It’s pretty obvious that dressing for summer can be a lot less “interesting” than dressing for fall/winter because the heat reduces our ability to play with layers comfortably. I even asked Irene Kim (김애린) in a recent AMA about how to add visual interest to summer outfits (which she brilliantly answered
short sleeve button ups are incredibly tricky for me! they must be an EXACT length in body, EXACT length of sleeve, EXACT width - or they come off as too masculine looking. a long sleeve, rolled up to just above the elbow, always works! can someone explain this?
I totally hear where you are coming from and I think I have to work extra hard to play up the femme part of my outfits like wearing over a dress. Otherwise leaning hard into the masculine look and styling hair/make up more femme? I’m learning with you!
Same!! I only kept one shirt because of this - but it’s silky, so I only button the top two buttons and let the rest flutter gently in the breeze/tuck one side for a semi slouch look. Otherwise it get ‘Aunt Mildred goes bowling’ real fast 😅
Totally with you, long-sleeved shirts are my bread and butter all year round, there’s nothing I feel better in. Sleeves always, always rolled. But me + short-sleeved shirt = instant butch. And I am very feminine looking so it’s a total mystery.
(Also men in short-sleeved shirts is a massive ick for me so maybe that bleeds over a little?! I was actually gonna mention this like it was a given but clearly from the other comments it’s not! 😂)
There’s a lot in that I think, a cap sleeve works ok-ish on me, or a shirt sleeve rolled up high, but wide sleeves halfway down the arm not so much. As for the men – a good shirt with a sleeve rolled up to reveal a nice forearm… swoon
I have a few neutral, cotton and linen, femme, short sleeved, button downs. Generally, I'm not a fan of short sleeves. Not even t-shirts. Definitely not a fan of them on men. I lucked up on three similar that are classic cut with blunt hemline, drop shoulders of different lengths, and slightly plunged neckline complemented by soft collars. Perfect for summer.
My friend said that shorts (and I would say tee shirts too) are often cut to the exact wrong length. For me, the best tees are either cap sleeve or elongated (dare I say close to the elbow?) so I think sleeve length is crucial when searching for any tee
You are my Allison Bornstein. How do you come up with this stuff?? Genius. Might need to order that one from Zara (and your footnote there made me giggle)
Ahhh!! Glad to have a fellow AB fan! And thanks for being gracious about me shopping Zara, I know we’re not supposed to anymore but…. I can’t help myself!
I keep trying to convince my husband he needs more short sleeve button downs and it's 100% because I want to steal them lol but also inspires me to wear my short sleeve button downs this week!!
Haha my husband does care about his clothes and I would say he’s much more of an outfit repeater than I am. Without trying, he doesn’t buy anything unless he needs to replace something. He’s not actively perusing like me 😅
Hahah only unofficially for Sandro from excessive shopping experience lol but EOSS generally starts mid June until August. So actually…NOW! (also fyi Summer deals are better than Black Friday)
St Agni have gorgeous sheer short sleeve silk shirts that I wear over long boob tube tops in summer, I have a sheer grey one that goes with everything 😀
Gah! St Agni is one of those brands that I just love. They take a simple tank and mess up the straps in the most perfect way. I have to go check out the top you mentioned.
I love this layering trick! I personally am a fan of J Crew's oversized short-sleeve Baird McNutt linen shirts, which they re-release every year (it's currently listed as the 'Capitaine' shirt). I buy these secondhand on sites like Mercari or ThredUp in one size up (they already fit large to begin with).
I love my men’s short sleeve shirts! Have borrowed from hub and bought my own secondhand. If you feel too masc, in addition to sleeve rolling, don’t button them! Button just the boob part or wear open over a tank. And a long necklace works too. I love them with a pleated skirt and sandals. Thank you for the reminder to bust these treasures out!
short sleeve button ups are incredibly tricky for me! they must be an EXACT length in body, EXACT length of sleeve, EXACT width - or they come off as too masculine looking. a long sleeve, rolled up to just above the elbow, always works! can someone explain this?
I totally hear where you are coming from and I think I have to work extra hard to play up the femme part of my outfits like wearing over a dress. Otherwise leaning hard into the masculine look and styling hair/make up more femme? I’m learning with you!
Same!! I only kept one shirt because of this - but it’s silky, so I only button the top two buttons and let the rest flutter gently in the breeze/tuck one side for a semi slouch look. Otherwise it get ‘Aunt Mildred goes bowling’ real fast 😅
Aunt Mildred goes bowling 😂☠️
hello! my solution to this is to tie the front loosely. instantly goes from "I'm wearing men's pyjamas" to "I'm a retro inspired cool girl"
LOVE this Katarina!!
