Want to know the ultimate item to give any outfit a smarter vibe? It’s… the iconic white shirt. Although white shirts have rightfully earned a place as a staple in many a capsule wardrobe, don’t think that ‘staple’ equals ‘boring’. This season some of the best styles – whether poplin, longline or oversized – have twists and tweaks that turn them into a clever mix of timeless and totally on-trend.
Nothing looks fresher as we head into spring (at last!) than a white shirt, unbuttoned low and tucked into high waisted pale jeans. Or, if you’re heading back to the office (we’re actually quite jealous of the dressing up opportunities) slip a white shirt under a blazer for a polished take on workwear. When we can finally head back to fancy parties, nothing looks more glamorous than a white shirt worn with wide leg sequin trousers, chandelier earrings and heels. We’re parking that outfit until June 21st.
Of course, the magic of wardrobe building blocks is that you can style them any way you like. We’ve been taking inspo, as ever, from the chicest gals on Instagram. Aida @basicstouch has a way with all sorts of shirts… we love the textures of a silkier shirt worn with a classic wool coat and the collar of a cotton shirt peeking out from under a crew neck. @daniellevanier did the tuck-untuck with high-waisted jet black denim while @lornaluxe goes for a super-sized menswear vibe, barely buttoned, from her own collection.
Our favourite white shirts to *add to basket* to create some fresh spring *lewks* include H&M’s elegant linen version and ASOS’ voluminous sleeve style. COS has a shirt with a chic wrap-over waist while Arket combines cream and white patches for an androgynous mood. If your budget goes as far as a designer investment and you’re more confident in managing a glass of red wine (or are handy with a stain removal pen) Gabriela Hearst’s divine crochet-trimmed style is ideal with shorts or Bottega Veneta’s slightly stretchy style makes for the perfect office outfit.
