I can’t believe it’s already April. I felt like January and February crawled by, but now—boom—it’s April! Last year, I started publishing more styling posts and received a lot of great feedback, so I vowed to do more in 2025. So far, I’ve touched on animal print outfit ideas, classic fashion tips, and how to style baggy jeans. And today, I’m coming at you with a topic that has been on my to-do list for some time—how to wear a button-down shirt.
I’m really excited about this post because there are endless ways to style button-downs. Their versatility allows them to be worn in outfits ranging from casual to dressy, making them so much fun to play around with! In this post, I’ll be diving into a few of my favorite shirts, styling tips and tricks, and, of course, some button-down outfit ideas.
My Favorite Button-Down Shirts
A great button-down shirt is a classic fashion staple, so when I find one I love, it gets a lot of wear. Lately I’ve been reaching for my Veronica Beard Llyod button-down nonstop. Sadly, it’s no longer in stock, so I went on the hunt for some shoppable styles to share with you all. And wow, did I find some gems! Not only are they in stock, but they’re all under $100—most are even under $50!
1. Mixed Stripe Button-Down
First up is this fun mixed stripe button-down. This style is slightly oversized with a drop shoulder, giving it a more casual, lived-in feel. You’ll notice that quite a few of the shirts on today’s list are oversized—that’s the trend right now! While many oversized looks are strictly casual, I’ll also be highlighting some dressier button-down shirt outfits later in this post.
2. Go-To Button-Down
If you’ve been following me since the early days, you know I wore this top for years. I always received so many comments, DMs, and emails asking about it, but it was constantly sold out. After years of searching, this chic off-white button-down is the most similar style I’ve found. I had to retire my trusty MK top after it started looking far too ratty, so I’m thrilled to have found a replacement after all these years!
This is the button-down that can do it all. While it has a slightly loose fit, it’s not oversized, and the slick, cool fabric gives it a dressier feel. It’s also available in more colors here and here, plus there’s a short-sleeve version here—perfect if you’re wondering how to wear a button-down in the summertime!
3. Gauzy Button-Down (Under $20!)
Speaking of summertime, this lightweight gauze button-down is another great option—and it’s only $20! Made from100% cotton, this top has a looser fit and a slightly longer body, giving off effortlessly casual vibes. With nearly 600 five-star reviews, you know it’s a good one!
If you’re looking to create colorful button-down shirt outfits, this style comes in some fun summer hues. But personally, I opted for a timeless white!
4. Linen Button-Down (Under $50!)
I might as well keep the spring and summer fabrics rolling…next up, linen! Available in three classic colors, this button-down is my current favorite linen option—and I didn’t come to this decision lightly. I tested out multiple styles and weights from four different brands, but this $45 style was the winner! It’s the perfect weight, and since I’m into the oversized look, the fit is a 10/10.
5. Classic Cotton Button-Down (Under $20!)
No post on how to wear a button-down would be complete without a timeless cotton option. This under-$20 shirt has all the classic shirting details, and I’d say it’s the most versatile style on today’s list. While it’s technically labeled as “oversized”, it feels more like a relaxed boyfriend fit than truly oversized, in my opinion.
This button-down comes in over ten beautiful colors. I grabbed the yellow stripe—because we all know yellow is having a moment!
Tips & Tricks on How to Wear a Button-Down
Styling a button-down is easy and fun because there are endless possibilities. And you know the drill—I don’t believe in fashion rules—but I do love sharing my personal styling tips and tricks in the hopes of providing some outfit inspiration.
Here are my top four pieces of advice on how to wear a button-down.
1. Play with Proportion
One tip I’ve mentioned in many of my styling posts is “don’t be afraid to play with proportion“. This rings especially true here, as many of the button-downs I’ve highlighted are oversized or relaxed.
Try balancing the volume by pairing an oversized button-down with a slim mini skirt for a chic mix of loose and fitted. Or, try out the opposite end of the spectrum and style it with loose, wide-leg jeans for an effortlessly cool look!
2. Add Layers for Interest
From my early days in San Francisco, I learned the art of layering—and it has stuck with me ever since. There are so many great button-down shirt outfits you can create just by playing with layers!
Try popping a striped crewneck tee under a striped button-down, layering a cropped sweater over a longer button-down, or even wearing two button-downs for a bold double collar moment. These are just a few ways layering can keep your styling feeling fresh and unexpected.
3. Test Out Different Tucks
Untucked, fully tucked, half-tucked, French-tucked…this list goes on and on! When it comes to how to wear a button-down, there are no rules—so experiment with different tucks to see what works best for you.
And remember, the way you tuck a button-down can completely change the look. This allows you to wear one simple top in so many different ways!
4. Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize
Personally, I’m thrilled that we’re back in a fashion cycle that embraces maximalism and lots of layered accessories. Even the most basic denim-and-white-button-down outfit can get infinitely cooler simply by opening the collar a bit and adding some layered necklaces. Rolling up the sleeves and stacking bracelets is another easy way to elevate the look.
If you’re looking for some jewelry inspo, check out this post, this post and this post.
Button-Down Shirt Outfits
Now that I’ve shared my favorite button-downs and some styling tips, let’s dive into outfit ideas. If you’ve been wondering how to wear a button-down, these looks will give you plenty of inspiration—from casual everyday outfits to dressy night-out ensembles!
A Casual/Dressy Mix
First up, let’s play with proportion and create a look that’s a mix of dressy and casual. For this look I paired this striped button-down with one of my favorite Oscar De La Renta skirts. I added these sparkly heels in yellow, to tie the color scheme together.
This button-down shirt outfit is a great example of volume-on-volume styling—without feeling overwhelming!
A Casual Summer Look
Now, let’s jump into a more casual, summer look. I paired this under-$20 gauze top with these Ikat pants for an effortless, breezy vibe. Lately, I’ve been very into turquoise jewelry, so I added lots of turq touches, including this necklace and this necklace.
To keep things easy and light, I styled the look with these simple sandals and this bag, which I recently snagged on The RealReal.
A Dressy Outfit
I really loved this look that I recently posted, so I thought it would be fun to reimagine it in a new way. Instead of the plain white tee, I paired this green printed blazer and chic pencil skirt with this light blue fluid top. To add a bit more blue, I wore these velvet flats. However, I did decide to keep the green bag!
An Americana Look
Two things I love—lots of layers and an Americana vibe. This look has both! I paired this blue-striped top with an older red mini skirt I picked up at Mango, this classic sweater, and these affordable sunnies. For footwear, I went with these new red, white, and blue flats. And to give this button-down outfit a more casual feel, I simply grabbed my boat tote!
How to Wear a Button-Down for Every Occasion (H2)
If you’ve been on the hunt for ideas on how to wear a button-down, I hope this post has been helpful. The good news is, there’s really no wrong way to style these tops. They’re incredibly versatile, and with so many great, affordable options, they’re a total win-win!
For more warm-weather style inspiration, be sure to check out these posts:
