Not Another Button Down Shirt

The desire for sleeves may be the singular styling point that all (ok 99%) of my clients have in common. Hate your arms, love your arms but also some drama, the A/C factor, the power-dressing factor, the age factor - it is a category SO.MANY.OF.YOU. share.

And if we were listening to the internet et large, we would be told we need yet another poplin button down shirt. And yes, yes, we love a button down shirt, I have more than I need in this category and I’m sure you do too. But like…that can’t be IT!? I just cannot resolve a world where that is all there is to offer us? ALL WOMEN WANTING SLEEVES?

But many of the other “sleeved” tops can look incomplete in a way that the collar on a button down gives outfit clarity. Think simple silk shells and t-shirts which often need a finishing layer.

And then so many of the blouses out there - with their lace and their puff sleeves -can feel juvenile or froofy in a way that, without serious intentionality or restraint, can read cheap. (We get to the bottom of this today!!)

There just has to be a way to look summer-ready, covered up, sophisticated, cool, polished but relaxed, uncomplicated yet totally dressed. Am I reaching for the stars here!?!?!?!

As I put together today’s list of summer sleeves, the rabbit hole became more like a maze. The answers might not look totally straightforward at first glance, but we get there. So here you go. Sleeves that will get you from August to a sweltering September, bc you know its coming.