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Home » Denim Shirts in Paris – 12 Versions

Denim Shirts in Paris – 12 Versions

October 7, 2014
 
As I mentioned Saturday, I saw lots of denim and chambray shirts in Paris – they were worn in an amazing variety of ways…
 
Most simple is wearing these shirts with black.  This can be a nice relaxed “out for the afternoon” outfits with pants and flats, or much dressier, with a pretty skirt and clutch bag.  Sleeves can be rolled, collar stood up in back – anything that personalizes your shirt and makes you happy!
 
Denim shirt with black trousers, or denim skirt with dressy black skirt

Chambray shirt – Tulchan, briefcase – Artessorio, suede ballet flats – Gabor, cropped pants – Theory,  pleated skirt – sandwich, braided bag – Kova, patent flat – Saint Laurent

 
A collarless chambray shirt can be a nice counterpoint to a dressy skirt.  Where something lacy or floral might go WAAAAY over the top, these outfits look like you mean to be dressy, but you’re not getting carried away. (and look – NO POCKETS!!!)
 
Can you wear a denim shirt with a dressy skirt? Yes!

Denim shirt – Levi’s Made and Crafted, black earrings – Liz Law, metallic lace skirt – Almost Famous,  black glitter flats – Sophia Webster, red earrings – Hring eftir hring, red floral skirt – Dorothy Perkins,  red flats – Repetto

 
A faded denim shirt is an excellent way to break up an otherwise conservative workday outfit – perfect for Casual Fridays in a “not REALLY casual” office.
 
Wear a denim shirt with a black cardigan and trousers, or a camel cardigan and trousers.

Denim shirt – Eileen Fisher, navy trousers – CC, navy cardigan – Uniqlo, navy loafers – Tod’s, tan trousers – Burberry London, camel cardigan – Uniqlo, bone flats – Dorothy Perkins

 
 It can be really difficult to figure out what to wear with tweed, but denim always works well!
 
Can you wear a denim shirt with a tweed skirt and pumps? Yes!

Denim shirt – Esprit, pearl & cord bracelet – Panapha, black, white grey tweed skirt – Lanvin,  calf hair kitten heel pumps – Clarks, red tweed skirt – Eastex, garnet and tiger eye bracelet – Anusara,  black patent kitten heel pumps – Isaac Mizrahi New York

 
I saw someone wearing a denim shirt UNDER a plain black dress (make sure you’ve got room to do this – no sausage stuffing allowed!), and then 2 days later, when it was warm, I saw a denim shirt partly buttoned and belted over a floral dress.  That’s imagination!
 
Can you wear a denim shirt under a dress, or over a dress, as a jacket? Yes!

Denim shirt – Uniqlo, scarf – Marc by Marc Jacobs, ankle boots – Fidji,  black sleeveless dress – 6397, floral dress – Phase Eight, belt – Dorothy Perkins, ballet flats – Cantarelli

And of course, you can always wear a chambray shirt with jeans.  It seems to look a lot nicer if the jeans aren’t blue… (and look – no breast pockets AGAIN!) These are examples of the rolled up jeans with substantial shoes that I mentioned Saturday – it was worn by women of all ages.
 
Wear a denim shirt with jeans, and layered under a sweater.

Chambray shirt – Linea, black jeans – Current/Elliott, striped sweater – Uniqlo,  socks – Topshop,  black oxfords – Paul Green, peach jeans – Mother, bone sweater – Rag and Bone, bone oxfords – Chloe

Editorialist
love,
Janice
 
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10.07.14 16 Comments

Tags: black, denim, Paris
<<A Truism for So Many Things…The French 5-Piece Wardrobe Meets A Common Capsule Wardrobe: navy, grey, electric blue, bright purple>>

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    October 7, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    Hey, new header on your blog! Love a denim shirt, so thank you for this post.

    Reply
  2. celkalee says

    October 7, 2014 at 1:24 pm

    As always Janice, your fashion perspective amazes me. I would probably pair the chambray shirt with jeans or maybe black jeans and leave it at that. I might toss on a sweater as well. Pathetic aren't I? Since most of my day to day dressing is casual now I really appreciate all your ideas. Thanks for all the work you do for those of us unable to think beyond the basic!!!

