Essentiel Antwerp Kreative Oversized Shirt in Blue

The blue striped shirt has been deconstructed, oversized and generally Essentiel-ed. Much better.

The Essentiel Antwerp Kreative Oversized Shirt in Blue is a women’s oversized striped cotton shirt in light blue, off-white and black. Made from 100% organic cotton, it uses softly rounded panel seams to play with the direction of the stripes, while dropped shoulders, a chest pocket and subtle volume through the sleeves create that deliberately exaggerated Essentiel Antwerp silhouette.

And then there’s the detachable brooch, which can be used to fasten the shirt asymmetrically when you’re feeling less conventional.

This is why we buy Essentiel. A blue striped shirt you probably already own. This blue striped shirt? Almost certainly not.

Why it made the cut

• The light blue, off-white and black stripe is incredibly easy to wear but doesn’t feel remotely corporate.
• Rounded panel seams change the direction of the stripes and give the shirt its deconstructed look.
• It’s properly oversized, rather than simply cut a little loose.
• The detachable brooch lets you change the shape and wear it asymmetrically.
• 100% organic cotton keeps all that volume crisp rather than floppy.
• It makes jeans you’ve owned for five years feel interesting again. Always a good sign.

How to wear the Kreative Oversized Shirt

Blue denim absolutely works—even with the blue stripe. Add loafers, a black bag and pushed-up sleeves and leave the shirt to do its thing.

We’d also wear it with the Essentiel Antwerp Kudzu ¾ Length Leggings in Black. The narrow cropped leg is a brilliant counterbalance to all that volume on top.

Or take it into smarter territory with wide-leg black trousers, a half tuck and a great shoe.

How do you style an oversized blue striped shirt? Contrast the proportions. Slim or cropped trousers make the oversized shape the focus; high-waisted denim with a partial tuck adds definition; or embrace the whole Essentiel thing and wear it loose with wide-leg trousers.

There are no prizes for making an oversized shirt look smaller.

Fit & actual product measurements

The Kreative is specifically designed for an oversized fit, with dropped shoulders and extra volume through the sleeves. Essentiel’s model is 178cm tall and wears a size S.

That 49-inch chest in a size S gives you a much better idea of the fit than the label does. This is intentionally generous.

Essentiel Antwerp UK size conversion

A BWD note on Essentiel sizing: Essentiel Antwerp is known for its oversized silhouettes, so don’t get too hung up on the number on the label. In its deliberately oversized styles, a nominal UK 4 can often work beautifully on someone who would usually wear a UK 8. The Kreative is very deliberately oversized, so sizing down is absolutely worth considering if you want less volume.

For exact size advice please give us a call on 01625 528454.

Details

• Women’s oversized striped shirt by Essentiel Antwerp
• Light blue / off-white / black
• 100% organic cotton
• Midweight, non-stretch fabric
• Intentionally oversized fit
• Dropped shoulders
• Rounded panel seams
• Button-through fastening
• Buttoned cuffs
• Chest pocket
• Detachable brooch for asymmetric styling
• Machine washable

Care

Essentiel Antwerp confirms the Kreative is machine washable. We’d wash it cool with similar colours, reshape while damp and air dry to keep the cotton and those exaggerated proportions looking their best.

Proof that you can, in fact, justify buying another blue striped shirt. Essentiel has thoughtfully made this one completely different from all the others.