5 Ways To Wear A Button Down

Abigail Dykens works as a sales and brand consultant while simultaneously building her sustainable styling and vintage pop-up business Abalone Vintage. We asked her to style five different summer outfits using a simple, classic button-down.

Abigail’s journey with secondhand fashion started young, growing up on Cape Cod, where yard and estate sales were a weekend ritual.

“My mom would take me every Saturday morning starting at 6:30am, even through my college years. Today, our adventures have expanded to antique shows and thrift stores, where she searches for art, and I hunt for vintage treasures. This love for secondhand fashion and sustainability was nurtured by my mom’s belief in repurposing and upcycling, teaching me that there’s no need for new when so much already exists. The more I work in the fashion industry, the more I realize how valuable and sustainable pre-loved pieces are, and I’m dedicated to helping others embrace and practice this mindset.”

These outfits are not only a reflection of Abigail’s personal style, but they’re also super easy to recreate for summer, whether you’re by the water or upstate. She has also linked similar items found through Gem in her ShopMy section to help you bring these looks to life.

floral slip dress

90s slip dress

floral slip dress

Vintage Slip Dresses as Cover-Ups

I’ve been wearing vintage slip dresses as cover-ups for ages. They’re lightweight, dry quickly, and are perfect for layering. For this look, I layered and knotted my button-down over the slip dress, making it a versatile piece you can wear at the beach or in the city. You can easily recreate this with any slip dress (I recommend a longer cotton version), layer your shirt over it, and knot it at the front. Voilà!

When it comes to the perfect button-down, two things are key: size and material. I’m about 5’8” and love an oversized fit, especially for layering. A larger shirt gives you more styling options – whether it’s tying it around your waist, wearing it as a dress, or using it as a stylish alternative to a jacket in milder climates.

Anthropologie Maeve bloomers

pink silk scarf

Anthropologie Maeve bloomers

Bloomers Are Having a Moment

I’m fully leaning into the bloomer trend. For this look, we reversed the knot and tied the button-down at the back—easy, peasy!

I’m always on the lookout for relatively new white shirts – most often on eBay – as they’re an easy investment for my wardrobe. When it comes to keeping them looking fresh, Dreft (no sponsorship, but it’s hands down the best cleaning product on the market) is my go-to. I hardly ever dry clean my shirts because most of them are machine washable – unless it’s linen, which usually requires a bit of steaming or pressing.

A steamer is the only way to keep the shirts unwrinkled, and I swear by my travel-sized one. It’s a quick fix and always reliable.

beige fringe scarf

Stuart Weitzman sandals

beige fringe scarf

Scarves With Everything

Layering scarves has been a thing for over a year now, and I love incorporating them into my everyday looks. Even if it’s just tying one to my bag strap, it adds something extra. For this outfit, I buttoned the shirt fully to wear it as a dress/tunic, and layered a vintage fringe sarong over it for a sheer skirt effect. If sheer isn’t your thing, you can recreate the look with a long silk sarong tied at the side or back. I also recommend sizing up two sizes in the button-down to ensure it’s long enough to wear as a dress.

gingham bathing suit

Cape Cod Comfort

This is my go-to look when I’m at home on Cape Cod: linen pants, a one-piece, and a button-down worn open and effortlessly. It’s an easy, breezy look that can also be recreated for a day in the city.

As for material, I’m all about 100% cotton and linen blends. These fabrics not only last longer than poly blends, but also wear beautifully over time. When it comes to brands, I’ve always been a Ralph Lauren girl. I grew up wearing my dad’s old frayed Polo shirt. It’s iconic to Cape Cod, and the quality of their pieces, especially the vintage ones, is truly unmatched.

Pro-tip: If you’re looking for the perfect button-down, plug in Ralph Lauren Yarmouth Shirt in 100% cotton on GEM. Trust me.

Shirt Skirt Alert!

For this look, I buttoned two shirts together. This was my second attempt at this styling technique, and I’m happy with how it turned out! To get it right, I recommend using the same shirt so the alignment is seamless, and sizing down so the two shirts sit perfectly at your hips once fully buttoned. Opt for softer cotton or linen fabrics to ensure the skirt flows nicely.