While I was doing my Spring cleaning and organizing my closet, I found lots of my button downs. When comes to choosing outfit, I always go through phrases. There’s time I would wear just whatever style I have in mind for weeks. At one point I used to wear button downs every day – on my work days and on my days off. One thing I absolutely love about button downs is I can use them in all different wardrobes. Button downs truly are you-can-wear-anywhere closet staples, which you can wear for the office, the night out, and the weekend errand-run.

The first impression button down usually gives is business formal and professional; and indeed it plays an very important and powerful role in business wardrobes. But button down also has lots of flexibility that you can wear in a more casual environment and it will still look perfect. No doubt when wearing button down tucked in with pencil skirt or trousers is a perfect office outfit; meanwhile the same button down can turn into something fun and chic. For the weekends, you can always wear your button down half-tucked with a pair of distressed jeans, which is simple but chic. Or you can wear button down underneath a jumpsuit or overall, which the formality of button down and the casualness of jumpsuit/overall will give a nice balance to each other. For dates, you can slip a slim and sexy black dress on top of the button down, which you will get an elegant look. Or you can pair the button down tucked out with leather leggings so you will look classy and trendy.

In general I like my button downs solid especially in white because I can easily layer with anything. If you want something more fun, button downs with prints would be good choice. During this transitional weather, I like to wear my button down under a sweater having the collar, bottom, and sleeves peaked out. That would give me a trendy “student” look and keep me warm at the same time. Sometimes I would go for a chopped sweater to get less the preppy look but more feminine style. You can always wear your button down open as a cardigan to make this staple piece as versatile as you want. If you are looking for a year-around essential, you won’t go wrong with a simple button down. Next time you wear you button down, play around with your outfits and you may surprise yourself how much you can get from it!

Button down (Aritzia); Skirt (Aritzia); Booties (Zara; similar at Steve Madden)