Effortless Essentials: Button Down Shirts

The next installment in my "Effortless Essentials" series is dedicated to button down shirts. These versatile tops are crucial cornerstones to my wardrobe, and I wear them multiple times a week. In addition to being perfect for layering or wearing alone, they can be worn across all four seasons with jeans, pants, skirts and shorts. Below, I have outlined my top picks that I hope will help you pick the styles that work for you. 

Silk Button Downs

Far Left: Black silk shirt under a camel blazer / Middle: White silk shirt under a classic sweater / Far Right: White silk shirt under a leather jacket

Silk button downs hit the perfect intersection of formal and casual. They can be worn under jackets, sweaters and blazers alike without adding extra bulk. While you can find these tops anywhere from Theory to Joe Fresh, my favorites are from Everlane. I have both the round collar style in white and the point collar style in black and I think the quality is incredible for the price. 

Cotton Button Downs

Far Left: White Brooks Brothers shirt under a vest / Middle: White Ralph Lauren shirt under a sweater / Far Right: Brooks Brothers striped shirt

If you're looking for your first button down shirt, I highly recommend starting with a white wrinkle resistant cotton one. Like silk shirts, these can be layered effortlessly but also have enough substance to be worn alone without much thought. More structured than their silk counterparts, these tops can be worn completely buttoned up for a formal look or dressed down by rolling the sleeves and unbuttoning the top button or two. To ensure I have endless outfit possibilities, I have two white versions, 1 from Ralph Lauren and 1 from Brooks Brothers (the BEST wrinkle resistant shirts on the market), 1 blue and white striped one from Ralph Lauren, and 1 green and white one from Brooks Brothers. 

Plaid, Flannel and Chambray Button Downs

Far Left: Ralph Lauren option under a black blazer / Middle: Ralph Lauren plaid shirt under a festive shawl / Far Right: J Crew chambray option under a Ralph Lauren turtleneck

While my plaid, chambray and flannel shirts are all cotton, I categorize them separately than the others because they are trickier to style. In my wardrobe I have a classic chambray shirt from J. Crew, 2 basic plaid Ralph Lauren options and 1 flannel style from Ralph Lauren. I like to pair my chambray shirt with white jeans, skirts and shorts in the spring and summer and with skirts and sweaters in the fall and winter. The plaid options only come out in the fall and winter but I wear them so frequently during the cooler months (with skirts, jeans and leggings) that they are undeniable essentials. 

Until next time! 

Vintage Details For a Modern Look

I adore accessories. I love how the right mix can easily transform even the most basic items - which is crucial when working with a parred down wardrobe. While you can certainly find excellent, cheap accessories at mass chains, my favorite accessories are always vintage. Whether its a vintage belt, bag, brooch or earrings, they instantly add an unexpected and often times refined touch to any look. Plus, vintage treasures are easier than ever to come by thanks to Etsy, eBay and local flea markets. 

For this look, I wanted to bring out the green in my J. Crew skirt so I pinned one of my favorite vintage brooches to my classic cashmere sweater. To complete the look and keep it from feeling too formal, I topped it off with a vintage Dooney & Bourke belt, Ferragamo boots and Dooney & Bourke purse. 

Cashmere Sweater: Old / Skirt: J. Crew Factory / Brooch: Vintage from London (I have found some amazing ones on Etsy recently so I highly recommend checking it out!) / Belt: Vintage Dooney & Bourke (I love this belt so much that I am selling some similar ones in the shop here) / Boots: Vintage Salvatore Ferragamo but similar here and here but I also recommend checking eBay and Etsy / Purse: Old Dooney & Bourke but similar here

Until next time!

Levi's Are Forever

Since downsizing my wardrobe, I have found that a few great pairs of jeans are crucial to ensuring I can mix and match effortlessly. For optimal versatility, I like to have 1 pair of dark wash skinny jeans, 1 pair of white jeans and 1 pair of looser fitting medium wash jeans. For both the white jeans and the looser fit, I can always count on Levi's.

I recently discovered the new Levi's 501 CT and am absolutely in love! The fit is the perfect blend of slightly slouchy and slim and are my go-to for the days I don't want to wear my skinny jeans. The rise on these is just below high-rise, and I favor the "Indigo Trail" rinse so that I can wear them year-round. 

To suit the classic cut of these jeans, I paired them with my black silk button down from Everlane, classic camel coat from Brooks Brothers and Chanel flats. To keep the look from feeling too old-school, I updated it with my Louis clutch and amazing frog necklace that I got years ago from J. Crew. The final look is a blend of classic and modern that I could happily wear every day. 

Jeans: Levi's / Silk Shirt: Everlane / Camel Blazer: Brooks Brothers / Ballet Flats: Chanel / Necklace: Old J. Crew / Rings: David Yurman / Clutch: Louis Vuitton / Belt: Massimo Dutti 

Until next time!

Turtlenecks and Plaid

The weather this fall has been absolutely gorgeous! The sun has been shining and the temps have rarely dipped below 60. The spring-like conditions have meant that I can wear my favorite fall items without an overcoat.

This past weekend I took full advantage of going coat-less. To suit our trip to Red Hook, I layered my navy blue Brooks Brothers blazer over my favorite cable knit turtleneck, chambray shirt and plaid skirt. To complete the outfit and play up the collegiate feel, I threw on my well-loved brown riding boots and carried my beloved Dooney purse.

All-in-all, this outfit is a perfect representation of how classic pieces can carry you through all four seasons. If carefully chosen and tailored to your lifestyle, you truly can't go wrong with a wardrobe of timeless staples. 

Blazer: Brooks Brothers / Turtleneck: Old Ralph Lauren but similar here / Chambray Shirt: J.Crew / Skirt: Old Brooks Brothers but similar here / Boots: Ralph Lauren / Purse: Old Dooney & Bourke but similar here

Until next time!