The best way 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 lots of nice suggestions, so I vowed to do extra in 2025. Up to now, I’ve touched on animal print outfit concepts, basic style suggestions, and the right way to model saggy denims. And immediately, I’m coming at you with a subject that has been on my to-do checklist for a while—the right way to put on a button-down shirt.

I’m actually enthusiastic about this publish as a result of there are limitless methods to model 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 publish, I’ll be diving into a number of of my favourite shirts, styling suggestions and tips, and, in fact, some button-down outfit concepts.

My Favourite Button-Down Shirts

An awesome button-down shirt is a basic style staple, so once I discover one I really like, it will get lots of put on. Currently 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 underneath $100—most are even underneath $50!

1. Blended Stripe Button-Down

First up is that this enjoyable blended stripe button-down. This model is barely outsized with a drop shoulder, giving it a extra informal, lived-in really feel. You’ll discover that fairly a number of of the shirts on immediately’s checklist are outsized—that’s the pattern proper now! Whereas many outsized appears are strictly informal, I’ll even be highlighting some dressier button-down shirt outfits later on this publish.

2. Go-To Button-Down

In the event you’ve been following me for the reason that early days, I wore this prime for years. I all the time obtained so many feedback, DMs, and emails asking about it, nevertheless it was continuously offered out. After years of looking, this stylish off-white button-down is essentially the most comparable model I’ve discovered. I needed to retire my trusty MK prime after it began wanting far too ratty, so I’m thrilled to have discovered a substitute in any case these years!

That is the button-down that may do all of it. Whereas it has a barely unfastened 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—excellent if you happen to’re questioning the right way 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 evaluations, it’s a great one!

In the event you’re trying to create colourful button-down shirt outfits, this model is available in some enjoyable summer time hues. However personally, I opted for a timeless white!

4. Linen Button-Down (Beneath $50!)

I would as properly maintain the spring and summer time 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 determination flippantly. I examined out a number of types and weights from 4 completely different manufacturers, however this $45 model was the winner! It’s the right weight, and since I’m into the outsized look, the match is a ten/10.

5. Basic Cotton Button-Down (Beneath $20!)

No publish on the right way to put on a button-down can be full with no timeless cotton possibility. This under-$20 shirt has all of the basic shirting particulars, and I’d say it’s essentially the most versatile model on immediately’s checklist. Whereas it’s technically labeled as “outsized”, it feels extra like a relaxed boyfriend match than actually 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!

Suggestions & Tips on The best way to Put on a Button-Down

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

Listed below are my prime 4 items of recommendation on the right way to put on a button-down.

1. Play with Proportion

One tip I’ve talked about in lots 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 amount by pairing an outsized button-down with a slim mini skirt for an elegant mixture of unfastened and fitted. Or, check out the other finish of the spectrum and elegance it with unfastened, wide-leg denims for an effortlessly cool look!

2. Add Layers for Curiosity

From my early days in San Francisco, I discovered 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 taking part in with layers!

Strive popping a striped crewneck tee underneath 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 just some methods layering can maintain your styling feeling recent and surprising.

3. Check Out Totally different Tucks

Untucked, totally tucked, half-tucked, French-tucked…this checklist goes on and on! With regards to the right way to put on a button-down, there are not any guidelines—so experiment with completely different tucks to see what works finest 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 style cycle that embraces maximalism and plenty of layered equipment. Even essentially 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 straightforward approach to elevate the look.

In the event you’re on the lookout for some jewellery inspo, take a look at this publish, this publish and this publish.

Button-Down Shirt Outfits

Now that I’ve shared my favourite button-downs and a few styling suggestions, let’s dive into outfit concepts. In the event you’ve been questioning the right way to put on a button-down, these appears provides you with 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 one in every 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 good instance of volume-on-volume styling—with out feeling overwhelming!

A Informal Summer season Look

Now, let’s soar right into a extra informal, summer time look. I paired this under-$20 gauze prime with these Ikat pants for a simple, breezy vibe. Currently, I’ve been very into turquoise jewellery, so I added plenty of turq touches, together with this necklace and this necklace.

To maintain issues straightforward 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 liked this look that I just lately posted, so I believed it will be enjoyable to reimagine it in a brand new approach. As an alternative of the plain white tee, I paired this inexperienced printed blazer and stylish pencil skirt with this gentle 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 really like—plenty 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 inexpensive 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!

The best way to Put on a Button-Down for Each Event

In the event you’ve been on the hunt for concepts on the right way to put on a button-down, I hope this publish has been useful. The excellent news is, there’s actually no improper approach to model these tops. They’re extremely versatile, and with so many nice, inexpensive choices, they’re a complete win-win!

For extra warm-weather model inspiration, make sure you take a look at these posts: