The Power of the Classic White Shirt

In a closet full of season-specific trends, the classic white dress shirt is the great equalizer, the bottom line, the very definition of a wardrobe staple. At times the personality of a white shirt seems virtually infinite. Paired easily with anything from boyfriend jeans to printed trousers or a ball skirt, it instantly adds a touch of cool masculinity. A classic cotton shirt can look crisp and tailored. Change the fabric to silk or sheer organza, and the look is instantly dressier, sexier – a menswear-inspired fashion at its most feminine.

It is a timeless, ageless piece that gives a woman that chic masculine/feminine vibe that has proven to be irresistible. The classic white shirt became a trend in the Forties thanks to the stars of Hollywood: in 1938, Kathryn Hepburn wore it in Holiday; Ava Gardner wore a short-sleeved model with wide shorts and lipstick, followed by Lauren Bacall in Key Largo in 1948. In the Fifties, it took Audrey Hepburn to make the shirt with rolled sleeves and lifted collar iconic: she was a princess hanging around with Gregory Peck; those were her Roman Holidays.

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Styling your white shirt is easy – loose shirts can be worn over an undershirt or a camisole instead of a jacket. Untucked, they can hide a bulky waistline or give modesty and shelter from the sun to a skimpy bathing suit. Tucked in or worn under a jacket, they take a back seat to the perfect suit.

When is a shirt not a shirt? When it’s too pretty or feminine to betray much of its historical roots as men’s clothing – in other words, when it’s a blouse.

Shop the Look

Talbots Perfect Shirt

Talbots Perfect Shirt, $79.50

Cece Texture Ruffle Sleeve Top

Cece Texture Ruffle Sleeve Top, $69

Hotouch Womens 3/4 Sleeve Basic Button Down Shirt

Hotouch Women’s 3/4 Sleeve Basic Button-Down Shirt, $19.99+

Reiss Fernanda Zip Polo

Reiss Fernanda Zip Polo, $145

Theory Fitted Shirt in Stretch Silk

Theory Fitted Shirt in Stretch Silk, $225

COS Regular Fit Utility Shirt

COS Regular Fit Utility Shirt, $99

Petite Mixed Media Pleat Front Top

Petite Mixed Media Pleat Front Top, $59.50

Misook Sleeveless Stretch Cotton Button-Down Shirt

Misook Sleeveless Stretch-Cotton Button-Down Shirt, $158

 

Joie Naro Short Sleeve Shirt

Joie Naro Short Sleeve Shirt, $96.60

Treasure and Bond Dobby Classic Shirt

Treasure and Bond Dobby Classic Shirt, $59

Amazon Essentials Women's Classic-Fit 3/4 Sleeve Poplin Shirt

Amazon Essentials Women’s Classic-Fit 3/4 Sleeve Poplin Shirt, $23.90

Reiss Campbell relaxed fit shirt

Reiss Campbell relaxed fit shirt, $180

JCREW Classic-fit cozy gauze shirt

JCREW Classic-fit cozy gauze shirt, $89.50

Rails Savannah Short-Sleeve Collared Shirt

Rails Savannah Short-Sleeve Collared Shirt, $148

Liverpool Oversize Classic Button-Up Shirt

Liverpool Oversize Classic Button-Up Shirt, $68

Amazon Essentials Women's Classic Fit Puff Short Sleeve Crewneck T-Shirt

Amazon Essentials Women’s Classic-Fit Puff Short Sleeve Crewneck T-Shirt, $15.20

Free People Double Cloth Buttondown Shirt

Free People Double Cloth Button-down Shirt, $198

Lucky Brand Women's Long Sleeve Button Up One Pocket Classic Shirt

Lucky Brand Women’s Long Sleeve Button Up One Pocket Classic Shirt, $44.80

Reiss Eddie T Shirt

Reiss Eddie T-Shirt, $65

Theory Shirt in Good Cotton

Theory Shirt in Good Cotton, $275

COS Smocked Short Sleeve Shirt

COS Smocked Short Sleeve Shirt, $89

120 Lino Embellished Mandarin-Collar Drawstring Bottom Poet Shirt

120% Lino Embellished Mandarin-Collar Drawstring Bottom Poet Shirt, $399

Bash Pepa Safari Shirt

Ba&sh Pepa Safari Shirt, $115

Thom Browne Classic Oxford Button-Down Shirt

Thom Browne Classic Oxford Button-Down Shirt, $440

Brunello Cucinelli Short-Sleeve Poplin Shirt

Brunello Cucinelli Short-Sleeve Poplin Shirt, $1,095

JCREW Classic-fit washed cotton poplin shirt

JCREW Classic-fit washed cotton poplin shirt, $79.50

Banana Republic Flutter-Sleeve Top

Banana Republic Flutter-Sleeve Top, $54.99

Ann Taylor Shirred Split Neck Top

Ann Taylor Shirred Split-Neck Top, $49.99

Read Next:

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34 Best White T-Shirts for Mature Women

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