Totally with you, long-sleeved shirts are my bread and butter all year round, there’s nothing I feel better in. Sleeves always, always rolled. But me + short-sleeved shirt = instant butch. And I am very feminine looking so it’s a total mystery.
(Also men in short-sleeved shirts is a massive ick for me so maybe that bleeds over a little?! I was actually gonna mention this like it was a given but clearly from the other comments it’s not! 😂)
HA!! I actually TOTALLY understand this. AND I do think that short sleeves have to hit at the exact right part of an arm to look best.
There’s a lot in that I think, a cap sleeve works ok-ish on me, or a shirt sleeve rolled up high, but wide sleeves halfway down the arm not so much. As for the men – a good shirt with a sleeve rolled up to reveal a nice forearm… swoon
SWOON! A tanned forearm with a little manly hair.
(Short sleeve rolled up high, I meant!)
My husband got a second date because of his forearms😜
Can totally relate 😂
there you go, you went and said it... massive ick for me too but i support my husband's right to choose his arm coverage i suppose.
“I suppose” hahaha. This is a safe space in which to judge your husband’s choices.
I have a few neutral, cotton and linen, femme, short sleeved, button downs. Generally, I'm not a fan of short sleeves. Not even t-shirts. Definitely not a fan of them on men. I lucked up on three similar that are classic cut with blunt hemline, drop shoulders of different lengths, and slightly plunged neckline complemented by soft collars. Perfect for summer.
My friend said that shorts (and I would say tee shirts too) are often cut to the exact wrong length. For me, the best tees are either cap sleeve or elongated (dare I say close to the elbow?) so I think sleeve length is crucial when searching for any tee
Oh, I love this as a summer option!!! Brilliant! Will start by playing with something from hubby's closet :).
No doubt your styling will be elite
You are my Allison Bornstein. How do you come up with this stuff?? Genius. Might need to order that one from Zara (and your footnote there made me giggle)
Ahhh!! Glad to have a fellow AB fan! And thanks for being gracious about me shopping Zara, I know we’re not supposed to anymore but…. I can’t help myself!
I keep trying to convince my husband he needs more short sleeve button downs and it's 100% because I want to steal them lol but also inspires me to wear my short sleeve button downs this week!!
Haha!! I love it! “Honey look at this shirt, you probably need this!!” My husband could care LESS about clothes so my attempts always go unnoticed.
Haha my husband does care about his clothes and I would say he’s much more of an outfit repeater than I am. Without trying, he doesn’t buy anything unless he needs to replace something. He’s not actively perusing like me 😅
Same!! But… honestly… I wouldn’t change a thing 😂
How did I not know I needed a short sleeve button up until now!
I've never liked the look of s/s shirts on guys, but your post reminded me that I have a vintage s/s shirt that I should make an effort to wear! 😎
Women make men's clothes look better haha
Sandro Men’s are always really great for these shirts - gotta hold out for the end of season sale though (not much longer!)
Ooh are you in the know of their sale timing?! Do share!
Hahah only unofficially for Sandro from excessive shopping experience lol but EOSS generally starts mid June until August. So actually…NOW! (also fyi Summer deals are better than Black Friday)
St Agni have gorgeous sheer short sleeve silk shirts that I wear over long boob tube tops in summer, I have a sheer grey one that goes with everything 😀
Gah! St Agni is one of those brands that I just love. They take a simple tank and mess up the straps in the most perfect way. I have to go check out the top you mentioned.
I am such a fan of the summer over shirt as I call it AND even better when it’s part of a matching set!!! A great summer layer idea.
😘😘😘
This is brilliant and I especially love the idea of hitting the men’s section!!
🫶🫶🫶
I love this layering trick! I personally am a fan of J Crew's oversized short-sleeve Baird McNutt linen shirts, which they re-release every year (it's currently listed as the 'Capitaine' shirt). I buy these secondhand on sites like Mercari or ThredUp in one size up (they already fit large to begin with).
Oooh Claire I knew I needed your voice for the second-hand vote! Thanks for this!!
Men’s Tori Richard Hawaiian shirts are a great “borrow from the men’s closet”
HOT TIP! Thank you!
Yes!!! I recently went shopping in my husband’s closet and “bought” a bunch of his old short sleeve button shirts. So good!!!
Haha normalizing shopping our husband’s closets!!
I love my men’s short sleeve shirts! Have borrowed from hub and bought my own secondhand. If you feel too masc, in addition to sleeve rolling, don’t button them! Button just the boob part or wear open over a tank. And a long necklace works too. I love them with a pleated skirt and sandals. Thank you for the reminder to bust these treasures out!