I know it's been done - but shirts ...

[cherryblossoms]

Hello mn style and beauty, I would love your advice.

I was on Hampstead Heath the other day and saw a young women looking really great in a casual shirt and jeans. She really was looking casual sexy in a way I dream of (and never achieve).

It was worn over the jeans, sleeves rolled up a little and was about mid-hip length. It went very well with ruffled blonde highlights. (A cliche perhaps, but hey, it became a cliche because I suppose it works.)

Shirts are a bit out of my comfort zone (they require ironing! Forward planning!) so I know nothing, nothing, nothing about them.

I've looked at a few websites, but it was daunting.

So: What is the key thing to look for in a casual but casually alluring shirt? What material? What pattern? What style? How tight?

And crucially; where to find it?

Basically, I think I'm asking you to lead me through an NVQ in shirts. Please help.

It really depends on your body shape, but it has to fit properly.

Hmm. It was fairly close-fitting on this woman, so I can see what you mean about fitting (which I guess means trying on).

I can see that this particular quest is going to be Hard Work - I shall be making up for years of having ignored shirts, whilst others were Experimenting and Trying Things On.

I have a fairly average sort of shape.

Have to nip off to sort out the kitchen. Will return.

this kind of thing?

this is cheaper

more blousey but lovely in green.

I like that green one!

In my opinion, you really shouldn't wear jack wills clothes unless you are under 25, tall, slim and leggy (and daddy foots the bill).

My sister has some lovely checked shirts from topshop and gap.

Hello again.

Sorry about the disappearance - I nipped off to the kitchen, returned via the bedroom, where I thought I'd have a ten minute lie-down - and fell deeply asleep!

Thank you for the pointers. I must say, I'm a bit mystified how to get "the look" just by looking at the items on the websites. The ones you ladies linked to are v. attractive but perhaps slightly less fitted and brighter than what I had in mind. So thank you, I think it's really helping to set parameters on the search. And also help build up a list of where to go.

Overmydeadbody - I think you're right about fit, which does mean trying on. I think I need to arm myself with a list and go hunting (sigh).

Any more suggestions about where I should go looking?

Gap can be good for white shirts, if you are in London, then Banana Republic on Regent st is worth a visit.

In fact, if you are in London spend a few hours in Selfridges and you will find what you are looking for.

Shirts are like jeans, very diffucult to buy on the internet, you really need to try them on.

I saw a girl yesterday at an Art fair, wearing jeans, converse and a raincoat, but the particular cut of the jeans, and the gorgeous shade of blue, and the heavyweight fabric and cut of her coat, made her one of the most stylish women in the building, even though most of the women there had made an "effort", this girl really stood out.

So, what I mean is, cut and fabric is everything, and you can't judge those from your laptop.

this is perfect with jeans and a little vest top under it.

casual but cute

this would look lovely with deep blue jeans,maybe a white vest under it?

macherie - will follow your advice and head off to Oxford St (and Regent St) first available shopping day! Fantastic advice. Rather wish you could come with me.

naomi83 - thank you. Looking at your selections (which were lovely, btw) I have reached a rather shocking insight - I think the look I'm after is very (how do we say this without making me cringe in shame?) ... erm ... "blonde highlights". [checks self - yes - am cringing].

h&m are good for shirts ime - they do a lot of basic colours and are nicely fitted, usually with a bit of stretch. they also do cute indie type printed ones if you want something a bit less work-y. only problem you may have is length, their standard shirt may be a bit shorter in the body than you're after.

Cherryblossoms, I wish I could come too