Confessions On Chambray

After much thought and deliberation, I've decided that I hate chambray.

It reminds me of denim, and though I love my Rag & Bone jeans as much as the next girl, there is no way that I'll ever be on board with denim shirts and jackets. I understand that chambray isn't denim, but the color and texture are enough of a reminder to keep me far, far away. I can sum it up like this: I dislike chambray as much as I dislike gingham.

But not polka-dot chambray.

If you ever need to convert me to something, just pop some polka dots on it and call it a day. The polka dots and playful jewelry add some whimsy and femininity to chambray, which, depending on styling, can seem a little utilitarian and stiff. This J.Crew blouse ($78; jcrew.com) is the perfect shape, too: fitted at the waist, but just slouchy enough to layer.

Don't worry, though. The day a jean jacket appears on this blog is the day you know girlfriend has been hacked.

Photos courtesy of: Gitman Brothers via Have Less Be More and J.Crew.

Chambray Style

I know I wax poetic about silk and sequins, but I can't deny the fact that I'm a sucker for a good tee. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... tees look great with skinny jeans and a pair of Bensimons (I'm going to mention my new kicks in every post this week, for I've worn them since they appeared on my doorstep and they've actually rendered me incapable of wearing anything else). Tees are simple enough to tuck into a frilly masterpiece of a skirt. Tees are soft, comfortable, and unbelievably flattering when you have the right fit and material (I love anything by James Perse, and my best friend swears by Madewell's artisan tees).

But sometimes (and I can't believe I'm about to say this), my tees get a little old. Maybe not old — a bit worn, if you will. After eight seasons, my tee needs a supporting actor to swoop in and help it win an Emmy. You know who that superstar is? Chambray. I get that this is old news, but here's the thing: the typical blue wash and classic shape just aren't doing it for me, so one of them needs to change. This is what separates an Emmy Award-winning supporting actor from the masses:

A ha! See, not slow on picking up the trend (which would make me a terrible style blogger); I'm just tweaking the trend to my own tastes. If I'm going to sell-out, I'm obviously going to do it for something a) grey, like this shirt by Rag & Bone on the left, or b) cut longer and reminiscent of oversized men's shirts, such as this J.Crew tunic. Are you a sucker for either one of these or more about the classic chambray shirt (which, of course, is a classic for a reason)?


[photo cred to 1 and 2, both via havelessbemore]