Shirt Trends: Oversized &Amp; Buttoned
By Carl Cato-Barnett
Oversized button-downs are hardly a new concept, but this season, designers and buyers alike have warmed to the idea.
FASHIONISTAS
Most trendy stores like Urban Outfitters and H&M offer the look as an oversized shirt or a shirt -inspired dress. As an alternative, go the cheaper route and raid the closets of the men in your life.
Finding these pieces should be relatively easy, but it is often difficult to style them. Use the look with a heavy hand, and being one step away from a hot mess is probable. The first issue is length. If youre going for a dress look, it should fall about half way above your knee. If going for an oversized shirt look, slim/tapered pants or leggings are a necessity and youre going to want the length to cover a good six inches of your thighs. Imagine youre wearing a mini-skirt. The length should go down at least that far. You might want to go a tad longer, depending on the fit of the pants and your individual proportions.
The second issue is silhouette. The sheer volume of an oversized shirt often needs to be balanced by cinching the waist with a belt. Take note retire your thick wide belts. They are not only often overbearing, but have been killed to death! The new belts are skinny and a fresh breath of air. Just take a look at the belt in the first picture.
Lets talk accessories. If you are beltless or using a belt that blends well with the color of your top, a gold or silver chained necklace is a great addition. Also, bangles would work with mostly any top. Just keep your color palette in check. To finish the look, throw on a pair of heels or wedges. As a special touch, the right full skirt might pack extra punch if worn under the topjust pay close attention to proportion.
FASHIONISTOS
Its true. Guys often have it easier than girls. If you do not have the money to pay Henrik Vibskov prices, I recommend sizing up one or two sizes. Any flannel will do. Its that simple. Now here comes the fun part – finishing the look! My number one style tip is balance. If youre going to do oversized, youll need tapered/skinny jeans.
To complete the look, layering is encouraged. The more layers you can accomplish without looking or feeling heavy, the better. An excellent and easy layer example would be to leave the shirt unbuttoned and worn over a tee. On top of the button-down, wear a thin cotton buttoned vest; think sleeveless cardigan. B.Son offers the perfect vest. To top it off, add a scarf in a solid color or subtle pattern. When pairing multiple patterns, pick one bold pattern and one subtle pattern. Link the patterns with a dominant color. For shoes, I recommend a pair of TOMS or Converse.
For visual samples of the shirts discussed in this article, visit http://blog.stylefeeder.com/2008/09/18/shirt-trends-oversized-buttoned/
About the Author: A fashion enthusiast, Carl muses about men’s style on his blog,
The Fashionisto
, and contributes regularly to
Tastemaker Diaries
. A fan of cutting-edge couture, this 21-year-old isn’t afraid to mix high and low to get the look he wants.
Source:
isnare.com
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