If you have not yet seen or even sported this trend, then, I’m sorry to say, my friend, but you’ve likely been living under a rock. The un-buttoned oxford or dress shirt, layered on top of a tank or crop top, is arguably the hottest trend of the summer. Literally every Instagram influencer has posted at least one picture of themselves wearing an un-bottomed oxford! Ok, maybe not EVERY influencer, but I would say it’s quite a large percentage of them.
Although this look is very on-trend at the moment, I would argue that it’s also a classic style. It’s something that could have been worn years ago and would have still worked, and it will still be appropriate for years to come. If you’re looking to get your hands on an oxford shirt, but are hesitant, go for it! It’s a great investment and you’ll get great wear out of it. Chances are, you likely already have an oversized, white button-down shirt somewhere in your closet which you can use to re-create the look; it is, after all, a staple piece.
Another popular trend this spring/summer season has been the brightly coloured button-down shirt. At first I was not sure how I felt about the bright colours and whether it would be worth the investment, but the great thing about these pieces is that, although they are bright in colour, button-downs are still classic, staple pieces, as we already established. I was sold after seeing some influencers wearing the pink one from Zara. Naturally, I had to get my hands on this piece and hope that I will be able to pull it off!
The best part about this is that both trends can be combined! You can opt for a bright, button-down shirt and layer it overtop a tank or crop top, for the perfect summer look. Despite the loud, bright colour, the nature of the button down is what makes it versatile.
Let’s explore some different ways the classic white oxford, or button-down can be styled, and compare it to the bright-coloured oxford to determine what works and what doesn’t, and if the latter is worth the purchase.
Trendy: Layered and Un-Buttoned
I really like the way both outfits look. The coloured shirt brings more brightness and life to the outfit, while the white shirt creates a more muted, minimal vibe. A personal preference for me would be to pair the coloured shirt with a white top instead of the black, but multiple colours could work, depending on the look you are trying to achieve. In terms of accessories, a straw or bucket hat and some chunky jewelry would bring this look home.
Business Casual/ Workwear
Depending on how strict your office is with their dress code policies, I think the coloured button-down would be a great option to switch things up. The fact that it’s a shirt keeps things work appropriate, while the colour makes it a fun look. Of course, the white button-down is perfect for the office situation as well, but that’s a given. In this situation, I would opt for the coloured button down to add a little bit of spice.
Dressy/Going Out
Ok, I LOVE this look! I can already picture it; it’s a Saturday night, I am dancing away on a patio, DJ is playing "One Dance" by Drake, I am sipping on a gin & tonic, and wearing this outfit, with some tall heels. This is a total yes! The colour makes it that much more vibrant for a night out. The white shirt could work in this situation depending on what you pair it with, but the pink shirt definitely wins here.
Casual
You cannot go wrong with a button-down of any kind when you’re aiming for a casual, yet put-together look, especially in the summer. You can pair it with a variety of different bottoms and footwear and it will work well. Here, I opted for a simple pair of mom shorts from Zara. Since an outfit like this is fairly simple, you can have fun with the accessories. You can keep it minimal or go to town, and it’ll look amazing!
Conclusions
The brightly coloured button-down shirt works, y’all! It’s versatile, you can wear it so many ways, paired with so many different types of pieces. Although it is considered a really trendy piece for this spring/summer season, I think it’s here to stay, and it’ll be something that can be worn years down the line. It’s definitely worth the purchase!
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