Reimagine The Classic Button-Down With These Inspired Looks
The button-down long-sleeve shirt is a closet staple every woman should own. With access to multiple sizes, colors, and prints, we can use this shirt style to maximize our wardrobe in so many ways. In particular, a white button-down is the most classic of them all and can be worn as a comfortable go-to for countless daytime looks. With most of us returning to work, as well as temperatures rising here in the US to make way for summer, our wardrobe is shifting yet again to meet our daily needs. From the office chic to daytime brunches, here are a few ways to live in your white button-down shirt.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Look 1: The Office
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Most Americans spend more time at the office than we do with our families. Being in love with our 9-5 outfits creates a more enjoyable and confident work experience for many of us. A great option for a professional look is pairing a lightweight summer wrap skirt along with a white button-down, elevating both pieces by keeping it work appropriate yet chic at the same time.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Look 2: Dress it Up
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
To me, the perfect weekend outfit is a button-down dress that can be worn casually or chic depending on the day's plans. This is easily one of my favorite lazy looks and it pairs effortlessly with a sneaker, sandal or wrap around heel. As such, the button-down shirt dress is a staple that will soon become a closet favorite. If you're in the mood for daytime chic, add a belt to create more shape to your button-down. Pair with a bright wrap around sandal along with a cute bag, and you'll realize finding your outfit for the day was easier than finding your car keys!
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Look 3: No Beach, No Problem
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
As creatures of habit, being inside these past few months has made more than a few of us more comfortable with the idea of enjoying our own homes. If you had to cancel that all-inclusive tropical beach vacation this summer, set up a cute spot outdoors with your newly purchased swimsuit paired with a white button-down as an oversized alternative to a cover up. Super chic yet conservative, enjoy a tan session in the backyard complete with a favorite read and lots of sunlight.
Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
Shop The Post:
*Some links are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, xoNecole might earn a small commission.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here to receive our latest articles and news straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Shahirah Ahmed/xoNecole
- 3 Ways To Add Patent Leather To Your Looks - xoNecole: Women's ... ›
- Don't Sleep On Thrift Stores: Thrifting 101 - xoNecole: Women's ... ›
- How To Wear Sweatpants - Casual Outfit Ideas - xoNecole ... ›
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
Courtesy
Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
Courtesy
Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy