Steven Alan is one of my favorite brands for button-down shirts. they are sturdy (made in the USA!) and come in a variety of nice prints and colors. the cut is basically a man's shirt shrunken down to a woman's size without the addition of bust or waist darts or any of those things i don't like in most women's shirts. here is part of my Steven Alan collection - the pink double-gauze in the middle is a new favorite:
i'm a big sucker for blue stripes in particular. if it's striped and it's blue i will probably buy it. the one on the left is vintage Dior Jeune Homme (shown here.) the one in the middle is by Martin Margiela Line 4 - i reach for it time and time again and never want to take it off when i wear it. the one on the right is by Rugby Ralph Lauren - a good, dependable brand and not as expensive as Steven Alan:
i also like my shirts oversized. the one on the left by JCrew (shown here) and the one on the right by H&M are actually from the men's departments. i don't think i was the only girl buying the JCrew men's shirt because they eventually made a women's version in the same fabric. the one in the middle is by CP Shades from Intermix (shown here.) it is falling apart because i wear it so much:
i'm not sure why i keep buying shirts - i suppose it's a good thing i can wear them to work. i do have a preppy side, it must be from all those years of upper east side schooling and uniforms (although i must clarify that i am a west-sider - west side is the best side! i just had to cross central park to get to school every day.) mostly the prepster in me surfaces when i have to run errands after work - i wear the same shirt and shoes i wore to work, swap out my trousers for jeans, and head out.
Martin Margiela Line 4 striped shirt; Paige denim shorts; vintage Gucci dragon belt; Tod's patent leather driving mocs; thrifted vintage army shirt (so authentic i found sand in one of the pockets - freaky!)
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17 comments:
I love the shoes! I always try to "pull off" wearing them with shorts.. but I have wide feet and the look is so unflattering on me. :(
Love your shirt collection!
That Dior Jeune shirt is just outstanding.
Good collection. Blue striped shirts have a good way of going with everything. My favorites are the twill shirts, I tend to travel with them since I think they look better wrinkled. That's pretty interesting with the sand in the pocket military jacket! Also I wish I could see a close up of the dragon belt, sounds cool!
The military doesn't wear green in the Middle East so o don't think it's from there.
Funny, I was thinking about this exact same thing today as I was wearing my J.Crew button-down. When I can't tell the difference between my button-downs anymore, its time to stop buying them...
This was a fun kind of post, I really enjoyed it. I have a pretty tenuous relationship with button-downs: I never wear them in the winter, find myself wanting lots in the summer, and I can never seem to find the right kind. I do like the preppy connotations that classic button-downs have, but they don't really work with how I like to dress, so I'm always looking for more unusual variations.
Anon: yes, that is true. The tag on the inside of the shirt is all in Italian, with a batch date of February 1978. The store I purchased it from had a whole bunch of vintage men's clothing re-worked to fit women. Mostly khakis and Army green shirts like this one. It was very interesting...
I enjoyed this post - both the style and substance. Funny, I keep trying to buy button-downs but never think of them when I'm shopping, only when I look in my closet and want to wear one...
wowwie. i really REALLY like this. i'm trying to buy MORE button down shirts. i love them a lot. i think i'm also a prepster at heart and they go with everything. and since bust darts piss me off and they've started making ALL shirts in 'sheer', button downs have become my go-to when i want something a little more put together but not too.
really love the look. and that shirt was a great find. did you dust out all the sand?
I love the natural pallet and especially your shoes!
I keep buying shirts too! But I think it's part of a 'signature style'/comfort clothes thing, if it gets most wear out of anything else in the wardrobe, I guess it doesn't hurt to have many! Really love the pink one btw, I wanna see it on you!
I love that you combine preppy and edgy so well - I often find myself edging into preppy without realising it with my shirts and polo tops, without intending to at all. Go prep! xx
I am the same way when it comes to striped tees! I just can't stop buying them! Shirts on the other hand are difficult for me because of my chest, but the oversized always work! You look great!
i'm not a prepster! and you got me wanting to buy penny loafers! :)
then it strikes me that all i wear is tunics and leggings right now so they'd look weird....though i have half a mind to try...
i like the look! i want button downs but they never fit me right i have more "guts" than you though ;) so they look frumpy on my frame.
these photos look like you emptied out my boyfriend's closet! he too loves steven alan and especially the pale blue stripes. i have spent endless hours with him there. now you've made me want to try on a few things for myself. i never really thought about it! they look so nice and slouchy. ~joelle
why? they suit you so well. stick with what you love, I always think.
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