Would You Wear… a Knotted Button-Up Shirt?

AnnaLynne McCord, Rihanna and Kristen Cavallari in knotted button-up shirts. Photo Credit: 1, 2, 3
The knotted button-up shirt has come back from the 1990s! Who else remembers tying their tee-shirts into itty bitty tops like Britney Spears? This time around, however celebrities are wearing this look in a more classic way, often paired with high-waisted jeans or shorts.
Personally, I think the celebrities that are rocking this trend look fantastic. This style seems very laid back but chic. Wearing a tied button-up instead of a tee shirt creates a put-together and chic summer look that can also be classy. In fact, you hardly see any skin in the looks above!
Despite the celebs looking fantastic, I’m not sure if this trend will catch on with the average college girl – many girls will probably see this look and have bad ’90s flashbacks, while others may just be too scared to try it. However, if you’re brave enough to test this look out, you’ll score some major fashion points this season.
What do you think about knotted button-ups?
Would you wear this trend? Do you like the celebrity style looks above? What would you wear with a knotted button-up shirt? Leave a comment and let’s chat about it.
Posted on on June 21, 2011 / Filed Under: Would You Wear? / Tags: 1990s, Annalynne McCord, button-up, Celebs, knotted button-up, Kristen Cavallari, Rihanna, Shirts, Summer 2011, summer trend














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Aik0
I love this look! It’s great for any high-waisted bottom, since it’s often hard for me to get a smooth look with my shirt tucked in. I also like this look with tie-front t-shirts and at the beach to define my waist!
nicki
Would I?! Let’s just say my boyfriend thinks his shirts just magically go missing from time to time.
Emily
Already wear this loads! Great for a chic lazy day or out for lunch with a friend. I love to wear this look with skinny jeans and ballet flats or wedges.
Charli
I totally just rocked this last week and it looked great! I love this trend when done right!
Carly
Kristen Cavallari looks the best! Love the colors.
Alyssa Pritchett
I love how laid back and free spirited this look is! However, I would do my tie in a muted way like Rihanna. Im hoping this look will translate for fall.
Mariah
I did this last summer and will do it this summer too. I don’t have 90s flashbacks because I was a kid in the 90s and wore t-shirts instead of button-ups.
Ashley
I would definately wear it especially with the denim button down shirt.
Jill - Benedictine College
I just picked up a rockstar sleeveless red button down with ties already on at the thrift store! Can’t wait to wear it!
Sarah
I love this look! Although, it creates more bulk around the mid-section, I am still going to keep wearing my oxfords like this!
maria
I’m wearing one right now! lol
Jess
I’m going to try this with my denim button up. I want to try this with a white button up and black shorts as well. So casual and an easy way to get new uses out of tops you already have!
Catherine
I like the look in theory, and on the celebs, but I feel like if I actually tied up a shirt and wore high-waisted pants that I would look like I’d raided my mother’s closet…
Ana
Hahaha I’m Actually Wearing One RIGHT NOW Hahaha
I Love This trend! (:
Imani
I love the look on Kristin! I think it looks really wearable with the looser material. I may have to snag something similar!
Bee
just wore this look today :)
Danielle
i love this look worn all those ways, but i also think it looks adorable with a maxi skirt!
Phoebe
Lol I wear this like, every day! I’m even gonna wear it tonight
B
YES YES YES but where can i get one at a gd price?!
A Little Petite
I never really thought of this but I think all three of them pulled it off great! I might have to try it!
Cortney
I love this look! I just wish I owned button-ups. :( I can’t ever find any (have to go up a size for the chest, but then it looks shapeless/too much fabric everywhere else). Maybe tying it up would fix that problem?
Jasmine
I would definetly wear one. It’s an easy way to make a masculine shirt more fitted.
Kate
Darling! I love the hippie/carefree totally awesome spin on such a classic style.
Lovelovelove. It just screams bikerides and summer dates. :) Also would look adorable with a maxi skirt?
