My preferred summer attire–anytime attire, really–is a dress. Recently, however, I’ve started wearing button-up blouses with shorts, jeans or colored pencil skirts. I especially like printed button up shirts, which can be worn solo or layered underneath fall sweaters when the weather turns chilly.
Want a tip on creating the perfect cuffed sleeve? The College Prepster has a tutorial, or you can just roll it up, dealer’s choice.
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Jones New York Printed Blouse ($28)
Plus size: I like this black and white Jones New York shirt from Macy’s. Petite: Gap makes their geo-print button-up in petite.
Thank you for posting that link on how to roll sleeves. I knew there was a reason mine never looked right!
Thanks for including my link 🙂 xoxo
Belle, can you recommend a metro-accessible tailor for button-down shirts? I finally splurged on two I’d been admiring for a while, and I want them to fit perfectly. Thanks 🙂
I’m not Belle, but as a fellow metro rider I recommend Crystal Alterations inside the shops at the Crystal City Metro if that’s not out of your way (down the hall from the Auntie Annes and the Wells Fargo ATM). The woman there is very nice and has altered two pencil skirts for me (shortening and taking in the waist significantly) plus a bridesmaids dress that I had to buy one size too big. It fit like a glove when she was done. She also gave me a great deal on the skirts because I brought in two at once.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Cheryl Lofton is 1 block from the Howard Metro. I know some ppl are reticent to go to that stop, but there’s no reason to be. It’s a very easy walk, no trouble during the day, lots of college students out and about.
Thank you so much! I live right on the green line (Waterfront), so that is perfect.
1. Looked at how to roll sleeves.
2. Life has changed forever.
thank you, Belle!
I’ve been on a button-up kick lately as well! Love that print from Gap.
Just bought a super cute lightweight one from Old Navy with a 30% off code. (print is much cuter in person and couldn’t beat it for $17) https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=72302&vid=1&pid=523139022
Also…thank you for the sleeve tutorial…incredibly helpful!
Your links are backwards for the plus and petite shirts!
Ditto on the button-down and shorts combination. I feel more grown-up and put-together in that combo than in shorts and a tee. In fact, I find a good quality cotton shirt to be more breathable and it also protects from sunburn when spending lots of time outdoors.
I’m not able to find it, but one of my favorite Bill Cunningham (HEART Bill Cunningham!) spreads from years past featured a woman in a white linen shirt, khaki shorts, and a straw fedora. Each piece was so simple but the combination was effortlessly adorable and just said “summer.”