Button-Up Shirts

The most common cause of bust gaping is incorrect button placement most patterns put a button just above and just below the widest part of the bust, leaving a gap precisely where you don’t want it. Look for shirts with a button positioned at the widest point of the bust (not just above or below). Other solutions: size up and tailor the rest, use a small camisole underneath for coverage, or use a small safety pin between buttons as a temporary fix.

The best white shirt has medium-weight cotton (not too thin, not too stiff), proper shoulder seam placement at the actual shoulder, button placement at the widest part of the bust to prevent gaping, sleeve length graded with the size, and a hem long enough to tuck if you want to. White shirts wash and fade with use expect to replace yours every 2 to 3 years if you wear it weekly.

Yes linen is one of the most breathable natural fibres available. It allows airflow, wicks moisture and stays cool in heat. Linen shirts wrinkle dramatically (this is part of their charm and unavoidable), so embrace the relaxed look or look for linen blends with a small percentage of viscose or cotton, which reduces wrinkles while keeping breathability.

Technically, a button up shirt has buttons up the front (the entire shirt category). A button down shirt has buttons on the collar tips that fasten the collar to the shirt body a more casual style originally from menswear. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. Most women’s shirts are button up; some are also button down. Each product page describes the specific collar construction.

Yes button up shirts work for almost every occasion. Casual: untucked over jeans with sneakers. Smart casual: half-tucked over tailored pants with loafers. Office: tucked under a blazer with structured pants. Beach: oversized over swimwear as a cover-up. Evening: silk button up with statement jewellery and heels. Few wardrobe pieces have this much versatility.

Yes our button up shirts go up to size 26 with proportions graded for plus size. The bodice ease is increased across the bust to prevent gaping, sleeve length is graded for the size, and shoulder seams are placed proportionally. Plus size customers regularly tell us our shirts fit better in the bust than other brands because we grade rather than scale.