts, a white skirt, etc. The material is silky and gorgeous, and I love the contrast stripe on the pocket. Looks very expensive. Currently on sale! Runs a bit big. I went down to an XXS in this and it still feels roomy. (I’m usually an XS.) Look for less pick: this Tuckernuck. The sleeves are different but has a really similar overall polished feel.
02. Frank + Eileen Eileen — the iconic. Runs TTS and has an intended lightly oversized fit, with dropped and rounded shoulders. F&E has a few different cuts/styles of button-downs, but this is the greatest basic ever especially in white linen. It’s oversized but not as voluminous as some of her other styles and I feel like it hits the exact right length (covers rear) while remaining tuckable (not too much bulk). The Shirley is their more oversized style and I am eyeing that one in blue and white stripe next for more dramatic moments.
But let me again say that I absolutely LOVE the Tuscany set, which includes the Eileen shirt and matching bottoms. Easiest, chicest everyday look and of course the pieces can be styled separately. I love the pants paired with a striped tank or tee.
Look for less pick: These Quince pants with this button-down.
03. Sold Out NYC Everything Shirt — another piece I can’t help but speak in exclamation points about. The quality will astound you. It feels and looks like something from…I don’t know, Tom Ford? Silhouette is intentionally oversized and slouchy but pulls in at all the right places, and the material is heaven-sent. Runs very big but intentionally so — it’s meant to make a voluminous statement. I have this shirt in several colors and also the matching shorts in two colors. I’m petite and wearing the full set (shirt with shorts) is a big look for me — a lot of fabric and color — so I will keep everything else ultra streamlined (barely there sandals, a simple tote). Look for less picks: I’m loving J. Crew’s Etienne with the matching boxer shorts or Gap’s The Big Shirt with coordinating shorts.
04. For more of a tailored look: obsessed with this Sezane (seen in the photo at top with a Mirth skirt from last season; similar here, here). Runs a tad narrow / small. Great if you have a fuller skirt or fuller/more dramatic pair of pants and want to create a trimmer silhouette up top. Look for less pick: this J. Crew Factory.
05. Donni’s Pop shirt is another great buy with a cool-girl, lived-in feel — everything they touch just feels Scandi chic to me. It’s a bit narrower than the Sold Out but longer hem length and more “undone” feel than the Eileen. Runs oversized.
06. Just for fun: if you’re after patterns, you can’t beat Julia Amory’s Husband shirts. Run TTS. I mainly wear these as cover-ups but have also styled for day paired with the matching pareo (worn as a skirt) or tucked into white jeans. And I’ve fallen in love with the dramatic oversized crest on this The Shirt x Rochelle Behrens button-down, which I wore last weekend. Would also be fun tucked into white jean shorts.
07. If you’re after more of a cropped silhouette: AYR’s The Deep End has a cool boxy fit (not quite cropped but definitely not as long as the other options above), Sold Out has a fab cropped version of their Everything Shirt, and I’m completely in love with this chic TWP top, which comes in a few colors but I own in this brown microstripe, which looks great with brown leather accessories. It has the coolest silhouette and looks great if front is tucked and back is untucked. Look for less picks: this from Everlane, this from Tuckernuck, or this from Old Navy.
P.S. The bungee / rope cord trend is everywhere!
P.P.S. My favorite fridge couscous salad for summer.
P.P.P.S. Under the radar rom coms.
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