A love letter to shirting —
A great button-down is like the perfect pair of jeans—it does the thinking for you. It’s a true sartorial saviour in the wardrobe: you can throw it on without hesitation, and it instantly looks intentional. It adapts to whatever the moment calls for—roll the cuffs, push up the sleeves, tuck it, untuck it. It’s one of those foundational pieces that quietly holds everything else together. For me, it's essential.
There are a few main staples to look out for when purchasing the perfect button down, and while maybe a little (a lot) biased, I like to think we covered them at The Anteros pretty well —
Silhouettes are important, but the details are what make or break a shirt. Collar width, for instance, is hugely underrated. In traditional menswear, especially in Europe, collars tend to be narrow and structured—great for a polished, more formal feel with a suit to not overpower a lapel. A wider collar, on the other hand, lends itself to a relaxed, wearable elegance that moves effortlessly beyond the office.
Color is luxury—there are bad colours, bad blues, greens, oranges etc.. The right shade can completely change how often you reach for that shirt. That’s why we spend so much time getting our tones just right—they're far more universal when done well.
Lastly, button placement. Most shirting doesn’t account for a bust, which can lead to gaping or awkward fits. We double-button at the chest to offer options and better coverage. These small adjustments change everything.
Also of note, Fern is now live and available for shipping! Notice how the buttons are perfectly matched to our green fabric!? That’s the impeccable level of detail of our manufacturer, 3 generations going strong, so they really know what they are doing!
What makes a button-down so versatile is that it can be the main character or play a supporting role. When the details are right—an elegant cuff, thoughtful button placement, a beautifully cut collar—it holds its own even when styled minimally. Tucked in or twisted for a more fitted silhouette, it feels polished and intentional. Worn loose and slightly unkempt, it leans casual and insouciant.
A great button-down is your base—it’s incredibly malleable and adapts to whatever the moment calls for. For more formal occasions, I love grounding it with sleek, elevated fabrications—tucked into a silk skirt or a sharply tailored trouser. Shay June recently wore our Presley shirt with a long, fitted pencil skirt to an event, and it gave major Sharon Stone energy: understated, sharp, and quietly powerful.
I’ve been loving exploring this balance across occasions—layered over leggings for travel, styled with a leather pencil skirt for evening, or worn open and relaxed at the beach. My mother wore our Lief shirt with a long silk orange skirt, and then that same shirt she throws on with jeans for a flight—yet both moments still read as effortless luxury. It’s all about how you style it.
A favourite way to wear a button down for me is very much sleeves pushed up in a very mishap kind of way, untucked and only the two middle buttons buttoned. Very chill, letting the shirt do all the work for me, paired back shorts or to my vintage levi’s and my tabi’s.
What makes a great button-down is the harmony between fabric, shape, and detail. The fabric sets the tone—it needs weight, softness, and structure all at once. Then the silhouette carries it through. It’s about how the shirt falls on a woman’s body: the length of the sleeve, where it hits at the hip, the subtle allowance for curves instead of the rigid lines of traditional menswear. These nuances create a silhouette that feels considered, not generic.
A good button-down has to strike a balance—it should feel tailored but not stiff, elevated but never fussy. It’s in the details: the weight of the fabric, the shape of the collar, the drape when it’s left undone. A truly great shirt doesn’t just fit—it moves with you, and it evolves with how you want to wear it.
It’s also about emotional ease. You don’t have to overthink it, like it is already doing the work for you in how you want to feel and look. Whether you’re dressing up or down, it should feel like a natural extension of your style—something you can throw on and instinctively trust to look good.
In conclusion, is there anything a button down can’t do?! It’s really a sartorial savior in my wardrobe. What is a sartorial savior in your wardrobe?
As always, thank you so much for being here, it means the world! xx Bryn
Love the styling