Conventional wisdom—and a gazillion fashion editors—will tell you a classic white button-front shirt is a wardrobe essential. I agree to an extent; like many essentials, however, it can feel a little…boring. White shirts also tend to be problematic because they’re hard to keep clean and can sometimes be see-through. Which is why I prefer a chambray shirt. It has a little more personality than plain white, but it’s just as versatile. It leans a little more casual, but we’re in a more relaxed day and age, so I think that’s quite appropriate. I’ve featured my chambray shirt many times here over the years, so I thought it was time to put all my best outfit ideas together. Here are my favorite ways to style a chambray button-up shirt.
What is a chambray shirt?
First things first: while it may look a lot like denim, chambray is not denim! It’s woven using two different-colored threads (usually a blue and a white), which gives it a denim-like look, but it’s much softer, thinner, and lighter. Because of the different threads, chambray tends to fade nicely as it ages, giving it a very broken-in look and feel that, if you ask me, only gets better over time. My chambray shirt is from Madewell, and while they don’t seem to have many options at the moment, Quince has a great dupe that’s very well priced. Now that we’ve settled that, on to the styling.
Under a sweatshirt
Because chambray is so soft and light, it’s great for layering, especially in springtime. I love to pop mine under a sweater or sweatshirt, and it adds a subtle wash of color that still feels somewhat neutral. This is obviously the most subtle way to wear chambray, but an elevated one too.
With denim
While not quite a Canadian tuxedo because chambray isn’t technically denim, pairing it with either a darker wash or a similar shade achieves a similar effect without looking totally dorky. This is one of my favorite ways to wear chambray, with jeans, colored denim (like white or black), or a denim skirt. As you’ll notice, some of these photos are on the older side (remember that summer we all had that Cult Gaia basket bag?!), so I’m not going to link everything I’m wearing, but will do so whenever possible.
Under a blazer
This is a very work-friendly way to wear a chambray shirt, under a more tailored jacket (although the camel blazer is actually knit), and you can go with either pants or a skirt. A chambray shirt might not work if your office is super-dressy or conservative, but I think it would for most, especially in our post-pandemic dressed-down environment.
With a cute skirt
You know I love a flirty miniskirt, and while chambray shirts are soft and relaxed, there’s something a little more unisex that provides a nice bit of contrast to such a feminine skirt. This is a great look for traveling (I’m in Croatia in the first pic) or for the weekend, especially in summer.
As a jacket
This is admittedly a styling trick I don’t remember to do enough, but it’s great for the summer, which is when this photo was taken. Woven shirts can act as a third piece—or as a jacket, in layman’s terms—worn open and layered over another top. The overall effect feels very casual yet fresh, and shirts are so lightweight, they provide just enough coverage without making you overheat, which is key.
