One Piece, Endless Possibilities: The Oxford Button-Down (Vol. 1)
The Oxford Button Down: The Shirt That Does It All (Except Your Taxes)
4 Ways to Style the Oxford Button-Down: The Shirt That Does Everything (Except Your Taxes)
Is it casual? Is it dressy? Is it the backbone of every dad’s weekend wardrobe and also the secret weapon of off-duty fashion girls? Yes, yes and absolutely. I like to consider it the Swiss Army knife of shirts– reliable, effortlessly cool and oddly appropriate for everything from the sidelines to the boardrooms. This shirt is proof that sometimes, classics are classic for a reason.
The blue oxford button-down has been one of my favorite wardrobe staples year after year. I love its versatility—I can dress it up for work, style it effortlessly for a night out, or throw it on for a weekend of mom life on the sideline (while mentally calculating how much laundry I could’ve folded in the 90 minutes I’m chained to youth sports).
This series will focus on investing in staple pieces and styling them in multiple ways. No one wants to drop $100 on a button-down shirt, but I’ve found great alternatives at Target ($25) and JCrew Factory ($40). That said, I truly believe that investing wisely gives you the best bang for your buck. The JCrew Oxford I linked below has been my holy grail in this department. And if you do invest in a quality one, I’ll prove just how endless the styling possibilities are.
The most important thing in fashion is choosing pieces that reflect who you are. Invest in items you love—pieces that make you feel confident and comfortable. Here are some ideas to inspire you, but at the end of the day, always wear what makes you happy.
I wore pretty much this exact look on Christmas Eve! For this look, you can either fully tuck the button-down into the skirt, or you could get a little adventurous and only tuck in one side, giving it a more asymmetrical and interesting look.
Links: Oxford Button Down - JCrew ($98), Sequin Skirt - Banana Republic ($119), Heels - Sam Edleman ($150), Earrings - Amazon ($14), Gold Bracelet ($13) - Amazon, Gold Watch Band - Amazon ($18)
Here’s the photographic proof ;)
For this look, I would wear the Oxford button-down untucked with leggings. I’d layer the sweatshirt on top of the button-down for a classic layered look—unless it's an 8:00 am game, in which case, I’m rolling out of bed and lucky to be on time.
Links: Oxford Button Down - JCrew ($98), Leggings - Amazon ($32), White Crew Socks - Amazon ($16), New Balance Sneakers - JCrew ($100), Sweat Shirt - H&M ($25), Hat - Amazon ($36), Earrings - Amazon ($14)
For this look, I would tuck the button-down fully into my black denim and drape the cable-knit fisherman sweater over my shoulders for a layered, preppy vibe. To finish it off, I might add a black belt for a polished touch. I’d wear this to brunch with friends (which I’ve actually never done as an adult—shameless plug for anyone reading this to invite me), a nice dinner or date night, or even to work.
Links: Oxford Button Down - JCrew ($98), Black Denim - Madewell ($138), Black Hat - Amazon ($11), Black Flats -JCrew ($70), Black Bag - Amazon ($69)
I’d wear the button-down fully tucked into the trousers. I know some people prefer it untucked for a more casual look, but I love unbuttoning the top few buttons and layering a scarf underneath. There are some great videos on TikTok and YouTube that show different ways to tie a scarf. You can wear it as a neck accessory or even as a cape draped over your back. People are also wearing scarves on their heads, and I’d love to figure out how to pull that off without looking like a grandma on vacation in Florida (who, I’ll admit, I’m low-key jealous of).
Links: Oxford Button Down - JCrew ($98), Brown Trouser - Amazon ($33), Brown Sunglasses - Amazon ($15), Gold Earrings - Amazon ($14), Brown Suede Bag - Amazon ($28), Ballet Flats - JCrew ($99), Scarf - Amazon ($13), Belt - Amazon ($14), Adidas Samba Sneakers - Footlocker ($100)
And that’s a wrap—for now. Thanks for subscribing and supporting me in live time as I try to figure this all out. I promise my content will get better and more aesthetically pleasing each week!
Fashion never stands still, and neither do we (unless there’s a sale—then we pause strategically). Stay tuned for the next volume, where there’s always more style to discover.
Sneak Preview - What’s Coming Next…
My next post drops this weekend. If you’re excited to see me looking like a total weirdo taking selfies of my daily outfits—good news it’s happening. If you’re planning to make fun of me, please keep it on the DL.
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Love this! I was just thinking the other day about how I need a versatile button down but I am fashion illiterate so knowing it is called an Oxford button down and having some links to options is so helpful. Let’s do brunch! :)