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| Garance Doré photos: Scott Schuman. |
It's a boy's shirt! And that's the nearest you'll get to Baby Royale on this blog, now let's get down to business. One of the easiest ways to stay chic in the heat - as I found during the Barbecue Fortnight, and Garance Doré neatly illustrates here - is to throw on an oversized shirt.
This cool cover-up works over cropped pants, jersey maxi skirts, wide leg linen trousers and if you can pull it off without wilting: jeans. Crisp shirts are a smart summer solution - there's no need to worry about straps, tan lines and wobbly bits, just concentrate on getting from A to B without overheating. Now that I've depleted my own collection: an old pin tuck style from J Crew - I'd show you a picture but I spilled coffee down the front yesterday - my favourite blue shirt from Margaret Howell menswear (below) and a Gap chambray version, I'll be raiding Mr That's Not My Age's closet for a real boyfriend shirt. I'm probably too old to call the Blog Widower my boyfriend but when I say partner, it feels a bit like I'm talking tennis. What to call an unmarried companion of a certain age? Answers below please.
One thing I do know is, that when it comes to casual shirt action, French women do it better. Oh and Sofia Coppola - she's just made a film about Paris (Hilton), so let's add her to the mix .
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| Emmanuelle Alt gives good shirt action. |
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| That's not very Bling Ring. |
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| Oh Ines. |
For other ideas on where to find men's shirts for women, here's an older blog post.
What I love about the shirts is that they are just the right amount of "over size." I tend to go too big and then they make me look too big. But, these are just the right amount to be cool-looking and comfy but not unflattering. Ines always inspires me!
ReplyDeleteLove them all! Especially love yours with the maxi skirt. I've re-discovered my old (but almost new) plain white shirt by Burberry that I'm wearing a lot this Summer. Chambray is great too, scored one from the Gap Men's sale last year that allows me to cheat as it's perfect as a 'tunic' over my skinny jeans (because I can't truly 'do' skinny jeans). A little tailoring goes a very long way.
ReplyDeleteThe "trick" (I believe) is the boxiness of the mens' cut. Methinks they have tailored the fun out of women's shirts. As long as it's not TOO oversized (say your man is an offensive tackle on the New York Giants), a guy's shirt on a gal is just charming. Us little gals may need to raid the son's closet or the kids' department for the right effect.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of men, would LIL (Live in Love) be too Sapphic?
For the male/partner thing, I prefer something like "mate." But if you were an ant, he'd be your drone. He might object to that. Depending on the species one chose, he could be a "boar" (also probably not his first choice), a buck, a jack, a drake, a tom, or even a cock. If you were feeling french, he could be you're reynard. Depending on your beliefs in the duration of your union, you'd probably want to consider a species that mates for life if you look to the animal kingdom for inspiration ;-)
ReplyDeleteI've heard Significant Other used fairly commonly here. I have a hard time with the big shirtsL too much bust. I think they work beautifully on you and all of these other willowy women here. I may have to try tying at the waist or some other iteration, or stick to softer, more drape-y fabrics to avoid looking like someone's Festival tent.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about feeling too old to say boyfriend, but I'd probably just stick with partner? It's straightforward.It doesn't sound coy.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, it's a question I've struggled with for years - the boyfriend vs. partner vs. ? thing. I feel much too old for for "boyfriend", but "partner" tends to imply a business partner. "Companion" doesn't seem quite right (he's not a dog or a paid caretaker) and "significant other" is too much of a mouthful. I've recently settled on "beau" and we'll see how that works out.
ReplyDeleteNow, on the real subject of your post, big shirts are perfect year-round wear and solve a world of problems, and Ines can do no wrong!
As I didn't marry my man till I was 47, I too felt awkward with the "boyfriend" title. I usually called him my "S.O." and that was dignified enough. : > I adore men's shirts and wear them frequently. My favorite is a soft blue and it's no-iron, hooray!
ReplyDeleteShirts have become one of my favourite items this summer. Wearing with shorts right now (I would melt in jeans!).
ReplyDeleteYes, oversized shirts are always a great choice. Striped, plain coloured, with collar, without collar... Well, you've seen me in my oversized (and long) stripy one, so you already know that.
ReplyDeleteI know how awkward the "boyfriend" thing is, that's why I've taken to calling mine Monsieur, which seems to work nicely. I just don't like partner... xo
I love this look . . . on others. Taller, slimmer others. Every so often I try it on myself again, hoping, but the same truth is always revealed.
ReplyDeleteI can get away with an Equipment version in silk, probably because it skims the body rather than adding bulk, but my short waist and solid shape make for a boxy look in most big shirts. Not what I'm going for.
Love your version the most and delighted there's no mention of that tiresome news dominating thing.
ReplyDeleteI stick to boyfriend or Jon, partner's just wrong. x
I'm loving my Whistles Freya white shirt which is in a cotton voile and is perfect for this weather. Loose and cool - I couldn't bear to wear anything any heavier at the moment. Garance Dore has got it down to a fine art with the shirt wearing and yes the French girls seem to do it that little bit better but hey, you look pretty good in yours.
ReplyDeleteYep, I love shirts. They feel cool and look crisp and smart - even when they're oversized. Just call him "my man".
ReplyDeleteI bought a men's shirt at a thrift shop, but it's too warm and stiff. I must find something softer and lighter - like the chambray ones.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone else mentioned "my main squeeze"? You could use it ironically.
Am totally guilty of the Significant Other moniker. Am trying to move to fiance, now that we're going to get married, but what's the point really as soon I'll be adjusting to Husband.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to it quite a lot:).
And I like the boyfriend shirt look. Quite a lot:).
I saved some of Nelson's best shirts, so time to bring them out and wear them.
ReplyDeleteShortly after reading AND replying to this post, I was trawling my local TJMaxx and found a black Big Shirt (like Garance Dore's) in a silk/cotton mix by BCBG at a nice discount. How lucky is that! I will wear it with leopard skinny pants and see it can also act as a ligtweight jacket over a tank. How nice to have something that is TNMA approved!
ReplyDeleteHow about "my fellow"? Companion sounds like a guide dog and unless you're a cougar, BOYfriend sounds juvenile.
ReplyDeleteAs for the oversized shirt. I agree with Michele. The boys department has some great options. With my silhouette I need to wear it with a very fitted bottom or I look like a linebacker myself.
One of my favourite looks. I am wearing a white shirt today over a tank and grey linen trousers. Cool and chic.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting that there is so many of us who are "of an age" and have men in our lives who are not husbands. Although, after 7 years together and struggling with what to call each other, we made it easier by just getting married!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the big shirts -- I raid my husbands old shirts to use as "aprons" when I cook. I'm messy, so need total coverage. I might just look for more to wear as an actual shirt!
Perfection. Sadly I usually need to oversize my bottom half, thanks to my generous pear shape.
ReplyDeleteWhen D and I had been together years and years, and weren't yet engaged (or even when we were; I never could manage 'fiance'), but 'boyfriend' seemed too flibbertigibbet, I plumped for 'Significant Other' or 'Plus One'. (Clearly we have been to too many weddings. Now that we've also been to our own, it makes it a lot easier!).