A matter of versatility: one shirt, three ways!

Everyone likes to make the most of what they have, am I right?  And with consumers being more frugal than ever these days, it's essential to make that go with that and at least five other things.  I know I'm that way when it comes to purchasing clothing.  Is it a classic piece that won't go out of style ten minutes after I buy it?  Can I make it work with the rest of my wardrobe?  It's probably the cheap side of me (my dad always said I would make a brilliant accountant!), but every time I'm shopping, I have these conversations with myself.  It's very hard to commit to something that sticks out from your other clothes.  

This all brings me to today's post, which shows three super easy ways to wear a simple menswear-inspired shirt tunic.  I wear this shirt all the time, and as cheap as it was (I believe around $15 from Forever 21), it goes with almost everything if you switch up accessories.  Can you say versatile?  The quality really isn't spectacular: it wrinkles easily, the buttons are plastic, and there is no interfacing in the collar or cuffs to give it shape.  It would be fabulous if Forever 21 had added exposed buttons down the front, a higher thread count, and a thicker fabric to give the shirt more weight (but then it wouldn't be sold at Forever 21, I suppose).  I digress.  

I actually wrote this post last fall, but I wear this shirt all the time and it's perfect for in-between seasons. That being said, you can definitely switch out the boots I'm wearing in the pictures below for sandals or flats as you please!

Here is the shirt that I'll be showing in three different outfits:

Go to your closet and find your favorite shirt tunic, because the great thing about the example that I'm using is that almost everyone has something similar that can work!  

1.  Over a dress

Dress- PacSun

Belt- Forever 21

Tights- Charlotte Russe

Boots- Charlotte Russe

A great way to make more outfits out of button-down shirts is opening them up.  That way, you can layer them over other pieces (a fantastic trend right now!).  My shirt is a similar length to this floral dress I have from PacSun so it's a nice compliment.  Another thing is mixing patterns- as long as one pattern is neutral (my shirt has skinny light blue pinstripes) and the colors go with each other, it can really add interest to your outfit!  The belt will add a hint of definition to this otherwise shapeless style.  Add some tights (optional depending on the weather) and boots and you're set!

2.  Under a blazer

Blazer- Forever 21

Tights- Victoria's Secret

Booties- Chinese Laundry

I love how androgynous this look is.  The biggest thing here is to make sure your tights are opaque unless your shirt is long enough!  The blazer has shoulder pads to add shape, and 3/4-length sleeves which I rolled up past my elbows.  Like the dress from the first look (above), the blazer is a similar length to the shirt tunic which helps the outfit look more uniform.  You can make this work with a blazer that is shorter, but in that case I would wrap a belt around your waist to balance it out.  I paired it with some wedge booties that give the outfit a little extra something- the suede material also serves as a nice contrast to the shirt/blazer.  It's super simple yet looks completely pulled together.  

3.  Tucked into jeans

Jeans- American Eagle

Scarf- Wet Seal

Shoes- Urban Outfitters

Blue jeans are the one of the most popular, longest-lasting styles in fashion!  And with good reason.  You can make pretty much anything go with them.  Here, I just tucked the shirt in halfway and paired it with a contrasting patterned scarf.  The dark brown leather booties match the deep indigo of the jeans.  This kind of reminds me of the classic t-shirt+jeans look, just using a simple button-up instead.  Accessories are up to you, as this style looks great dressed up or down!

And that's it!  I hope this gives you a boost of inspiration to make your own wardrobe more versatile.  It's a beautiful thing, and best of all, it can be simple!  The easiest way is to take a basic or classic style and pair it with trendier pieces.  And like I said, don't forget about accessories- they can really finalize the outfit.  Good luck, and don't forget to have fun with styling!