January 15, 2025
For decades, I did everything I could to avoid wearing button-front shirts. If it fit across the… torso, the sleeves were miles too long. If I got the right sleeve length, it wouldn’t button!
And why it never occurred to me to try a Petite sized shirt, I do NOT know.
Now, I have a handful of shirts, and I wear the dickens out of them! Maybe it’s not too late for you – a simple white shirt really is wicked useful. If you find that they’re too “crispy” and neat, get one of these no-iron ones and don’t touch-up iron it at all. They’re nice and soft that way…
Scarf – Katchmagic London x Lamberry Munich; earrings – Nellou Jewellery; heather blossom cashmere sweater – J.Crew; Shirt – Lands’ End; jeans – Madewell; sneakers – Sam Edelman
Yes, you see these L.L.Bean pants all the time. I have two pairs of them (heritage stone and black) and wear them weekly. Workhorses.
Scarf – Delinor; earrings – Pandora; adobe rose cardigan – L.L.Bean; Shirt – Lands’ End; pants – L.L.Bean; loafers – Marc Fisher LTD
And these navy pants? 100% wool, and lined:
Earrings – Farra; necklace – Farra; Shirt – Lands’ End; cardigan – L.L.Bean; navy pants – Alex Mill; loafers – Bandolino
Aren’t the details on this skirt nice?
Earrings – Kendra Scott; bandana – Terrain; cashmere vest – Boden; Shirt – Lands’ End; skirt – Madewell; boots – Bella Vita
A 100% wool skirt:
Earrings – Talbots; necklace – Talbots; alpaca cardigan – Alex Mill; Shirt – Lands’ End; wool skirt – Eileen Fisher; boots – Abeo
I LOVE this last outfit – dressy, but relaxed. Show off your amethysts!
Shirt – Lands’ End; amethyst necklace – Farra; amethyst and pearl bracelet – Farra; gold bag – Nina; skirt – Frock Tales; sandals – Calvin Klein
If you’re still dead set against a white shirt, all of these ideas would work splendidly with a white tee shirt in cotton, or silk, or something else!
love,
Janice
p.s. Ten years ago, we accessorized our small grey wardrobe with flowers! I would still wear every bit of this…
Like this wardrobe? Save it to Pinterest!
I love a good white button down. I would wear every outfit in this post, or some version thereof.
The pretty grape skirt is so very ladylike. But did you see the forest print version? Wow! I do believe it could work with this year’s O’Keefe wardrobe. For me, this skirt has whappage. Unfortunately, I would have to cut down about half of it to make it the right length for me or wear it as a maxi…Hmm…
Imagine what you might do with the fabric that you cut off the bottom…
hugs,
Janice
Thanks for the tip! The other colors are all so fun. I would also need to hem it to wear, but the skirt looks like it would be dressy and comfortable.
Dior and Donna Reed would have loved that last one in the 1950s! Classic for a reason!
Between my messiness and my hatred of ironing, I don’t wear crisp white button-downs very often but when I do, yes, they’re a great background for whatever else the outfit should be!
Hi D! I’m another ironing avoided (hater readed to harsh 🤣). But boy, do I love white shirts! My trick is to hang them as soon as they wash and if you have a dryer, 30 minutes in there are a game changer. If not going to work or if I’m using a second layer, I don’t mind a few wrinkles as well. In the sumer I just sprink a bit of water before wearing.
Outfits are very pretty, especially the first 3, I can set similar ones with ease and maybe I’ll soon need a pink sweater 😊 so it’s another great inspirational post.
Cheers and blessings all!
Janice, I wear button downs most days. Whether they’re plain or patterned, all fall, winter and spring, I will wear one under a sweater or a vest. You hit the nail on the head with finding the right fit is like finding the holy grail in shopping (along with finding the perfect fit jeans and the perfect white tee). I don’t have good luck with the way Lands End fits me…the same piece can be both too big in places and too small in others. I’m somewhat pear shaped and I have found that the JCrew Factory (not the regular JCrew), as well as Talbots, can provide the correct fit for women with my shape.
White button downs can also serve, worn open, as a light over layer in summer or even a bathing suit coverup. I quite literally own five white button downs—one is 3/4 sleeve, one is longer (to be worn out, not tucked in), one has a stand up ruffle collar & cuffs, one is white chambray and one is traditional. I honestly wear every single one, all year round. These are truly the workhorses of my wardrobe.
