For Kaia Gerber, Less is More When it Comes to Shirt Buttons

By Hannah Jackson

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All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something.

The best part about button-ups is their versatility. All that stands between an office-friendly shirt and an NSFW top fit for a night out is just a few little fasteners. Nobody seems to know this better than Kaia Gerber, who recently bet it all on a single button while enjoying lunch at the San Vicente Bungalows in West Hollywood.

The model and actor chose a brown short-sleeve top, which she paired with navy mid-rise cargo pants from Ciao Lucia, and her beloved teal Mary Janes. For her solo outing, she brought along her Museum of Peace & Quiet tote and a thin paperback. (Perhaps her next book club pick?) Gerber opted to leave all but one button on her sheer top undone, a look she rocks both on and off the runway; She recently opened Valentino’s fall 2023 couture show in a flowing, oversized blouse which came together just above the navel.

The model isn’t the only one who’s decided to play around with buttons lately. Katie Holmes has stepped out on multiple occasions this summer in various states of unbuttoning. In one blue long-sleeve, she left only the button just beneath the collar hooked, letting her shirt catch the breeze. On another outing, she left a tomato red short-sleeve blouse mostly unbuttoned, showing off her black undershirt. Laura Harrier also recently feminized an oversized Aerie button-down with tactful buttoning around the waist.

So, if you’re looking to change up your wardrobe, try fiddling with your buttons. While you may end up putting a lot of faith into a little clasp, the styling trick is high-risk, high-reward.

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Shop a selection of button-ups, below.

Nagar Lyocell shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Loewe

cropped striped shirt

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Loulou Studio

Mana cropped organic cotton-poplin shirt

NET-A-PORTER

J.Crew

cropped garçon shirt in stripe

J.CREW

Theory

Admiral crepe shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Everlane

The Short-Sleeve Box Shirt

EVERLANE

Anine Bing

Bruni voile shirt

NET-A-PORTER

The Frankie Shop

Lui oversized poplin shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Acne Studios

organic cotton-blend poplin shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Dries Van Noten

cotton shirt

MYTHERESA

NET-A-PORTER

Saks Potts

William striped cotton-poplin shirt

MATCHES

The Frankie Shop

Georgia twill shirt

MYTHERESA

NET-A-PORTER

Anine Bing

Mika shirt

REVOLVE

H&M

linen shirt

H&M

The Row

Sadie shirt

THE ROW

Khaite

Argo striped-satin shirt

MATCHES

Vince

cotton-poplin shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Everlane

tie back shirt

EVERLANE

Nili Lotan

Raphael cotton-poplin shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Camilla and Marc

Avani shirt

SSENSE

Remain Birger Christensen Nalia oversized shirt

NET-A-PORTER

FARFETCH

The Frankie Shop

Lui striped crêpe shirt

MYTHERESA

ATM Anthony Thomas Melillo

poplin oversized shirt

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Anine Bing

Braxton cotton-jacquard shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Burberry

striped silk pyjama shirt

BURBERRY

Gucci

cotton poplin shirt

GUCCI

Loulou Studio

Espanto oversized cotton-poplin shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Zara

striped crop shirt

ZARA

Beare Park

silk-satin shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Cos

oversized wool shirt

COS

La Ligne

shirt

MATCHES

Joseph

Joe shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Everlane

The Silky Cotton Way-Short Shirt

EVERLANE

Staud

Colton shirt

SHOPBOP

STAUD

Rag & Bone

Maxine cotton button-front shirt

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Frame

oversized striped shirt

FRAME

The Row

Brant cotton shirt

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

Ralph Lauren

Capri striped cotton-poplin shirt

NET-A-PORTER

Offline by Aerie

oversized crinkle button up shirt

AERIE