Fashion Rant: I'm Confused About Chambray

By Rebecca

Okay, y'all, I'm seeing something that I don't like out there, and I need to know if I'm being weird and crazy about it. It's the resurgence of chambray, folks. Work with me here.

I may be a total hypocrite, since I love jeans and wear them all the time, and isn't a chambray shirt like jeans for your upper half? It seems like it should be, so why don't I like it? I mean, I am actually considering buying a denim jacket for the first time since 1996. Why am I so conflicted about a shirt-like version?

It could be one of a few things.

• I often see chambray shirts worn with patterned jeans, and I just really can't get behind patterned jeans. The combination of a chambray shirt plus floral jeans is probably one of my LEAST favorite outfits. Seriously, Vogue, you're punking us, right? 
  
  
  I'm sorry, Rihanna. I think you're great, but please pack your jeans and go.


• Just to see how I would feel about it, I tried on a chambray shirt in the wild, also known as the J. Crew dressing room. I felt vaguely... prison-matronly. Now, I'm not saying YOU look like a prison matron in YOUR chambray shirt, but I felt drab and washed out and not stylish in it.
• I would be concerned that I am reverting to 90s fashion. I remember very well putting on my chambray shirt, chino shorts and Jack Purcells and walking across campus to the dining commons. It just feels like backward progress.

Anyway, I feel confused. I WANT to like the chambray shirt, but I just haven't been able to. However, I am often guilty of over-thinking things from time to time (you're shocked by this revelation, I know). So help me: do you like chambray? And if so, how do you wear it?

(Image courtesy of celebstyle.com)

Comments

[Tara C.]

I hear you on this one. I recently bought a chambray shirt-dress from the Gap, although the color is a little more gray than denim to me. The first time a wore it I asked my husband if it looked like prison garb. I'm not fully convinced that I like that.

[Rebecca]

I have a chambray shirt-dress (little more on the tailored side) that I get compliments on each time I wear it with a large brown belt. My husband who rarely comments on my clothes really likes it. I agree that the traditional chambray shirt brings me right back to my freshman year of college when I paired it with a chino skirt and oversided Doc Martin sandals.

[elz]

Yes, I like chambray shirts and have 2 of them. I wear them to work with a (pencil) skirt or pants (usually colored, but black wirks too) and a fun statement necklace. I also have worn mine under light sweaters, with a pencil skirt. I've seen them worn under sheath dresses, but I'm not fully on board with that idea. They work well as a neutral. For casual wear, I usually wear them with colored pants/jeans or over a maxidress.

[Maura]

I have a chambray shirt. I once wore it with darker denim and wide brown belt when denim-on-denim was popular. I also wear it with khaki shorts and white tank underneath. I like it mainly because it is comfy.

[kakaty]

Nope. Chambray shirts are straight up 1993. Won't do it and will internally laugh when I see one in the wild (just a as I still laugh at leggings - way too '80s for me). I will, however, give exceptions for Chambray dresses, as I think that's a whole different look.

[Mama Bub]

It wasn't until you mentioned it that I had a flashback of college when one of the sorority rush nights required everyone to wear a denim shirt with black pants. Do you remember when "black pants" were the way to describe an outfit? "What are you wearing tonight?" "Black pants, probably."

Anyway, I thought it would be cute with white shorts for summer, but never ended up buying one. What I REALLY don't understand are the ones that tie at the waist. Nope. Not happening.

[Steph]

I'm actually the opposite, I'm not a big denim fan (for anything other than jeans) but I love chambray! My rule is (and this is the same with denim jackets for me!) to wear it, but not with any other denim! It looks either too matchy matchy if it's the same shade, and if they're different shades it just looks too 90s for me. I have a long shirt/tunic that is made in chambray, and I wear it with leggings (it's long enough) and boots in the winter. I also have a chambray shirt I wear with white shorts in the summer. I actually just pinned this on pintrest:
http://pinterest.com/pin/86061042849785545/
which gives you tons of cute ideas to wear chambray!

[Manda]

I recently got a chambray shirt and I wear it with my colored skinny jeans, white linen pants or shorts. NOT with jeans, I think it looks awkward!