    Reply
  3. frugalscholar says

    October 7, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Oh, love the Vivienne header! Is that from the Vivienne shopping arcade in Paris? We happened up that last summer–so beautiful.

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      October 7, 2014 at 2:21 pm

      It is indeed from the Galeries Vivienne – if you look really closely, you can see the toes of my dusty shoes peeping in between the V and the I. It is the loveliest little spot, isn't it?

      Reply
    • Lynn says

      October 7, 2014 at 5:41 pm

      Inspiring!

      Reply
  4. Anonymous says

    October 7, 2014 at 3:36 pm

    Great header! And I love the shirt suggestions, especially the last one… those peach jeans are great!
    Alice

    Reply
  5. Lady Light Travel says

    October 7, 2014 at 5:28 pm

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm a big fan of chambray. Glad to hear it is on the streets of Paris.

    Reply
  6. Swissy says

    October 7, 2014 at 8:28 pm

    I love the fresh ideas here. Some are definitely not for me, but I did wear my fitted chambray shirt with a tweed skirt today and I thought it looked really good. I have a chambray tunic that will fit into several of these suggested looks. Thanks again.

    Reply
  7. Anonymous says

    October 7, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    We'll all have to club together and send you to Paris more often. I was wearing a new denim shirt yesterday and wondering if it was too young/studenty for me but I thought if I combined it with a turquoise necklace then it would be OK. Now I can see its fine for me, so thank you.
    Also I loved the pale pink with black idea from your earlier post.
    Great to have ideas for using the basics we already have in our wardrobes.
    Here in the southern hemisphere denim shirts are good with white shorts for a beach weekend away.
    I noticed in a CBD yesterday that the waistline has really gone out and shirts are worn untucked, by skinny people. Parisians are renowned for belting everything – has the waistline gone out in Paris or are they wearing for example a denim shirt tucked into a pleated skirt? (Impossible for we mortals…)

    Kate

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      October 7, 2014 at 10:19 pm

      I saw a lot of people in Paris, FROM PARIS, who weren't exactly svelte. But then didn't seem to care – they dressed as if they were!

      Reply
  8. Grace @ Sense and Simplicity says

    October 7, 2014 at 9:54 pm

    I love chambray shirts and have one in black chambray. I was wondering how the shirts are worn with skirts? I can imagine with jeans and pants that the shirts could be tucked in, worn out and buttoned up, or worn over another t-shirt, but I can't quite envision how they work over a skirt without looking puffy or frumpy. Any thoughts?

    Reply
    • Janice Riggs says

      October 7, 2014 at 10:20 pm

      The shirts were worn tucked in. It was interesting to see…

      Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    October 8, 2014 at 3:31 am

    Did you visit wolff et decourtis in galleries vivienne? Beautiful scarves and shawls

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    October 8, 2014 at 6:40 am

    Great ideas, as always, Janice! By the way, as you mention the subject of pockets/no pockets on shirts. I'm busty and pockets add even more visual volume – not ideal, especially if it's just one pocket which just kind of unbalances my torso. So I just cut off any breast pockets on shirts (and also on sweaters or dresses). Of course I buy cheapish stuff and I'm quite fearless with my clothes. If I accidentally leave a hole, well I'll sew it up or toss the garment. But if you're a bit more skilfull than myself or are willing to pay a tailor, this is an easy alteration. Just carefully cut the seam from the back of the garment. You end up with some little "holes" in the fabric where the stitches used to be, but they usually dissappear after a wash or two.
    Just an idea.
    Warm regards,
    Sonja

    Reply
    • Anonymous says

      October 8, 2014 at 6:41 am

      Oops, I wanted to say "back of the fabric", not "back of the garment". That was a little confusing.
      Sonja

      Reply
  11. Laura Arhire says

    October 14, 2014 at 5:56 am

    How would you wear them with the skirts (especially the 3-quarter length one) ? Tucked in or over the skirt?

    Reply

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