A Story About a Shirt

What could be more chic Parisian than a classic white shirt?  When its color is French Blue of course!

I recently found a gorgeous instagram account called @A.Shirt.Story run by a woman with a million-dollar smile, Sasha Iglehart. I discovered through her profile that Sasha is an expert on button down shirts, having been a fashion editor with Glamour, Elle and Harper's Bazaar for 30 years.  These days she is helping to slow down the train towards total apparel waste and repurposing menswear into the item that every woman needs in her closet: the button down shirt.

Whether fitted or oversized, cropped or tunic length, white or a pop of color, the classic button down will always be a staple.  A Shirt Story takes gently loved shirts and frays the collar and cuffs, replaces the buttons with sparkly Swarovski gems, and wraps it all up in a neat little ribbon artfully made from recycled scraps of other shirts. I reached out to Sasha and asked her about sizing, and she was incredibly patient and helpful.  The solid blue (dare I call it French Blue?) that I finally chose with long sleeves is just so soft and pairs perfectly with a pair of cropped white jeans and Birkenstocks, tucked into wide legged black trousers and espadrilles, or on its own as a swimsuit coverup. I confess it is going to be my new favorite go-to for lazy August days on the back porch, sipping lemonade and looking at the lake.

Until I can get back to Paris, having fun styling this shirt will make me feel like the chic fashion editor, back at the shows, rushing from appointment to appointment in the bustle that is Paris Fashion Week, with maybe a time for a quick stop at a cafe in between for some much needed caffeine. Won't you come along with me on this journey and discover more Hidden Gems with Grace?