Saturday, November 6, 2010

The white shirt

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When it comes to classic fashion, the white shirt -- clean, crisp and timeless -- is hard to beat.
The book "The Classic Ten" by Nancy Macdonell Smith places the white shirt among the Top 10 wardrobe staples.
"They are so versatile, and they offer so many different looks," says Liliane Richa, a personal shopper at Dillard's at Beachwood Place. You can flip the collar up or wear it flat, for example. For daytime, you can wear them on their own or under a jacket or sweater.
But also, as Richa recalls, "Remember when Sharon Stone wore one to the Oscars with a formal full skirt?"
Audrey Hepburn famously wore a man's white shirt tied in the back to show off her tiny waist, but we have many more and better options now.
While white shirts always have been a crucial part of a woman's wardrobe, the infusion of stretch has rocketed them even higher on the list of go-to items.
Stretch has also made them more of a stand-alone piece -- especially when they can be worn over pants or a skirt, without being tucked in.
"A white shirt has a much neater look if it has stretch," says Dixie Lee Davis, director of Saks' Fifth Avenue Club. "And it stays neat and smooth from morning till night."
So, women can look as fresh at the end of a day as at the beginning, which isn't the case with a lot of clothes we wear.
Gailmarie Fort, an image consultant at Nordstrom at Beachwood Place, says the enduring appeal of the white shirt is simply this: "It's fresh, useful and modern."
White doesn't stay white forever, so be prepared to buy some new white shirts when your old ones start to wear at the collar or get dingy. The good news is that this makes it easier to stay in style, as shirt silhouettes are constantly evolving.




8 comments:

Filipa Sousa said...

The white shirt is really a must-have...I have severals...but I always need one more ;)

Filipa

http://oblogdalipa.blogspot.com

noura. said...

i actually have no white shirts. i need some!

Anonymous said...

I have a bunch of white shirt but I never wear them because I"m really top heavy and for that reason I almost always wear black!
BTW, the balenciaga in my latest post is the 1st. But I also have the city which is my absolute favorite bag!
Hope you're having a great Sunday!

onlycoolcats said...

Flippa and Noura: I also have a few, but still chasing the perfect one:)

Emmy: City is a classic and definitely must-have bag.
I have a Part-time and Day, but wouldn't mind to possess City:)

yanqin said...

Such beautiful images. I didn't use to appreciate white shirts, until I bought my first that fit the way I liked and ever since then I've been a convert.

onlycoolcats said...

Thanks a lot Lin:)

agakry said...

black/white combination always works - even for pregnant belly :)
http://niemamconasiebie.blogspot.com/2010/10/b-c.html

Fashion Tidbits said...

it's my number one of all number ones! :) i am always on the hunt for white shirts