For too long, the button-up shirt has been pigeonholed. It’s the piece we reserve for business casual, the one our dads wear, or the emergency grab when we've run out of clean tees. But after left my role in an office and started getting more creative with my style, the button-up became my wardrobe's most valuable blank canvas.
As we transition into fall, the cotton button-up is the perfect weight to carry an outfit. Here are the 5 ways I make my button-ups work hard and get the most wear and creativity out of them:
1. Tuck or No Tuck
The drape of your button up is key to a good tuck. Silk, linen, or a cotton blend will create a beautiful, relaxed billow, perfect for the half tuck. A crisp poplin cotton shirt, while great for structure, works best for that cleaner, full tuck or no tuck at all. Honestly, sometimes a full, stiff tuck feels too corporate or formal for my personal style. I prefer the casual approach. I like to leave mine loose and oversized. Depending on the fabric, I will do a french tuck (thanks Tan France) and let it drape. If I'm wearing a tailored bottom (like wide-leg trousers), a full tuck or belt works best to balance the volume. I love that I can play with these shapes to find the ones that feel the most me. There are no wrong answers, and I encourage you to play as well.
2. Borrow From Menswear
If you want the best fit for modern styling and an affordable button-up, take a page from my book and head straight to the men's section, especially secondhand. This is a game-changer for finding those perfectly oversized pieces and there is a way larger selection of color and pattern. Men's shirts offer a longer body and a boxier fit, which is exactly what we need for that effortless, slouchy aesthetic. For our clients, we are also a big fan of the classic Gap Big Shirt.
3. The Collar-Up
This is one of my go-to styling tricks. It is an instant elevation of a simple button-up that I rely on when I want to feel structured yet chic. I button my shirt all the way up (every button). Then, I wear a stack or a chunky statement necklace in my collar, allowing the chain to peek out over the fabric right below my chin. The combination of the closed collar and the hardware creates balance (my prefered friction between masculine & feminine) which falls perfectly within my personal style.
4. The Bottom Layer
For me, the button-up can't just be the top layer. I layer the shirt under a crewneck sweater or vest. I make sure the collar and the shirt cuffs peek out from beneath the sweater's neckline and sleeves for that classic, preppy touch. Instead of smoothing the collar completely flat, I gently pop it up or let it slightly curl under the sweater neckline. This small, deliberate detail adds instant structure and polish with endless color and pattern combos.
5. The Denim Button-Up
My denim button-up is one of my hardest working pieces. You can find rigid denim, soft denim, any wash and any shape. It is the ultimate casual, comfortable layer, and yes, blue is a neutral and yes, I absolutely wear it with jeans! I style my denim button-up as a jacket, wearing it completely unbuttoned over a fitted base layer. Or I like to belt, do the full collar up, and add shape and interest with a belt.
The secret to pulling off these looks is embracing PLAY. The button-up is truly the style chameleon of my closet, but all of these styling ideas have come over time with the ability to slow down and be creative. I have pieces from my corporate days that now have a totally new life. The best styling hacks require a shirt that has some room to move, tuck, and drape. Don't let yours sit on the hanger.
Happy styling!
x Jamie Humes
