Untucked, unbuttoned, with the sleeves torn off.
Be sure to button down that collar, tho. Looks tacky otherwise.
I think that might be tremorviolet herself.
I wish. I’m the obviously sunburned redhead in the group photo. The doll is my friend Amy and she’s gorgeous and the most amazing flirt. (recently single too, broke up with her boyfriend 'cause he went to a DuranDuran concert behind her back…)
WOW! I hadn’t checked the group photo. **tremorviolet **, you’re gorgeous!
I’m just sayin’.
Hmmm… one thing we must bear in mind, a lot of the untucked shirts we see out and about are designed to be casual or going-out shirts, as opposed to dressed-down officewear. Too business-dressy a shirt, and yes we will look herby trying to “hang loose” in it. Now, a nice button-down oxford or chambray that can go from boardroom to playroom, that’s a valuable piece of clothing. When I “casual up” one of my button-down oxfords I do one of the following:
alt. (a): untucked, cuffs up but not rolled to the elbow, worn as if it were a light jacket, unbuttoned, over a nice high-quality looks-good-on-ya T-shirt or polo. Jeans or khakis. Mocs.
alt. (b): tucked, sleeves up, half-unbuttoned over good t-shirt. jeans. moccasins (or boots, if I’m in Texas 
).
alt. (c) as alt (a) but the shirt is mostly buttoned; over dark casual or going-out pants.
Needless to say, all this is dependent on whether you can carry the look, or don’t give a hoot. Some people should not hang too loose.
Not pressed or starched, sleeves undone, no tie.
I wear button-down shirts casually, nearly every day. I like button-down shirts. I’m a buttoned-down sort of fellow.
To me, it’s casual when I’m not wearing a tie. I would never consider walking around untucked, unless I was wearing a t-shirt. Ick.
I also don’t recommend what I did today: I got dressed in a hurry, went about my business, and then came home to discover that my fecking collar wasn’t buttoned down. That ain’t casual, that’s just not paying attention. :smack:
Second (third/fourth/?) wearing it over a T-shirt. Jeans (I personally, as a young whipperesnapper, think that loafers are a bit odd for a casual look), t-shirt (tucked or not, depends on what looks good on you), and the button-down over it - sleeves rolled or not, depending on the weather.
I disagree with this statement. As a teenager, I wear either brown or silver loafers nearly every day with my button down shirts when I am wearing shorts. This isn’t even an exception to your rule - I know of atleast one other (usually stylish) kid who wears loafers just like mine. There are more, too, I believe. Loafers are loafers.
Just unbutton the first couple of buttons and wear with either a black or white t-shirt underneath. Example (loafers non-evident). Pocket protector and white glasses optional.
Here’s what you do, pour some coffee on the front of your shirt, and then tuck only the very front of the shirt on the left side. Roll up the right sleeve to the elbow, and button the other cuff. Wear a pair of bright green shorts and a mismatched pair of sandals with athletic socks.
Actually, no wait, don’t do that.
When I wear button-up shirts in a non-dressy fashion, I usually tuck them into a pair of light-ish blue jeans (I don’t own any black jeans) or a pair of slacks (Khaki usually. Khaki makes everything casual). Depending on the weather, I’ll either leave the cuffs buttoned, or I’ll un-button them and roll them up just enough to conceal the “cuff gap” in the wrists. Wear sneakers, boots, or “sporty” dress shoes. Always unbutton the top one or two shirt buttons if you’re not wearing any kind of neck adornement. If you’re being casual, I’d not wear a tie, though a bolo could work depending on how well you can make a bolo work. Also, what kind of hat you wear, or IF you wear a hat, can affect the overall look too. If you want to go for the retro Newsies look, I’d try to find one of those beret-looking New York type hats from the 30’s or 40’s.
How can you wear a button-down shirt casually?
Easy. No pants.
I didn’t post in this thread earlier because I didn’t think all the advice would be so poor.
Tucked or untucked is fine for any place you can wear jeans. Tucked is a little more formal and looks better in a true dress shirt (as opposed to the striped or patterened button-downs that are clearly casual shirts) – on young men, untucked shirts that could legitimately be worn under suits can make you look like you’ve been rummaging through Daddy’s closet, especially if you’re still got your hair. (If you don’t have your hair, they can look like you’re desparately trying to conceal the fact that you’re an old gezer.)
Anywhere you can’t wear jeans (a nice downtown hotel bar, f’rinstance), you need to tuck in a dress shirt. (But again, if you’re out clubbing and you’re in one of those rainbow striped button downs that are popular right now, those can be untucked – and certainly should be.)
The above rules apply only to dress shirts with a button down collar. Point collars, spread collars, etc., cannot be worn casually because the collars don’t lie flat unless you’re wearing a tie. For god’s sake don’t leave the house with such a shirt unless you’re wearing a tie or children will laugh at you on the street.
–Cliffy
You’ve gotten lots of suggestions. Which one will work for you is something you’ll have to find out on your own. For another data point, here’s how I wear a dress shirt casually: White t-shirt underneath, top 2 buttons undone, sleeves rolled up, untucked. Brown leather shoes.
Just be sure that whatever you choose, look damn sexy when you get dressed
Harmonix: The site wouldn’t allow me to pm you, so I just thought I’d post this here. I’m a fifth year at UCD. I lurked until about 6 months ago, hence why you didn’t find out about me until now. 
If anyone takes away some advice from this thread, pray to OG that it’s this. All other in/out dark/light short/long plaid/tie dye etcs are secondary.
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Ah, no wonder. I was particularly interested because your typing style is very familar and made me think I actually knew you, but from your e-mail address I see that I don’t think I do.
In anycase, go 5th years! i’m entering mine too.
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I was actually expecting some shoe photos and was sorely disappointed.
Sorry, I included that photo 'cause it’s the only one that included the feet of the guys I’d referenced above as an example of wearing a button-down casually.
A lot depends on the cut of the shirt. Some shirts are cut to be tucked in, others can be worn in or out, as pointed out by audiobottle above. I often wear a buttondown dress shirt tucked in at work and then change from slacks to jeans and leave it untucked to go out with friends and family after work. With a t-shirt or tank top underneath depending on color/material and I’ll open up a few more buttons at the top, or leave it open all the way. A lot depends on your particular style and where you are going too. Today I’m wearing a nice pink dress shirt from Banana Republic with a white tank top underneath and khaki slacks. If I were going out to dinner after work with coworkers, I might undo an extra button and roll up the sleeves. Family, I might untuck the shirt, unbotton it and roll up the sleeves. Friends, I might change from slacks to a nice pair of jeans and leave it tucked in but with the sleeves rolled up and unbuttoned halfway. Don’t be afraid of trying stuff out. If it looks good someone will compliment you. Even if you look a little off, no one is going to call you out on it and make fun of you. They are just clothes.