Paris. Copenhagen. Lisbon. London. Each of these European capitals may have distinct style codes, but there are a few common ideas that form the through line for the continent’s stereotypically polished sense of style. For one, women in these cities tend to rely on a tight edit of high-quality, timeless wardrobe staples that they always come back to—items like a pair of straight-leg jeans, loafers, trousers, button-down shirts, and a great blazer. They also share a few ways of styling them. One outfit I’ve noticed them iterating on year after year is the combination of a crisp button-down shirt and classic (largely straight-leg or slim-straight) jeans.
First of all, I love this look because it ensures you look put-together, even on your most casual of days. It’s also the perfect base upon which to employ shoes and accessories that play to your personal style, so I can guarantee you’ll never look like everybody else when wearing it. Lastly, and most importantly, it’s squarely in the anti-trend category which means it’s one to wear now and keep in rotation all year and for years (even decades!) to come.
Ahead, I pulled together a few of my current favorite ways my European friends are styling the button-down-and-jeans look right now and added some shopping options to inspire your next look, too.
It just doesn’t get any more classic than this. Everyone has a white button-down shirt, blue jeans, and a black belt in their closet, and thrown together it’s an easy and sophisticated look that will truly never be out of style.
To make the combo feel a tad more current, try a relaxed or baggy denim fit. Layer it with a trench coat to keep things looking classic overall.
When it comes to making this outfit your own, it all comes down to the details. Styling the shirt with a half tuck gives it a more undone look that transitions well into the evening. Crystal-embellished kitten heels don’t hurt, though.
For shoes, the move is to opt for something equally as timeless like a pair of loafers or ballet flats. You can never go wrong with a pair of black ballet flats to make the whole thing feel elevated.
Striped shirting and ecru-toned jeans feel a little bit more fresh and interesting, but still have the overall tone of being non-trendy.
I love how Débora Rosa added a pair of T-strap pumps for a vintage feel.
Keep the accessories minimal and classic. A great metal-link watch makes for the ideal finishing touch.
This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Source: WhoWhatWear
