When it comes to wardrobe basics, it doesn’t get more classic than a white button-up. From the office to the weekend, summer through winter, a white button-up is a loyal wardrobe essential that can be dressed up or down for almost any occasion. For the past two months, I’ve been wearing the Tradlands Elms white oxford shirt on repeat. Now that I’ve had some time to put this shirt through its paces, I’m excited to share with you my first impressions as well as some of my favourite ways to style the Elms. Spoiler alert: I’m in love.
The Details
Fit: I went for a size small in this shirt, my regular size. Tradlands’ pieces are inspired by classic menswear and the fit of this shirt is just that – gently tailored and absolutely timeless, like my hubby’s favourite button-ups. As I am slightly north of 5’10”, the shirt body and sleeves come up ever-so-slightly short on me; however, I always roll up my sleeves anyways and the shorter length in the body proved to be perfect for pairing with high-waisted jeans and when tucking in the shirt.
Fabric & Construction: The Elms is constructed from a sturdy 100% cotton oxford that feels soft and substantial at the same time. Unlike many other women’s button-ups I’ve owned, this one feels like it’s made to last. It has double stitching throughout and the buttons down the front are closer together than on the average button-up to avoid, as Tradlands lists on their page, “the boob gap.”
Care: As per Tradlands’ care instructions, I’ve been machine washing the Elms in cold water with my other whites and hanging to dry. After drying, I generally give the Elms a quick iron which is super easy and straight-forward as the shirt doesn’t have any darting and lies flat with one pass of the iron. Tradlands notes on their website that the Elms gets better over time as you wash it. So far, the high-quality fabric is showing little signs of change, but it has perhaps softened a little bit.
Ethics: The Elms is ethically made in Shanghai. As I am striving to build a more ethical and sustainable wardrobe, I love that Tradlands is committed to slow fashion practices and focuses on ethical manufacturing. You can read more about Tradlands’ values here.
Tradlands kindly provided me with a discount code to share with you – save 15% off your first Tradlands purchase with THENORDNEST15
This summer, I completed the 10 x 10 Challenge and the Elms was one of my most-worn items. You can see the four ways that I styled the Elms in my Summer 10 x 10 Wardrobe Challenge reflection post.
Now that the cooler autumn weather has rolled in, I continue to reach for the Elms several times a week. It’s the perfect base for layering under blazers, sweaters and coats. In particular, the Elms has become an essential in my work wardrobe as it’s the classic button-up that really does pair with everything from trousers to skirts. On weekends, I love to wear the Elms with jeans and a pair of boots for an easy but put together look.
What’s your favourite way to style a white button-up?
Thanks so much for reading!
–M.
IN THIS POST:
White Button Up: Tradlands | Denim Shorts: COS | Straw Bag: Etsy |Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Watch: JORD | Black Jeans: Levi’s | Trench: Old from The Gap, similar here | Leather Bag: The Stowe (sold out in clay, but on sale in the beautiful sand colour!) | Scarf: Old from COS, similar here | Watch: CLUSE | Blazer: Everlane | Sandals: Everlane | Little Black Dress: Everlane | Loafers: Everlane
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored but some of the links above are affiliate links. This just means that I will earn a small commission if you make a purchase via that link. Thanks for your support!
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