How to Style a Button‐Down Shirt

Co-authored by Christina Santelli

Last Updated: October 2, 2025

Button-down shirts are a basic, conservative wardrobe staple for both men and women. While at first glance they may look simple and boring, they are anything but. Button-down shirts can be styled in a variety of different ways, so don’t write them off just yet. With a little imagination, you can transform your simple button-down into a trendy, versatile piece.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Layering Your Button-Down Shirt

1
Layer your button-down under a sweater. This is the ultimate preppy combo, and it can take a sweater from informal to professional chic. Pull a patterned sweater over a solid color button-down shirt, or vice versa. Pull the collar out from the top. It looks extra polished if you cuff the sleeves so that the button-down shirt sleeves are showing.
- You can even do this same trick with a sweatshirt. Instantly dress up a university or sports sweatshirt by popping it over a collared, button-down shirt.
- You can give this look a 90’s flair by layering a cropped sweater over a button-down shirt. Think Cher Horowitz in Clueless.
This might be the stereotypical look worn by nerds in the movies, it’s anything but unfashionable. Victoria Beckham, a fashion guru, has been seen in sweater vests several times. Ryan Reynolds has rocked a sweater vest on the red carpet. This is a classic look that instantly makes you look polished and ready for business.

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When the weather starts getting colder and you’re ready to put your sleeveless dresses into storage, think again. Wearing a button-down shirt under your sleeveless dress can not only make it a bit more formal, but it can extend the amount of time you can wear it. Turn a summer dress into a fall (and maybe even winter) dress by wearing it over a long sleeved button-down shirt.^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Styling Your Shirt Creatively

1
Tie your button-down shirt around your waist. This might sound a bit strange, but it’s a trend that has exploded. You can instantly add a pop of color to a monochrome outfit just by adding a brightly colored or patterned button-down around your waist. If you’re wearing a dress or loose-fitting outfit, tying a shirt around your waist can even accentuate your waist, making a flattering silhouette.^{[2]
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- Plaid button-down shirts are especially perfect for this look. Tie them around your waist with a pair of jeans and a solid top, and you look comfortable and trendy at once.
Seriously, this can change your outfit. Men, you may already do this when you’re at a formal event, so you know that untucked versus tucked is a major outfit changer. For ladies, this can transform an outfit similarly. Try tucking your button-down shirt into a pair of high-waisted jeans or a skirt, and you’ll instantly make your outfit look sleek and put together.
3
Tie your shirt up. You probably immediately think of a cowgirl tying up her flannel shirt, but this certainly isn’t the only look you can achieve by tying up your button-down. Unbutton two or three buttons form the bottom, and tie the two ends into a little knot. Try doing this with high-waisted bottoms, so that you don’t necessarily show skin but create a “cropped” look.
- Try tying up a button-down shirt over a dress. It is still modest, yet adds a bit of fun to an otherwise simple outfit.
Button-down shirts don’t always have to be the bottom layer of an outfit. Try unbuttoning it and wearing it open, like a jacket or cardigan. When you can wear it both buttoned and unbuttoned, you have a whole new set of outfits you can create with the same shirt. This look works particularly well with thicker button-downs, like chambray shirts.
Why purchase a “shirt dress” when you can just make one? Throw on an oversized button-down shirt as a dress for a super easy and trendy look. To avoid looking shapeless, you can add a belt or something else to cinch in the waist, creating a shape. You can cuff the sleeves so they aren’t too long, and voila!

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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Accessorizing with Your Shirt

While the button-down shirt alone screams polished and professional, the sneakers take it down a notch. You can take your shirt from work to weekend by pairing it some Converse or other casual sneakers. To complete the look, throw on a baseball cap. The shirt makes you look put together, while the sneakers and cap show you’re ready to relax.
While ties will naturally make the look a bit more formal, you can find more casual ties. Patterned ties look great with solid colored button-down shirts, and they are perfect for more casual settings. Even if no one else is wearing a tie, casual ties look like you put in the extra effort. They can add a lot to an otherwise simple look.
Most people leave a few buttons undone at the top of their shirt, letting it expose a bit of skin near the neck. Instead, try buttoning up your shirt to the very top button, and then placing a big, eye-catching necklace around the collar. This is looks extremely chic, and can make any button-down shirt immediately look stylish.

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How should I style a button-down shirt for a business-casual event?

Christina Santelli
Professional Stylist
Christina Santelli is the Owner and Founder of Style Me New, a wardrobe styling concierge based in Tampa, Florida. She has been working as a stylist for over six years, and her work has been featured in HSN, the Pacific Heights Wine and Food Festival, and the Nob Hill Gazette.

Christina Santelli

Professional Stylist

Expert Answer

Wear the button-down shirt untucked so you look casual but still professional. Make sure your shirt is clean and ironed for the event.

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An untucked button-down shirt is great for a business casual event.^{[3]
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Make sure your button-down shirt is clean and wrinkle-free.^{[4]
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At the end of the day, the best style is the style you feel most comfortable and confident in. Play around with a few different looks with your button-down shirt to see which one feels right for you.^{[5]
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