The White Shirt: Amping up a Classic
When I think of timeless elegance, it always evokes an image of Audrey Hepburn dressed in a classic white shirt. Seemingly forever, the women’s white shirt has remained a timeless staple, adored by many fashion designers, and coveted by many style celebrities. Whether you turn to it for an office-ready polished elegant look or a casual, cozy throw-on-with-a-pair-of-jeans look—it just works! Lately, however, I have noticed how this iconic staple is creatively reinventing itself with an unconventional and edgier style.
The major catwalks this spring, from New York to London and Milan to Paris, had one big common denominator—an inventive twist on the classic white shirt. Yes, the time has come to amp up both your office look and your sultry evening wear with this year’s new white shirt—offering so many exciting style possibilities.
Perhaps you’ll opt for the new relaxed fit with the cool, slouchy, crisp white shirts artfully designed with oversized sleeves, or the sheer white shirts designed to be worn as see-through silhouettes over a feminine bralette. Or perhaps your inner hippy wins you over, and you prefer the new retro style with 1970s inspired ruffles and long puffed sleeves with volume. It’s all about reinventing yourself, and the white shirt surely offer endless identities. Embrace a little cool-girl attitude during the day, and then amp up the sex appeal in the evening wearing white shirts with plunging necklines or long flowing shirts with short cropped fronts that tie at the waistline for a sleek peek-a-boo tease.
One of my favorite couture designers, Carolina Herrera, says that, “trends may come and go, but nothing will ever beat a white shirt.” She even launched an entire white shirt collection this spring using crisp white cotton to create eight styles. In this short film, Carolina’s daughter explains the power behind the iconic white shirt:
As for my favorite new trend? It’s got to be the added texture of laser cuts or eyelets on the classic button-down white shirt.
This look is so beautifully feminine with just the right amount of edgy attitude, presenting a modern style that looks equally smart whether worn with pants or skirts. One of our bestselling shirts at Coco Blanca this season, worn by our newest sales assistant, Hannah Ryan, happens to be in this very same style, available online or in our stores. ($145)
The white shirt needs little explanation, yet what fun it is to see this iconic fashion piece reinvent itself over and over—couture to everyday. “Timeless” never looked so good! And as Carolina Herrera adds, “You can wear [the white shirt] with anything. It’s the person and the way that they wear it that makes it different.”
- About the boutique
Using the soothing color palette of a coconut by the sea—whites, neutrals and splashes of turquoise—Coco Blanca has created a trademark look. Her lifestyle boutique offers expert solutions for home design and women’s fashion—blending a clean, fresh, sophisticated, feel-good style.
210 South Union Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.535.8002
1 Comment
i was actually just staring at two non-iron brooks brothers white collared shirts today thinking about the last time I wore them…couldn’t remember but also couldn’t bring myself to get rid of them…