Diane Parente, AICI, CIP

THE WHITE SHIRT – A STAPLE
What design details do you think work best for you?

How do you wear and accessorize your white shirt?

A great white shirt can add style to a simple pair of trousers or skirt: it can jazz up jeans or be the perfect underpinning for a sophisticated suit.  How do you use the white shirt to your best advantage with your existing wardrobe, and how do you maximize the shirt to get as many looks as you can with the single piece?

• Remember that white is a neutral, so it goes with as much as black does. But, also take into account that, like black, white is not always the best color to wear close to the face. This is easily taken care of by finding an off-white shirt or adding accessories in flattering colors between your face and the white. A white shirt will have style on its own, so by simply adding jewelry, you can change the look and keep the style.
• The white shirt always works under a great jacket, although you should be careful of collar clashes here; make sure the two collars work with each other and not against each other. But if you are bored with the jacket and blouse routine, try a suit-inspired vest over the white shirt for a smart and stylish look.
• While the white shirt works well acting like a top under a piece, it can also be worn over another piece acting like a jacket because it has structure. During warmer weather, it’s a good alternative to wear a crisp white blouse over a camisole as a jacket. This look can be altered with a belt as well. If you are a fan of the sweater set, but find the cardigan too hot at times, try wearing a classic white shirt over the shell instead. It will still have a polished appearance, but will be much cooler.
• Take that same sweater set and put the cardigan over the white shirt. This is also quite professional looking because the shirt adds structure, but tends to be less restricting and lighter than a jacket. The V-neck sweater also works well over the collared classic white shirt. Again the shirt adds structure without a jacket, and you can add a belt to this ensemble as well.
• Belts are another fun way to wear your white shirt. The shirt is a blank canvas and, depending on the belt, you can create an edgy or sophisticated look, or something with a feminine touch.
• The other simple but classic way to wear a white shirt is with a gorgeous scarf tied around the neck. Lay the scarf under the collar like a man’s necktie, or you can open up the shirt a bit and wear the scarf around your neck with a bow for a French-inspired style. One of the most creatively stylish women I’ve ever known would drape a scarf around her neck under a structured blouse so the scarf resembled a shawl-collared top.

A crisp white blouse can add structure to a soft knit such as a cardigan, while a tunic can add easy style to a pair of jeans, and a wrap white blouse can take a plain black trouser into a sophisticated and understated look.  So if this is overwhelming, and you are having trouble getting out of the white-shirt box you may be in, a professional could help you break free and begin wearing the great white shirt to its maximum!