Ask dapperQ: Alternatives to Boring Button Downs to Wear with Suits and Formal Attire?

A reader asks:

I wear a suit to work everyday and I’m always looking for formal shirts that have a little more “umph” or flavor. I wanna know where I can get a tuxedo shirt like the one Abby Wambach is wearing here:

via More Than Stats

I need a dress option that is neither the standard boring blue striped button down, nor the frilly silk alternatives. Help me out.

We often get questions from readers asking for jazzed-up button-down options and/or button-down alternatives. Especially the latter, because many of our readers cannot afford button-downs that do not gape at the chest area. Let’s start with the first part of your question. We couldn’t find Wambach’s EXACT shirt, but here are some similar styles:

Helmut Lang White Storm Flap Uniform Shirt on sale now for $160 (originally $320)

Vivienne Westwood Asymmetrical Collar Button-Down from 6pm and Farfetch

Now, as for revving up your daily business attire beyond the basic button-down, I recommend (1) playing with patterns and colors, (2) opting for sweaters and polo shirts, and (3) layering! Let’s take a look at examples of these three approaches:

PLAY WITH PATTERS AND COLORS

Ariam+Geffrard+-+Pattern+Power Photo credit: via A Dapper Chick. Photographer Photo Credit: Debbie of DAG images