Decorate with a neckerchief, and in the mirror it’s Princess Anne from Roman Holiday. Tie it at your waist and look like Vivian from Pretty Woman. Accessorize with stiletto heels—the spitting image of Carrie from Sex and the City. And there is actually only one main character here – a white shirt. A little thing that you can wear anywhere for years if you know how to choose it and how to care for it.
White shirt on the shoulders of great women
It’s probably hard to believe that the history of such a basic item in a woman’s wardrobe began with a scandal. The French Queen Marie Antoinette once decided to pose for the artist Elisabeth Vigée-Le Brun in a white cotton blouse dress. What may seem like a very cute everyday outfit to us, was literally underwear for the society of that time. The Queen posing, one might say, in her underwear – what manners! The public was shocked, and Marie Antoinette became one of the first womenwho tried on the ancestor of the women’s white shirt.
Despite the queen’s trick as a trendsetter, women (especially noble ones) began to wear a white shirt much later. In the 20th century, fashion designer Coco Chanel bravely broke gender boundaries in clothing, offering men’s shirts instead of uncomfortable corsets and bodices. After that, the fashion could no longer be stopped. White shirts were worn in everyday life by many celebrities, such as Marlene Dietrich and Marilyn Monroe.
Gradually, the white women’s shirt seeped into cinema. Audrey Hepburn wore an A-line shirt and skirt in the movie Roman Holiday. Julia Roberts in the movie “Pretty Woman” smiled at the audience wearing a men’s shirt tied at the waist. And of course, how can one not remember that very fitted white shirt of Uma Thurman from “Pulp Fiction”. “Dirty Dancing,” “Annie Hall,” “Friends,” “Sex and the City” are just part of the list from which fashionistas copied looks with a white shirt.
Why everyone needs a white shirt
For some, the white shirt remains a nightmare from childhood, when at school they were forced to wear “white top, black bottom.” Such a strict directive cemented the poor shirt in the category of a boring uniform. But now we have matured and can wear it not because the charter dictates so, but because it is almost the best fashion investment.
Firstly, a white shirt is the basis of a basic wardrobe. It can be worn anywhere and any way: to the beach, for a walk, to the office, to a party. And a white shirt and jeans are the very salvation when you have ten minutes before leaving the house, and you don’t know what to wear. Fashion icons Caroline Bisset-Kennedy and Princess Diana have chosen this combination more than once and looked wonderful every time.
Secondly, a white shirt is literally a blank slate and a limitless field for experimentation. Wear with a belt, turning it into a dress. Tie over the lace slip. Decorate with a knitted vest with an animal print. Imagine any outfit, and with almost one hundred percent (almost!) probability a white shirt will fit into it.
How to choose a white shirt
By material
Cotton is perhaps the most versatile fabric. In a cotton shirt you can go to a feast, to the world, and to good people. It is usually dense enough so that nothing shows through, yet it allows air to pass through and does not stand like an airplane wing.
A white linen shirt will come in handy in the hot summer. The fabric wicks away moisture well, and it is also dense enough to create an air gap between clothing and the body. Linen dries quickly, and you can wash it either in a machine or by hand. There are also disadvantages. The fabric wrinkles a lot, and only those who do not suffer from perfectionism can wear a linen shirt. Plus, pure linen is not a cheap pleasure.
The “expensive-rich” option is silk. It allows air to pass through, flows beautifully over the body and gives the shirt an exquisite glossy shimmer. But a white silk shirt costs a lot of money, requires careful care, and it is very easy to spoil the delicate fabric.
Treat a white satin shirt with caution – it is a synthetic fabric, which is also easily stained by sweat and any other liquids. In general, it’s not worth spending money on a synthetic shirt. One hundred percent polyester feels unpleasant on the body and will not last long. Although this is a fairly cheap material, here the stingy pays twice.
