I'm a Fashion Editor—I Reach For This Effortless Wardrobe Essential When I Don't Know What to Wear

Collage of Christie Tyler, Monikh Dale, and Débora Rosa wearing blue button-down shirts and jeans.

You know those mornings when you're either running late or in a style rut and unsure what to wear? As a mom of two, I have had my fair share of these days. When I encounter them, I have found that there is one wardrobe essential I can reach for that offers a stylish solution: a blue button-down shirt. The classic piece is incredibly easy to style in a pinch.

To give the blue button-down an effortless feel, I usually pair it with jeans and a chic shoe style like boots, sneakers, or flats. To help you get inspired, I rounded up nine standout ideas that use the same outfit formula. Keep scrolling to peruse and shop each look. You can thank me later.

1.

Fashion influencer Christie Tyler poses for a mirror selfie wearing a blue button-down shirt tucked into jeans with a black belt and black Mary Jane flats.

(Image credit: @christietyler)

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2.

French fashion influencer Salome Mory sitting at an outdoor Paris cafe wearing round sunglasses, a gray blazer, blue button-down shirt, straight-leg jeans, and open-toe mule sandals.

(Image credit: @salome.mory)

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3.

French fashion influencer Anne-Laure Mais on a Paris sidewalk wearing a blue button-down shirt, brown suede slouchy shoulder bag, cuffed jeans, and print Mary Jane flats.

(Image credit: @annelauremais)

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4.

French fashion influencer Julie sitting in a Paris cafe with an iced coffee wearing black sunglasses, a blue button-down shirt, white top, Hermes bag, straight-leg jeans, and black Gucci loafers.

(Image credit: @leasy_inparis)

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5.

British fashion influencer Monikh Dale poses in her chic London home wearing a blue button-down and light-wash cuffed jeans.

(Image credit: @monikh)

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6.

Style influencer Anouk Yve poses for a mirror selfie wearing a trench coat over a blue button-down shirt with a white collar and white cuffs, jeans, and black strappy heeled sandals.

(Image credit: @anoukyve)

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7.

Fashion influencer Debora Rosa walking on a city sidewalk wearing black sunglasses, a blue-button-down shirt, cable-knit sweater over the shoulders, dark-wash straight-leg jeans, and square-toe heeled boots.

(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

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8.

Norwegian fashion influencer Nnenna Echem standing next to an all-black bike in Copenhagen wearing a blue button-down shirt, relaxed jeans, and silver ballet flats.

(Image credit: @nnennaechem)

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9.

Fashion influencer Felicia Akerstrom sitting on steps outside a building in Stockholm, Sweden wearing an open blue button-down shirt, white T-shirt, straight-leg jeans, and white Mary Jane flats.

(Image credit: @fakerstrom)

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Jennifer Camp Forbes

Jennifer Camp Forbes is currently an editor at Who What Wear, where she has worked in a variety of capacities for over a decade, including creative director and various editor roles. She’s well-known as a shopping expert that’s sought out for advice and insight on the latest trends, outfit ideas, and fashion picks thanks to her thoughtful shopping roundups, digital moodboards, and extensive knowledge of up-and-coming brands, plus the new arrivals sections of the chicest retailers. Jennifer has had a lifelong interest in fashion which led her to intern at Harper’s Bazaar as an undergraduate. Later, while working towards her masters degree in psychological counseling at Columbia University, she founded two digital fashion publications: Le Fashion and Olsens Anonymous. The popularity of both sites grew and after graduation she decided put her plans to become a therapist aside to pursue a career in fashion. While she has called Los Angeles and New York City home in the past, she currently works remotely from Massachusetts. When she’s not obsessing over and writing about her latest fashion finds, she is delighting in raising two little ones with her highschool sweetheart, perusing TikTok religiously, listening to podcasts and audiobooks, creating abstract photographs, and eating the best Mexican food she can get her hands on.