I’ve recently re-discovered the joy of button downs! Love them under a good blazer. But as much as I like the look of them under a pullover, I just CANNOT. Something about it is so uncomfortable, I want to rip my clothes off. Too bad as it’s sharp look.
Ellen, that sounds like my closet! Also workhorse items, in my case 4: a 3/4 v neck with waist straps (not sure how you call those things that tye on the back of a garment, usually seen on dresses), one with ruffled collar in off white linen blend, one with Mao collar and a classic one like the one Janice shows here.
To my eye (a casual and comfort seeking eye), a white shirt polishes an outfit.
Arwen (love your name, by the way!), I wish I could get away with Mao collars. My 88 year old mum loves aces in them, but I always feel as if they make me look fat. Eileen Fischer has some outstanding ones!
Would love to see similar post with an off white or ceeam button up shirt as i don’t wear white white! Love your posts!
That grape skirt is calling my name, Janice! Love it!. I’m just under 5′. Wondering if I would want to hem it……
I would wear a button down shirt every day if I could find one that fits correctly. I have broad shoulders and the collar always pulls backwards and doesn’t lay against the back of my neck. Does anyone else have this problem? And have you found a solution?
For those in the US, Chicos has a lovely 3/4 sleeve no iron shirt in a variety of colors each season that has a hem designed to be worn untucked.
Find yourself a seamstress or tailor who will make one for you to your measurements. Sounds like you have a “shoulder-forward” situation which causes your shirts to pull towards the back.
I last wore a white button down in the 1980’s. It was a Laura Ashley soft ivory shirt with a faint self-stripe. It even had cufflinks. I always seemed to be wearing it when I had to change the toner cartridge on the office photocopier or printer! I wore it with full midi skirts and a waistcoat or cropped cardigan/jumper and vaguely remember the floppy bow tie.
I did have some coloured button down cotton and satin shirts when I was slimmer. Now the ones I have are floral. I rarely wear white or ivory now.
I wear my shirts with trousers. I rarely wear skirts now. I liked the purple skirt but the depth of the waistband is too deep for me.
Beth T – At least you can remember when you last wore one!!!! I’m thinking it was in the 80’s when I was a financial planner. I’m not sure I currently have any button downs since I prefer to wear just pull over the head knits. Primarily in prints, but a few colors. Fun to think back on all the clothing iterations I’ve had over the years……
Wow! Lots of great ideas in this post.
The pants ones I can pretty much shop my closet.
The skirt outfits want me to consider shopping for a skirt. The denim, not being the typical jeans pencil skirt, is especially intriguing.
And the purple! I luv purple. But strappy heeled dress shoes are a no go for me. Luckily, i have a pair of flat gold sandals from Vionic that i could build around. And – of all things – a pencil case that works as a clutch in an interesting quilt pattern. Hmmm…do I have anything forgotten in my closet that would give me a top & bottom to wear with them?
I have this white shirt from Lands End as well as a pink and blue one. One of them is worn most cool Sundays to church or other outings under a sweater or jacket. Love every combination you came up with; just my style. The denim skirt is great. I have been looking for something similar ever since I saw one on display in New Mexico paired with a white T-shirt and white sneakers. My husband said, “that looks like you!” This will be a great birthday present idea!
Hi Janice, love this in theory, but tend to attract stains. When my kids were young, I had a 3/4 length sleeve white t-shirt with a beautiful ribbon trim. The kids dubbed it the “stain shirt”. I loved it, and couldn’t keep it clean. I’m admiring all the lovely looks you put together and wondering if I should wear a bib with the couple of white tops still in my wardrobe. 😅 When I see all white monochromatic looks, all I can think of is what might happen out in the winter slush. Some things are meant to be loved from afar. ❤️
Janice,
Being short waisted, for me, a shirt button down only looks right if I wear it under a pullover of some sort , or under a mostly buttoned cardigan , or as a second layer in the warm months. I would love to be able to wear it on its own, with belted trousers, but alas, that just doesn‘t work for me ! If it’s in a silky fabric, so it’s more of a blouse than a shirt, I can wear it this last way, if I pull the fabric out a bit and drape it lightly over the belt .
It just occurred to me that I need some new sweater vests and pullover sweaters !
Hi Janice. I attempted to email you about a Chicago visit. I got an error report, did you get it?