By color
Perhaps you haven’t found the perfect white shirt yet because you haven’t found the right shade. Yes, yes, a white shirt comes in different colors, no matter how paradoxical it may sound. It comes in ivory color (also known as ivory), boiling white, with a gray, blue or purple tint. Each shade brings out different skin tones in its own way.
In online shopping, insidiousness is also hidden in the different color renditions of gadgets. If you don’t know which shade of white shirt suits you, it’s better to close the online store tab and try on several options offline.
According to form
If you prefer a more androgynous style and worship oversize, choose a white straight-fit shirt. Perhaps even one or two sizes larger. In this case, you can always roll up your sleeves. This shirt will be more versatile: you can wear it with a swimsuit to the beach or with classic trousers to the office. And you can look for it not only in the women’s department, but also in the men’s department. Well, another option is in your partner’s closet. But we didn’t tell you that!
A fitted shirt is a little more capricious when it comes to going out, however, it has its advantages. This shirt is easier to tuck into trousers or jeans; it makes the look more collected. The main thing is to choose a shirt that fits. The shoulder seam should not cut into the skin and restrict the movement of the arms. Cuffs – approximately at wrist level. There should be enough space in the chest area. If the buttons in this area are holding on with all their strength, it is better to try on a shirt one size larger.
You don’t have to limit yourself to just the classic shape of a white shirt. Look at models with an unusual cut: with additional accessories, non-standard sleeve shapes, deconstructed tailoring, with inserts and appliqués. Such a white shirt will turn even ordinary blue jeans into a haute couture outfit.
How to care for a white shirt
Gone are the days when a shirt had to be starched until crisp. But she still needs attention, because a white shirt is a real magnet for stains. Even if you’ve successfully navigated glasses of wine, long-lasting lipsticks and green lawns, it may still develop some nasty yellow stains from sweat. Here are a few rules that will help extend the life of your white shirt.
Treat stains as quickly as possible
The longer the stain stays on the clothing, the more difficult it will be to remove. If, as luck would have it, there is not even a toilet nearby to wash the stain, use an alcohol-based antiseptic that has been lying around in your purse since 2020. He will provide first aid to a white shirt. If you notice a stain already at home, apply a stain remover to it. Wait 10-15 minutes, lightly rub the stained area and wash the shirt. This is standard procedure for stain removers, but it doesn’t hurt to read the instructions for your specific product.
From improvised means might suit paste of baking soda and water. It should be applied to the stain and left overnight before washing. After this, the white shirt should be washed on a gentle cycle at 30 °C.
Pay attention to cuffs and collars. Dirt and makeup residues like to accumulate on them. So be sure to check them before washing.
Be careful with deodorants and Sanskrin
Lotions, body creams, sunscreens and deodorants will happily end up on a white shirt with nasty yellow spots and streaks. And the compositions of some deodorants leave traces of them practically irreducible. Therefore, wear a white shirt when all your body products have dried.
Wash wisely
The golden rule of washing is to read the instructions on the clothing label. This will already help extend the life of the shirt. But there are a few more details.
First, don’t add too much cleaning product. The ingredients in powders, gels and conditioners can not only clean to a shine, but also dull your white shirt. Also be careful with chlorine bleach. It does not always return the original whiteness, but it definitely thins the fibers of the fabric. The shirt will simply tear faster. Instead of chlorine advise adding In the wash, use regular baking soda.
If your washing machine supports extra rinse, use it for a white shirt. This will help remove any remaining foam, excess conditioner and stain remover. Reduce the chance of fabric fading.
Dry in the sun
The sun is nature’s true bleach. If it is better to keep colored things away from him, then a white shirt it will only get better from a generous portion of ultraviolet radiation. So, if possible, take white clothes to dry on the balcony or loggia. Bonus – a small contribution to the environment.
Store correctly
Clothing needs air circulation, and white clothes especially. Otherwise they might turn yellow quickly. Try not to store things in sealed plastic containers. Use textile boxes instead, which do not preserve clothes.