There is one essential item you need in your closet that will be your “power player” across many seasons and outfits. That item is the white button-down shirt. A crisp white button-down shirt can transform a pair of jeans into a chic outfit. And, the structure of the shirt can take you from formal to casual – and as I wrote about in this post, camouflage some figure flaws.
Button-Down vs. Button-Up
A little style trivia, the term “button down” actually refers to the collar – whether it has buttons to secure it down or not. If not, technically it’s a “button up”. So, most women’s shirts are going to be “button up’s”. So that we don’t get twisted in technicalities, we’ll use the common terminology “button-down”.
The White Button-Down “Power Player”
I used the term “power player” deliberately to underscore how versatile this one item can be in your wardrobe. From the office, to casual errands, to a swim suit cover-up — this shirt can do it all. The white button-down shirt will look equally chic with a professional, work-wear suit as it will on a Saturday trip to the farmer’s market.
Start with One
I try to give you wise advice when investing in clothes as I wrote about in this post. If you invest in something you love, feel good in and wear frequently your cost-per-wear will go down to pennies.
That said, in reality, you will probably want more than one white button-down shirt to take you from more casual to dressy situations. BUT, if you’re going to invest in one to start, I would get one that feels a bit more upscale. Think more Banana Republic than Gap. The fabric should be more fine and crisp.
This will be a good foundation piece to dress up and down. In my opinion, it’s easier to dress something down, than dress up a more casual shirt. If the weave of the fabric is loose, it’s never going to look right with a work, or evening, outfit. Conversely, if you have a slightly dressier shirt, with a tighter weave and higher thread count, it’s going to look great with a pair of jeans.
Where to Shop for a White Button-Down Shirt
You will find the white button-down is a staple at most stores, even Target. I’ve done some shopping for you (honestly, my pleasure!). The key criteria we’re looking for are great fabric, good cut and wears well (doesn’t wrinkle, etc.). Here are a few I’ve tried, starting with my favorite:
COS
My favorite is the “Oversized Tailored Shirt” in white shirt from COS. It is $99, and is a great staple piece to wear dressed up and down. The fabric is really nice — very smooth and crisp. It has some upscale features like a slightly oversized collar and deep cuffs, that can be turned up for a more finished look, almost “cuff link” look. Given the fabric and the upscale features, I think you get a lot of value from this shirt.
Zara
You can always find something at Zara that is stylish and affordable. The cut is usually great, the fabric is nice, if a little transparent. The key questions will be how does it wash and wear long-term. This shirt is $35.
Madewell
A lot of people love the Madewell “Oversized Shirt” which retails for $85. I tried it on and they only had a medium in stock, which, as you can see, is way too big. It’s a good shirt, but I’d put it on the more casual end of the spectrum.
Banana Republic
A long-time favorite of mine is Banana Republic. They have recently gone through a transformation, and seem to have improved the quality of their clothes. Banana Republic Factory stores have the basic, slightly lower quality clothes. I have “The Perfect Shirt” on in Medium; it sells for $80.
Gap
Gap typically has great casual shirts. This “Organic Big Shirt” is a great shirt for jeans, under sweaters, etc. I am wearing a small and it’s still very oversized. It’s priced at $69, but they are often running sales which put it at close to half that price.
Brooks Brothers
Before white button-down shirts were as plentiful as they are today, I wore the Brooks Brothers non-iron shirt. I had them in a variety of colors –and they come in both a fitted and relaxed cut. I can confirm that the “non-iron” finish is truly a miracle. You can put it in the washer and dryer, and it comes out looking like you picked it up from the dry cleaner! A marvel.
I visited a Brooks Brother’s store to try one on for this post and, unfortunately, even the “relaxed fit” is not as relaxed as most of today’s styles. The armholes, in particular, were not that generous. This shirt retails for $118.
The Bad News: White Button-Down Shirts are Perishable
It’s happened to me many times, I have a shirt that I love and I take it off after a long day and discover a spot on it. And, try as I might, it never fully comes out. Then this shirt becomes the one I wear under vests, or with a draped sweater that covers the spot. Unfortunately, it comes with the white shirt territory.
For that reason, I recommend being careful, but with the knowledge that it is going to happen. If you don’t get a spot, you’ll eventually get some grime around the cuffs or collar. It is inevitable. And you should know that going in.
Add to your Stable of White Shirts
Given the high-risk profile of white button-down shirts, you may want to consider getting more than one. The risk is diluted a bit if you have a dressier white shirt and a more casual white shirt. Then if you have more than one white shirt you can rotate them.
After you know what to look for, you’ll find that you might get lucky and find something on the sale rack. If it’s a decent price, get it, you can always use another white button-down shirt.
Next up we will talk about styling the white button down shirt. Until then…
WETSU! WETSU!
XO JT
