When you think of a short-sleeved button-down shirt, the first thought that pops into your head is most likely not flattering.
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How to wear a short-sleeved button-down without looking dorky
Looking cool while wearing a short-sleeved shirt is possible.
Pocket protectors, weird half-tucks, and tent-like fits are probably what come to mind. But it doesn't need to be that way.
You can look as if you weren't picked last for dodgeball; you just need to follow a few guidelines.
Most important, the shirt needs to fit well. Fit is the most important aspect of any garment you wear, but it is even more crucial for short-sleeved button-down shirts, which have the capacity to look like a sad sack when not correctly fitted.
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The body should be close-fitting but not tight, the sleeves should end before mid-bicep (very important), and there should be a minimal amount of flair in the sleeve. It also shouldn't be too long.
The collar is also key. Button-down collars are easiest to wear because the convertible collar, which lacks the supportive back, is less structured and a little floppy.
Second, the shirt needs to be the right color or pattern. Short-sleeved button-downs allow a bit more freedom, so don't be afraid to get creative.
Subdued Hawaiian-style shirts have been particularly hot lately.
Third, keep in mind that short-sleeved button-downs cannot be worn every place that long-sleeved button-downs can. They are a replacement for a T-shirt, not for a long sleeve. They sit somewhere between them in formality. Don't be surprised if your boss looks at you strangely when you walk in wearing one.
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Ryan Gosling in the photo above perfectly nails all three of these guidelines, and he looks great because of it.
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