How to Wear Chambray

Hey everyone! Hope your week is going well! Only 2.5 days til the weekend! :D I am currently halfway through my first week at a new college, and so far it's going well!

Last week I posted my outfit that included a chambray shirt. I wanted to follow up with a post about wearing chambray, because it is one of the most common trends you will see right now, and also one of the hardest to wear well. Chambray shirts, being denim, are automatically on the masculine side. It takes a little effort and knowledge to make sure they stay sweet and feminine. So here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Drape. This is a sewing term that describes the way cloth falls and flows. For example, a thicker cloth like, say denim, will be stiffer and have a less drape. Chiffon, though, which is sheer and flowy, has a lot of drape. If you wrapped a piece of denim around your body, it would pretty much hold its shape. If you wrapped chiffon around you, however, the fabric would mold to your body.

Keep drape and thickness in mind when you choose your chambray shirt. A thicker chambray will have less drape and hold its own shape. A thinner one will fit more to your body. In my opinion, a thinner chambray is more flattering. It keeps your look from being too boxy and shapeless, and complements your shape while still being modest.

2. Shoulders. Make sure that the denim shirt fits your shoulders well. My first chambray shirt  was a tad too big around the shoulders, and if I wore it as a jacket, the extra fabric around my waist coupled with the roomy shoulders added to all-out unflattery :o). This shoulder rule is also a basic fashion rule: if a shirt or jacket (especially one that zips or buttons) does not fit your shoulders well, the rest of the garment, however beautiful, will just end up looking frumpy. 

3. Color (or wash). When you buy a pair of jeans, the wash or color is important. The same goes for chambray shirts. I personally prefer a darker wash. It is more slimming and flattering, and looks a tad more polished. But it is up to you to decide what would work best with your wardrobe.

All right, now that we have some basic rules in mind, let's look at three different ways to work chambray shirts into your wardrobe! I put together three collages using the same chambray shirt to show how versatile one shirt can be. The shirt, you may recognize, is the same one I wore in my post, which I got at Maurices and absolutely love!

Option #1: With a Dress

This is my favorite way to wear chambray shirts. I love wearing dresses, but when I want to tone down the dressiness (or cover up some spaghetti straps!), I simply throw on my chambray shirt, and ta-dah! An instantly sweet but casual outfit. 

Option #2: Tucked into a Skirt

This is great for a feminine, elegant, and yet relaxed look. A belt adds a special pop and eases the transition. Another, much more casual way to to this is to simply knot the bottom of the shirt in lieu of a belt.

Option #3: With Jeans

This seems odd at first, because technically this is a Canadian Tuxedo (that term, by the way, makes me laugh). This combination of jeans and a denim shirt was very popular in the 90s. Let's not relive that, okay? To bring this gracefully into the 2010s, just make sure that the washes of your two denim pieces are different. You can see that the chambray shirt is darker than the skinny jeans. (You could also do it vice versa). In my opinion, you should make sure that the drape (refer to Chambray Tip #1) of each piece is different. The shirt here has more drape than the jeans, so there is some variation that keeps you from being a wall of walking denim (who wants that?). The shirt can be either tucked in or left out (I've seen it both ways, and it's lovely either way), and worn with flats or heels. Statement jewelry, like this necklace, adds a really nice pop. 

This is by far the most adventurous way to wear denim, but if you're up for the challenge, let me know! I'd love to see how you work it into your wardrobe! 

So I hope this helped clear up some qualms you may have had about chambray. These guidelines are only the beginning. If you are new to denim shirts, start here and then experiment! Chambray is so versatile and limitless. It is honestly one of my favorite trends, and I can't imagine what I'd do without my own  little denim shirt. It adds another dimension to my wardrobe!

Any questions or remarks? Let me know in the comments below! :o)

Golden

Classes started today! And so did my new job in the school office. It was a fun day!

