Terms of UseHow to Style a Button‐Down Shirt Explore this Article methods 1 Layering Your Button-Down Shirt 2 Styling Your Shirt Creatively 3 Accessorizing with Your Shirt Other Sections Expert Q&A Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Christina Santelli
Last Updated: October 2, 2025
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This article was co-authored by Christina Santelli. 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. This article has been viewed 10,769 times.
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.
Steps
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.
2 Add a sweater vest. 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. Advertisement
3 Wear it under a dress. 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]XResearch source Advertisement
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]XResearch source
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.
2 Tuck in your shirt. 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.
4 Wear it unbuttoned. 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.
5 Wear it as a dress. 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! Advertisement
Method 3 Method 3 of 3:
Accessorizing with Your Shirt
1 Pair it with sneakers. 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.
2 Match your shirt with a tie. 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.
3 Add a bold statement necklace. 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. Advertisement
Expert Q&A
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Question 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. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
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Tips
An untucked button-down shirt is great for a business casual event.[3]X Expert Source Christina SantelliProfessional StylistExpert InterviewThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Make sure your button-down shirt is clean and wrinkle-free.[4]X Expert Source Christina SantelliProfessional StylistExpert InterviewThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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]X Expert Source Christina SantelliProfessional StylistExpert InterviewThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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↑ Christina Santelli. Professional Stylist. Expert Interview
↑ Christina Santelli. Professional Stylist. Expert Interview
↑ Christina Santelli. Professional Stylist. Expert Interview
About this article
Co-authored by: Christina Santelli Professional Stylist This article was co-authored by Christina Santelli. 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. This article has been viewed 10,769 times. 3 votes - 93% Co-authors: 5Updated: October 2, 2025 Views: 10,769
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Co-authored by: Christina Santelli Professional Stylist This article was co-authored by Christina Santelli. 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. This article has been viewed 10,769 times. 3 votes - 93% Co-authors: 5 Updated: October 2, 2025 Views: 10,769 
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486 
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. 
2 Add a sweater vest. 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. Advertisement 
3 Wear it under a dress. 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] Advertisement 
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] 
2 Tuck in your shirt. 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. 
4 Wear it unbuttoned. 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. 
5 Wear it as a dress. 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! Advertisement 
1 Pair it with sneakers. 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. 
2 Match your shirt with a tie. 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. 
3 Add a bold statement necklace. 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. Advertisement 
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. 
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