A button-down shirt instantly makes any look classic, chic and professional. This one classic  piece can transition your wardrobe and looks amazing with everything from the classic suit to a sequin pencil skirt. It even manages to elevate leggings ( umm… more on  this topic in later blog post.)

The button-down is classic and essential in any wardrobe yet it can be the most difficult piece to find that is designed for your particular frame. As much as I love a good button-down, I avoided them in the past for many years because I could not find one that fit me and “the girls” as we will call them.  I have a large bust, which has created many styling challenges for me in the past. Shirts would not fasten and if I managed to button a shirt it would pucker across the fullest part of my bust which would have me reaching for the infamous safetypin to seal the shirt shut.

To aviod  the puckering and safetypin I’ve tried wearing men’s shirts, which fits accross the “the girls”  but the fit is  too big in the shoulders and the body of the shirt which can makes for a sloppy look. If  I  tried to layer it under a sweater it resulted in excess fabric crawling up my back and arms.

I’ve also tried shops that are geared to “plus size” women. Again, they fit across the bust but I look like I’m pregnant ( I’m not trying to have that look at this time) I have nothing against these stores; I find the cut of the clothing to not be proportionate to my body type which leads to the clothing having execess fabric and creating an unflaterring look.

Now, I’ve described the button- down shirt as a classic and essential for all  wardrobes and I believe in investing in your classics. Meaning pay attention to the quality of the fabric, the lines of the shirts and how it fits on your body . This will be a piece that you will wear and transition all year long so invest the time and money in classics which  always creates looks that are professional and fashionable.

Through out my quest for the “perfect” fitting button-down, I’ve found that the women’s buttond down-shirt from Old Navy are the most flattering for me when it comes to fitting accross the bust  and that there are key element to the perfect fit

1. Have a strong foundation. Wear a bra that will lift and support the bust . Not only does this improve your posture, it will improve the fit of  your shirts. I’ve found that the wrong bra is the main reason why a shirt doesn’t have the “perfect” fit. ( More on this in a future blog post)
2. Fabric and color. Pay attention to the dye or pattern of a shirt, this too will affect the fit of a button-down shirt. Ever noticed that white shirts always seem to fit tight? It is because the fibers in white garments haven’t been weakend by the dye process.
3. Not all button-down shirts are alike. When looking for classics, try on various cuts, brands and designers becasue  what is considered a size “12”  or “XL” by one retailer will vary slighltly or dramtically in another.
4. Invest. Classics paired together always make for the perfect outfit or transition seemlesy with the latest trend which is why you should invest in multiple button-down shirts.

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1018072&vid=1&pid=371071002