Denim Shirts

When it?s too cold for a cotton shirt but too hot for a denim jacket, reach a compromise by wearing a denim shirt. One of this season?s trending pieces, denim (or chambray) shirts are a versatile piece that?s quite different from other fashions of the moment.

Choose your denim

Good or bad?

When it comes to denim shirts, light blue denim is best. Light washes are a soft look and easy to match with a pair of colored chinos. Dark or bright blue denim is harder to pull off and lacks that vintage feel.

Colored denim shirts look a bit ridiculous. A chambray shirt is already enough of a statement, you don?t need to go over the top with pastel or bright colors.

Some denim shirts have a light pattern on them. This is an out-there look, but can look great if the pattern is subtle, such as white detailing on a pale blue shirt. To encapsulate some of this season?s big trends, try wearing a denim shirt with a light Aztec print.

There is a fine line between looking stylish and looking like a cowboy. Distressed denim shirts seem like a good idea when you buy them, but they?re more practical than aesthetically pleasing. Go with the sleekest denim shirt you can find. The fewer pockets the better. It should be fitted enough to be worn without tucking it in. The deciding factor on whether a denim shirt is stylish or stupid looking is the collar. A floppy collar brings down the entire look- it should be reasonably small and a little stiff for a sleek look.

Can I wear it with jeans?

One thing that you can?t match a denim shirt with is even more denim, so jeans are out of the question. Even if your shirt is an entirely different wash and color to your jeans, it?s still a faux pas. Chinos in a muted or pastel color are the way to go. When going with a light blue wash, mustard colored pants are a striking look. A pair of shorts, provided they?re not denim, is also an option.

Open or closed?

There are two ways to wear your denim shirt. You can wear it open over another top, preferably a block color, or buttoned up. This is the difference between wearing it casually, or in a smart manner. With a thick material like denim, you want the look to be as slight as possible so if you?re going buttoned, do up all of the buttons.

How to accessorize

A skinny tie can instantly enliven a drab outfit. It?s easy to look too plain when wearing a denim shirt with pants in a neutral color- fix it by adding a slim tie. Any color except the same blue of your shirt is fine.
When wearing your shirt open, a tie would look silly. But as this is a more casual look, you have the option of more casual accessories. Try a patterned scarf. You don?t want the scarf to be too thick, but any kind of knitted texture adds interest to your look.