Whitney
too scared. Seems like it’ll pass shortly!
Rebecca H
I have a denim button up shirt that is way long that I tie up when I wear it over dresses but idk if I would wear it with pants or shorts.
Tanyah Banerjee
I would love to wear this trend. I liked AnnaLynne McCord. Rihanna is looking nice but I did not quite like the look of Kristen Cavallari. I think shorts would go best with a knotted button-up shirt.
Danyelle
I love this look. I wore one today actually, I wore a denim button up with a summer dress under!!!! I love the look with the high waited shorts, I’ll have to try that one.
Jessica - UCLA
Love this trend! I’ve been looking for a button up shirt for way too long and I’m getting more and more anxious to buy one after seeing so many people wear it like this.
claire
I often wear a knotted bottom up, knotted below the breast. But I wear a top underneath. It looks kinda betty page / fifties style, which I really like
lo
I was just thinking about doing this with a white gauze button down I just bought, and then I read this. I think I’ll go for it!
Emma
I would love to try this but I think it’s going to take a bit of extra effort to pull it off. It does look nice and laid-back when it’s done right, but I’ve yet to get into the high-waisted thing (I know it’s been around for ages, I have no excuse for this one!) and I think that it might look a bit weird without something high-waisted! Love it though, i’m getting quite a 40s/50s pin up vibe about this, like big curls, high-waisted skirt and a tied-up shirt, LOVE it though!
Haleigh
I don’t see how this look could scare anyone. Hello! Think of our pastel plaid button ups from last fall! They are probably sting for some use. I wore my pink plaid Hollister button up tied with the black body con skirts that have been so popular. I was wearing a bathing suit underneath though since I was on vacation :)
Gabby K.
I wore a men’s button up shirt tied at my waist above a patterned high waisted pencil skirt, also trying out a little bid of the bare midriff trend. It work our really well, I like it
Samantha
I have done this before, but I think it looks better if you leave a little bit of space between the shirt and the knot.
Marisa
I’m sorry, but I feel like this look was cool in primary school and it’s only cool for little girls to wear their shirts like this. Never gonna do that again. Ever!
Heather
I love this trend. Unfortunately none of my button downs are long enough. I’m still on the look out for one.
Cinneah
I love this trend! I have several knotted botton-up shirts and tee-shirts. I love to pair them with high-waist shorts and bandage skirts. It’s one of my favorite looks for summer!
Eva
I wear my shirts like that a lot! Over a skirt like in the third picture. Sometimes i buy a second hand shirt but it’s too large and this way you can make it fit and it looks cute i think.
Charlotte - University of Birmingham
this is so funny- i wore a tied shirt for the first time ever today!!
it made me feel like a pin-up girl!!
definitely going to be doing it a lot this summer with high waisted shorts and skirts.
Charlotte xx
Shanel
Yes! In fact, I wore a shirt-dress like that yesterday. The extra length made for a big, flamboyant knot, but the khaki color kept it from looking goofy. I wore it with rolled up jeans and plain sandals.
petagay
good article but where can i get these to purchase
Tara
i do this all the time! it never fails to impress the costumers that come into my store. they think i have “styling ability” but its SO SIMPLE!
Miriam
I just got back from a week long hiking trip across Germany and had to fit all of my stuff in one backpack. A button up shirt was a staple to my wardrobe- both while hiking and sightseeing later. Knotting my shirt defined my waist and made my clothes seem less baggy. Perfect for summer and the beach!
Wilberthe
I looove this look, and I’ve done it a few times! I personally think it looks the best on me when I pair it with a maxi skirt.
Cara
I love this look and wear it all the time I think it looks best over a cute dress
Sarah
I feel so on-trend because I did this back in April! Of course that was also at a Third Eye Blind concert…
Niamh
i think this wud look good with a high waisted maxi skirt, i can imagin a denim button up shit with a peach/pink high waisted maxi skirt and some cute shoes:)
Niamh
shirt!*** i meant SHIRT