My Sister's Closet: Selvedge Chambray

In these lazy days of summer, I always admire my sister's casual elegance. Her style is one that vacillates between prep and boho without fully subscribing to either camp (after all, Warner girls refuse to be put in a box). Think: seersucker shorts with flowing tops and flat sandals. It is this very inclination towards beach chic made her latest fashion "must," the Selvedge Chambray Shirt from J. Crew, a rather natural selection.

Growing up, our mother always told us (as most do) to never to judge a book by its cover, and this shirt is no exception. What may look like rough denim is actually Japanese selvedge cotton(the crème de la crème), and J. Crew stonewashes theirs to add that coveted broken-in look and feel. If you've been into J. Crew lately, then you may be surprised that you somehow missed this gem. Don't be; it's a catalog/internet exclusive--and utterly irresistible. As Annie pointed out, this shirt definitely falls into the "boyfriend" category, plus classic J. Crew tailoring and fit.

For ideal impact, the J. Crew stylists were right on, pairing the soft coastal blue shirt with a bright pop! of color on the bottom. While they picked yellow, I think that nothing would be better than a bold, lobster orange. However, if subtlety is the name of your game, you could do white on the bottom and then add a skinny neon belt in orange or pink for the right amount of zing.

At the end of the day, however you match your colors, don't miss out to make your closet look like my sister's. Annie redefines classic in a way that could make any girl jealous. So don't hate her 'cause she's beautiful; steal her style instead!





Images, in order of appearance: (1) Selvedge Chambray Shirt $98, from J. Crew (www.jcrew.com); (2) Classic Belt in neon orange $29.50, also from J. Crew.