The classic white shirt is a wardrobe staple.
Its simplicity makes it elegant, versatile and chic. But, not all white shirts are created equal. That’s right, there’s more to wearing a white shirt than meets the eye! Gone are the days of staid and stiff shirts that only had their place in a corporate world. There are so many white shirts of varying length, cut, style, detailing and fabrics that can add subtle or significant twists to your outfit.
The beauty of a white shirt lies in its versatility. With a few tweaks to your outfit, a white shirt can take you from office wear to weekend wear and everything in between. On those days when you’re struggling to decide what to wear or you can’t quite find the right out outfit for an occasion, a white shirt will be a trusty faithful that will see you through. Whether you wear yours tailored and tucked in, oversized, tied at the waist, with the sleeves rolled up, or even open over a bathing suit – there are so many ways to style the white shirt.
With so many gorgeous shirts to choose from, you’ll likely want a couple of options at hand in your wardrobe. When selecting a new white shirt you want to choose one that flatters your body shape and complements your existing wardrobe, so you know you’ll get plenty of wear out of it.
Check out this great vid with our styling expert, Jenni, as she takes you through four easy ways to wear a white shirt.
Now that you’ve seen a few great options that look hot this season, where can you get wear out of them? Here are a few places where the white shirt is right at home:
Corporate power player
It goes without saying that the white shirt is an excellent office attire go-to. Smart and tidy, a freshly pressed white shirt pairs perfectly with a range of wardrobe pieces. Tuck it it with tailored pants and pencil skirts or leave tuxedo shirt tails loose over slim fitting trousers. Finish off with a tailored blazer and you have a super-smart look. Turn sleeveless dresses into work-appropriate winter outfits but wearing your white shirt underneath your dress. For those more casual work environments, a white shirt still has it’s place. Loosely roll sleeves and pair with jogger-style pants, slim-fit black jeans or ponte pants.
Easy weekend living
You would have seen in the video how great a simple loose-fitting white shirt looks either tucked into your favourite pair of casual jeans, or hanging loose with the sleeves rolled up. It’s light and comfortable enough to wear when you’re dashing between weekend coffee dates, kids’ sports and the shops! When the weather is warmer, try your white shirt unbuttoned with a colourful tank top underneath. Leave the tails loose or tie them in a knot at your waist. Match with a pair of cut-off denim shorts or cargo shorts and you have a great summer casual look nailed down.
Evening glam
Despite its simplicity, a white shirt can form part of a super glam outfit for a night out. The shirt with cut-out shoulders is a great option here. Add some leather look trousers on the bottom and a pair of strappy heels or closed toe stilettos and you’ve transformed your look into an edgy outfit with so little effort. Go for a daring red lip and you’ll be sure to turn heads.
Summertime companion
Really proving it’s worth, the simple white shirt can even be used throughout summer as a cool and comfortable way to cover up at the beach. Leave your light cotton white shirt open over your bathing suit to give your skin some relief from the sun while you’re at the beach or by the pool. Throw it over simple slip dresses as the sun drops and the evening gets cooler, or pair with a cute pair of shorts when you’re out and about.
There you have it – as you can see, you certainly can’t go wrong with having a couple of shirt options in your wardrobe as easy go-to pieces for a range of occasions. Often overlooked as being plain, a white or cream shirt can be anything but!
So, which look will you be going for?
