Methods to Put on a Button-Down Like a Professional: Recent Outfit Concepts

I can’t imagine it’s already April. I felt like January and February crawled by, however now—increase—it’s April! Final 12 months, I began publishing extra styling posts and obtained loads of nice suggestions, so I vowed to do extra in 2025. To date, I’ve touched on animal print outfit concepts, basic vogue ideas, and find out how to fashion dishevelled denims. And at present, I’m coming at you with a subject that has been on my to-do record for a while—find out how to put on a button-down shirt.

I’m actually enthusiastic about this submit 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 submit, I’ll be diving into just a few of my favourite shirts, styling ideas and tips, and, in fact, some button-down outfit concepts.

My Favourite Button-Down Shirts

An amazing button-down shirt is a basic vogue staple, so once I discover one I like, it will get loads of put on. These days I’ve been reaching for my Veronica Beard Llyod button-down nonstop. Sadly, it’s now not in inventory, so I went on the hunt for some shoppable types to share with you all. And wow, did I discover some gems! Not solely are they in inventory, however they’re all beneath $100—most are even beneath $50!

1. Blended Stripe Button-Down

First up is that this enjoyable combined 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 present’s record are outsized—that’s the development proper now! Whereas many outsized seems are strictly informal, I’ll even be highlighting some dressier button-down shirt outfits later on this submit.

2. Go-To Button-Down

For those who’ve been following me for the reason that early days, you realize I wore this prime for years. I all the time obtained so many feedback, DMs, and emails asking about it, nevertheless it was always bought out. After years of looking, this stylish off-white button-down is probably 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 free match, it’s not outsized, and the slick, cool material provides 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—good for those who’re questioning find out how to put on a button-down within the summertime!

3. Gauzy Button-Down (Beneath $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 opinions, you realize it’s a very good one!

For those who’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 (Beneath $50!)

I’d as properly preserve the spring and summer season materials rolling…subsequent up, linen! Accessible in three basic colours, this button-down is my present favourite linen possibility—and I didn’t come to this choice calmly. I examined out a number of types 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. Traditional Cotton Button-Down (Beneath $20!)

No submit on find out how to put on a button-down can be full with out a timeless cotton possibility. This under-$20 shirt has all of the basic shirting particulars, and I’d say it’s probably the most versatile fashion on at present’s record. Whereas it’s technically labeled as “outsized”, it feels extra like a relaxed boyfriend match than really outsized, in my view.

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 & Methods on Methods to Put on a Button-Down

Styling a button-down is simple and enjoyable as a result of there are infinite potentialities. And you realize the drill—I don’t imagine in vogue guidelines—however I do love sharing my private styling ideas and tips within the hopes of offering some outfit inspiration.

Listed here are my prime 4 items of recommendation on find out how to put on a button-down.

1. Play with Proportion

One tip I’ve talked about in a lot of my styling posts is “don’t be afraid to play with proportion“. This rings very true right here, as most of the button-downs I’ve highlighted are outsized or relaxed.

Strive balancing the quantity by pairing an outsized button-down with a slim mini skirt for an elegant mixture of free and fitted. Or, check out the alternative finish of the spectrum and elegance it with free, wide-leg denims for an effortlessly cool look!

2. Add Layers for Curiosity

From my early days in San Francisco, I realized 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 enjoying with layers!

Strive popping a striped crewneck tee beneath 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 only a few methods layering can preserve your styling feeling contemporary and surprising.

3. Take a look at Out Totally different Tucks

Untucked, totally tucked, half-tucked, French-tucked…this record goes on and on! On the subject of find out how to put on a button-down, there aren’t any guidelines—so experiment with completely different tucks to see what works greatest 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 alternative methods!

4. Decorate, Decorate, Decorate

Personally, I’m thrilled that we’re again in a vogue cycle that embraces maximalism and many layered equipment. Even probably the most primary 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.

For those who’re in search of some jewellery inspo, try this submit, this submit and this submit.

Button-Down Shirt Outfits

Now that I’ve shared my favourite button-downs and a few styling ideas, let’s dive into outfit concepts. For those who’ve been questioning find out how to put on a button-down, these seems 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 considered 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 time 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 an easy, breezy vibe. These days, I’ve been very into turquoise jewellery, so I added a number of turq touches, together with this necklace and this necklace.

To maintain issues simple and light-weight, I styled the look with these easy sandals and this bag, which I just lately snagged on The RealReal. 

A Dressy Outfit

I actually cherished this look that I just lately posted, so I believed it could be enjoyable to reimagine it in a brand new method. As an alternative 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. Nonetheless, I did resolve to maintain the inexperienced bag!

An Americana Look

Two issues I like—a number of layers and an Americana vibe. This look has each! I paired this blue-striped prime with an older pink mini skirt I picked up at Mango, this basic sweater, and these reasonably priced sunnies. For footwear, I went with these new pink, white, and blue flats. And to provide 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

For those who’ve been on the hunt for concepts on find out how to put on a button-down, I hope this submit has been useful. The excellent news is, there’s actually no flawed 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, be sure you try these posts: