First off, thank you to everyone who is reading my How To Style: Dad’s Shirts!! I don’t know how or why, but that page has been popping up as the #1 result on Google for “styling dad shirts.” (Ok I’m totally flexing, if you couldn’t tell. Humble brags amirite). Prolly has something to do with SEO, but I could not tell you what it is. So if you came to this page from that one, welcome!! I’m so happy you’re here!! :)
It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these. When I began the “How To Style” series, I definitely envisioned myself having more ideas and more motivation to post. But y’all, blogging consistently is so freaking difficult, and I have so much respect for those who have successfully built their blog up from ground zero.
What inspired this one is actually a recent TikTok I made (haha)! You can watch it at this link: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSxduHn4/. I’ve been spending a lot of time on that app, and the creative energy that is present there is unreal. Who woulda thought right? Anyways, I made a TikTok where I styled a white button-down 14 different ways for fall. I actually put in a lot of time and effort so I thought, might as well double-dip and use it as a blog post as well! And now, here we are.
Presenting… How To Style: White Button-Downs For Fall! I hope this inspires you to play dress-up in your closet while you are staying SAFE and HEALTHY at home!
Let’s start with a fairly straightforward look. I tucked my white button-down and tucked it, all the way around, into a black tweed skirt. I finished the look with some tall, heeled, black boots. I call this “straightforward” because it really only involves your base white and black colors and there’s no layering involved. The white button-down, in its purest form! This is a super French look, IMO, because of how effortlessly classy it is! It also gives your figure a nice + slim shape!
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Ann Taylor tweed skirt · Ann Taylor tall boots · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
Yes she did! I don’t know about you, but it seemed like every elementary school teacher owned one of these short-sleeved, denim shirts with some sorta cutesy embroidered design on it. I think it’s actually quite endearing and brings back fond memories of blissful innocence. I honestly didn’t expect this combo to look as good as it does, but dangggg. As much as it exudes a playful vibe, it also has this unexpected sexiness to it, possibly attributed to the tall boots I paired with the short skater skirt. And personally, I always love the dimension that’s added when you layer a long sleeve under a short sleeve.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Thrifted denim shirt · Kohl’s skater skirt · Ann Taylor tall boots · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
Omg, I know!! But like, denim is my absolute favorite fabric!! There’s so much history behind it and it’s always reliable and durable! This one has longer sleeves, but still allows for the cuffs of the white button-down to peek through. This denim “jacket” (for lack of a better word) is semi-cropped and has a raw hem, which gives it a very distressed (but not too distressed) look and I love the 2 large pockets on the chest area. In this look as well as the previous look, I love how the collars of the white button-down and denim top run parallel to each other. It just screams LAYERS! Of course, I paired it with even more denim and white platform sandals to complement the white button-down and give it a more playful vibe.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Thrifted denim shirt · Nine West from Kohl’s kick-flare jeans · Daphne platform sandals · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
Jolene in Paris vibes. Another French-ish look for ya! (Lol can you tell what my fav style is?) Honestly, if styled the wrong way, this blazer kinda looks like a chef uniform haha. But I do like how it’s double-breasted, and when you cinch it in with a belt, the fabric cooperates quite nicely to emphasize your waist. Some types of blazers have a really thick material that doesn’t allow for any waist-cinching. I kept this look more casual with biker shorts but then made it sexy again with tall boots. Lol I’m indecisive ok.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Gifted double-breasted blazer · Amazon belt · TJ Maxx biker shorts · Ann Taylor tall boots · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
Still trying to pinpoint why exactly this reminded me of a suburban mother… Maybe it’s because I think of cardigans as a very “motherly” thing to wear?? They’re super comfy to run errands in, but also are chic enough to give people the illusion that you tried. And maybe it’s also the fact that I’m carrying a handbag so I look like I’m prepared to solve my imaginary children’s issues. Ooh and also the pearl necklace!! Anyways, my favorite thing about this cardigan is the puffed shoulders, so it’s slightly less basic. I love how the deep V allows a significant amount of the white button-down collar to show through and how the tight cardigan sleeves naturally make the button-down cuffs to flare out.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Target puff-shoulder cardigan · Uniqlo straight jeans · Target loafers · Thrifted handbag · from China scarf · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
The vibe I got from this jacket was half chopping wood, and half riding horses. So I was like, why not both? This jacket is actually my mom’s, so it’s true 90’s style. I first styled it buttoned-up, but the plaid was super overwhelming and completely swallowed up what little of the white button-down did show through. This jacket is also a little oversized so I think leaving it unbuttoned emphasizes that your body does indeed have a shape. I’ve been really into the color brown recently, so I dig this look a lot.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · from Mom’s closet brown plaid jacket · Target straight leg jeans · Nike Women’s Air Max Gravitation · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
Idk how many offices still have a no denim rule, but I hope I work for a company that doesn’t care about that type stuff. I love blazers, so it only makes sense that I also have a blazer vest in my closet. This is the ultimate layering tool! But you can honestly wear it on its own as well and it’d still look good as h*ck. My fave part about it is the length. I love how it goes past my rump and makes me look taller. Kinda? I actually prefer wearing shorts with this vest because I feel like my bare legs emphasize the length of the vest. I finished it off with the tall boots so the bare part of my legs could act as a highlight, and it also makes the look more appropriate for the office, I guess.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Kohl’s blazer vest · Uniqlo denim pleated shorts · Ann Taylor tall boots · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
Another combo that turned out to be a pleasant surprise! Anything “wrap” is instantly a classic! Wrap tops, skirts, dresses, you name it! (Thank bless for Diane Von Furstenberg) I threw this together because I was like why not! I expected it to look a little lumpy, but it is surprisingly seamless. Possibly due to the quality of the fabric?? This blue is so rich and contrasts quite nicely with the white button-down underneath. The teeny tiny white flowers print was also a happy color-matching accident! I really like how the chunky dad sneaks add in an unexpected “street style” vibe. Perfect for going on a picnic!! Someone plz take me on a picnic!
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Gap wrap dress · Nike Women’s Air Max Gravitation · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
What is it with me and education fashion??? So bizarre! Ok but this is one of the most form-flattering dresses I own! It hugs and curves in all the right places- a match made in heaven if you ask me. The thick fabric also makes for good layering material. I have layered so many things under this dress and it’s never bulky. The neckline is also at a good level where it allows the collar of the white button-down to pop out, but is also not too stifling around the neck. And you already know I love a good waist-cinching belt moment!! Since the dress comes down to just above my knee, I paired this look with tall boots to elongate my legs a lil bit.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Banana Republic dress · Ann Taylor tall boots · Amazon belt · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
**ok I covered my face with Hello Kitty cuz A) my face is ghostly white in this pic it’s freaky and B) Hello Kitty is a fashion icon in her own right don’t fight me on that!!
You don’t have to be in fashion to know that leather jackets naturally give off a tough biker gang vibe. This jacket is a lil bit different from your traditional leather jacket, because it is uncollared and also has a mini peplum at the bottom. When I left it unzipped, there was just a lot going on- flaps, zippers, buttons, and I was not about that. So I zipped it up to give it a cleaner look. If you look closely, you’ll notice the neckline is kinda slanted/square and I thought that went perfectly with the button-down collar. I added gingham pants for no other reason than the fact that I felt it was appropriate. lol. Sometimes you don’t gotta explain your fashion decisions.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Francesca’s peplum leather jacket · Thrifted gingham pants · Ann Taylor tall boots · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
Benedict Cumberbatch got me thinking that Sherlock would be v attractive IRL. This camel-colored shirtdress reminds me of a trench coat, which is where I got the whole Sherlock Holmes vibe situation. Even though it’s meant to be a dress, I typically wear it unbuttoned because I think it makes a nice, full-length outer layer. I upturned the sleeves on the shirtdress to give the wrist area an interesting hourglass shape. To keep with the neutral color-palette, I paired the look with a cream-colored wide leg pant.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Kotn shirtdress · Everlane Wide leg chinos · Daphne platform sandals · Amazon belt · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
When and how did button-downs under sweaters become a key element of the “academia aesthetic?” I would love to know. I mean, white button-downs have always looked smart, but why the sweaters?? Anyways, random musings aside, this sweater is a real homie, as in, it actually insulates so much heat. I got warm just taking this photo. It’s also an amazing shade of blue that’s kind of like a dark periwinkle. Not much else to add, except that i’m gonna be wearing this fit this winter, cuz Ohio winters are brutal.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · H&M sweater · Nine West from Kohl’s kick-flare jeans · Nike Women’s Air Max Gravitation · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
This look was inspired by my IG and Pinterest where I started seeing fashionistas wear a cropped cami on the outside of their button-downs. I’m pretty sure this is another French-vibes look (highest praise only for French fashion). I love this unique trend that’s come up recently of wearing your undergarments as outer garments. People have started wearing their lingerie on the outside, and while I’m not brave enough to do that, I respect it. I love how the close-fitting cami allows for a natural flare-out of the button-down and it adds unexpected volume. Of course, I had to tame it a little bit with my biker shorts. And then, you know it!! My tall boots!! Also, I thought this black handbag with a gold chain was fitting with the French vibes. Oui?
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Target cami · TJ Maxx biker shorts · Ann Taylor tall boots · Thrifted handbag · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
Ok this trend popped out of nowhere for me! I was literally scrolling through IG one day, and BAM! I saw all these sweater vests and was majorly confused. My grandpa only wore sweater vests, so I’ve always associated the look with old men, but NGL I’m really digging this vintage aesthetic. It screams “playing checkers at the park on a Saturday afternoon” for me. At the same time, it also reminds me of a school girl uniform, so it has this duality to it that is both childlike and mature. A beautiful intersection of both young and old perhaps!! Fun fact: this was actually a men’s sweater, and I just cut off the sleeves.
FIT INDEX:
Polo Ralph Lauren button-down · Thrifted sweater (turned vest) · Target straight leg jeans · Nike Women’s Air Max Gravitation · Gifted/from China clip-on earrings · DIY’ed pearl necklace · Ann Taylor gold watch
And there you have it! All 14 looks, each with a unique ~personality~ to them. I doubt I’ll actually get to wear these fits cuz… quarantine… but I guess I’ll just havta use this blog as a manifestation of my fall fit dreams this year. Next year, we can go back to wearing these IRL (hopefully).
Til next time!
xoxo, JO
p.s. i’m really proud of my flat lay photography fit ensembles :’) so here’s a gallery of them up close cuz the tiny images above don’t do them justice!!