I wore this really flowy (and red) outfit today because I wanted to be cool and comfy for classes and work. It has been SO hot and humid these past few days! And it worked pretty well; I was comfy enough and as cool as could be hoped :o)

I got this dress from Maurices a few weeks ago, and I love it. It's so feminine. Its only fault is the spaghetti strap sleeves (or lack thereof, heh). I love pairing it with this button down shirt (and sweaters, as weather allows) because the effect is so breezy and relaxed. The dress is too short for comfort but some black leggings create a chic, girly, and modest look. :) Leggings are also super comfortable.

Dress, Button down shirt, Earrings, Leggings, and Purse: Maurices

Tan flats: Payless

Celtic Necklace: Mission Passport

And by the way, this is Amanda, my friend, roommate, and photographer! We had a lot of fun taking pictures on campus in the golden light of the evening. It was a perfect night! :o) 

Have a great week everyone!

Style Inspiration Saturday - My Ruche Wishlist

Hello everyone! Happy weekend!

One of my favorite sites to browse (and buy from when pocketbook permits) is Ruche. Looking through their selection of darling dresses, tops, and accessories (and more!) is like perusing through a very classy antique shop. This site has influenced my style very much, even just by looking through it. It has helped me to spend less time wondering "does this look cool? Will people like it?" when I'm choosing clothes or outfits, and instead ask myself "Is this pretty? Is it me? Do I like it?"

One hot, sunny summer day when I was young, my sister, grandmother and I sat on my grandparents' bed and looked through Grandma's vast collection of jewelry. Some of it, like her gold amethyst and diamond ring, was very old, given to her when she was a young woman. Some, like the Russian brooch, fashioned into a tiny grape vine, came from Grandpa's years as a traveling salesman, when he'd bring home gifts from all over the world. And some of the jewelry was homemade with yarn and huge wooden beads, gifts from her grandchildren.

When she let us explore and hold and model her jewelry, it was the most wonderful feeling. Family history was in my hands, around my neck, dangling on my ears. Rings that had seen the days of World War II were on my fingers. Brooches that had traveled across mountains, deserts, and oceans were pinned to my shirt. Necklaces symbolizing fifty years of marriage, five kids, and thirteen grandchildren hung from my neck. I will remember that hot afternoon in my grandparents' house for the rest of my life. I will remember that feeling for the rest of my life.

It sounds really trivial, shallow, and silly, but a small part of that wonderful feeling stays with me when I look through Ruche. The clothing and accessories look like something you'd find in your grandmother's collection, and I don't mean that in the frumpy way. I mean that each piece has a feel of history. The elegant colors, feminine laces, and soft prints come from another time, but are updated, freshened, and repurposed to be at home in ours. It's like you've stumbled onto an interesting old suitcase in a forgotten attic, and holy cow! someone left their beautiful clothes in it!

(Trench Coat from Ruche)

So after that long-winded introduction, here are the items in my Ruche wishlist. This is just a small sample of my style inspiration. So definitely head to the website (after you finish my post ;) and check everything out!

Afternoons on the Patio Stripe Dress:

This dress is the perfect blend of casual and charming. I envision it with sandals and a skinny brown belt for now, and with a mustard cardigan and boots later! I love that the colors could work well for summer or winter, spring or fall. The possibilities are endless.

Southern Blossom Skirt in Navy:

I've been on the hunt for the perfect navy skirt. So far, this fits the bill. It'd look great just with a plain tee and flats for casual wear, or with wedges and a flowy blouse tucked in for something a little more fancy :)


Empress Embroidered Blouse in Beige:

Can I just say WOW!? This top is simply gorgeous. And completely versatile! I'd throw it over the navy skirt for a breezy, effortless ensemble, or over a dress for a similar effect. It would also look smashing with skinny jeans and flats!

Queen's Court Earrings:

I love how these earrings are subtle enough to wear with jeans, and yet elegant enough to complement a little black dress and heels! Also, the muted green color works well with pretty much anything, especially the earthy colors of fall and the pastels of spring and summer.


I hope you enjoyed this little peek into my wishlist! Go on to Ruche and check the rest of their site out!