Short Sleeved Button-Downs (…and that top button!)

Short sleeved button-downs are on trend again for summer! Button-down shirts in general have always been staple in men’s fashion, instantly adding a little dressy, refinement to any outfit, paired with jeans or pants!

The key to making a short sleeved button-down cool, (and not looking like a tech nerd) is in the styling and fit.

1. Fit - Make sure your shirt fits you. The shirt’s sleeve seams should meet your shoulder. If the seam is too far in, you’ll look like the Hulk. Too far out, you’ll look sloppy. For the sleeve opening, you ultimately want it to be slightly larger than your bicep (enough for room, but slim enough so it doesn’t look oversized.)  An easy fix here and trend for summer is to roll the sleeve up a couple times, it creates a fitted look and shows off them guns. If you’re really serious about fit, spend a couple dollars at the tailor (yes, you should have a tailor) and get a couple darts to put in the back, or have the sides taken in so the shirt isn’t billowing.
2. Collars – There are a lot of collar options out there, and a lot of options that are in style right now. Probably the only one I would avoid is that giant 70’s collar. Give it some time, I’m sure it’ll come back around, but right now, the trend is on tailored, slim, slick (keep those keywords in mind) I personally enjoy a slim collar, or a button-down collar. They both feel very modern and on trend.
3. Color/Print – Colors are simple. Choose colors that compliment your low-top shoes or sneakers, or if you’re wearing a fun sock, match to that! Have fun, it’s summer. Prints are definitely IN for summer. Micro-floral, busy prints, stripes, small polka dots…don’t be afraid: pair it with denim or khaki (shorts or pants) and you’ll be set! It’s a smaller area of fabric so it can be busier!

OK lastly, let’s talk about styling. We already addressed rolling up the sleeve. This is especially effective if your shirt has a contrast side to the material (i.e. a dark denim shirt has that light denim underside when rolled) Plus it helps define some bicep/tricep action; which is never a bad thing.

The top button: to button or not to button? That is the question! Granted, it is a little “hipster” to button that top button, but then again, a little hipster is in! I personally LOVE it. I think it takes some everyday outfits to a much cleaner, sophisticated “street-style” level. (Like if TimeOut New York was gonna take your picture for their “man on the street” section. You can tell I’m a New Yorker, I still think about these things when getting dressed. “What if Time Out NY saw me in this outfit? Would they photograph it?”)

When it’s buttoned all the way, I even like to add a necklace on the outside; a thick(ish) gold chain on the outside of my buttoned-up black floral print shirt, a longer silver pendant (from King Baby) on the outside of a short sleeved denim shirt. Ultimately though, you HAVE to feel confident in this. Otherwise you will come off looking like a Poindexter, and that’s just geeky.

Be sure to check out all the short sleeved button-downs we have in store!

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