The White Shirt: A Staple

CRISP. CLEAN. CLASSIC. CHIC.

What is the right white shirt for you?
How do you find the white shirt that is most flattering and appropriate for your body and that expresses your style best? There are many different Elements to the design and style of a white shirt. To wade through these elements you must first know what situations you would be wearing the white shirt in, secondly take your body type into account to find the style that fits your body best, and finally think about the details on the garment itself.
The Design elements:
• The collar, particularly, should be proportionate to your body and face. Think about the size of the collar in proportion to your facial features and your shoulders, the width of the collar compared to your jaw line and neck length. In general, a squarer face can wear a wider collar and a oblong face works better in a narrow collar. In terms of style; the more angular the collar shape the more dramatic it will be, the softer the shape the more feminine the style will be.
• Sleeves are a very important design element, especially now. A sleeve with a bit of volume at the shoulder can create added stature, but too much volume can make you look like a football player or simply cartoonish. Extra volume at the bottom of the sleeve will add width to the hips; great for someone with narrow hips but may be too much for a fuller hipped individual. The length of sleeve should also be taken into consideration as it can have considerable influence on the garments wear ability.
• The simpler the design, the more versatile the garment will be in your wardrobe. Extra “stuff” can also be distracting. So think carefully about all those ruffles, puffs, pockets, buttons and bows: they may be cute, fun or trendy, but how useful will they be for your wardrobe?
• Ruching, where the material is gathered together to create a rippled effect, is generally an amazing design element for hiding unflattering curves. Occasionally, ruching has been known to work against you, so try the shirt on before you purchase it, or at least before you wear it to a must-look-great occasion!
• Look at the seams and darts on the garment, the more there are the more fitted it will be. If you want an easier fit, go for less construction, if you want something to fit close to the body in a flattering way, the more structure the more shape you will get. Vertical seams tend to be more flattering then horizontal ones. Be careful of darts; if they fall at the correct curves on your body they are terrific, if they fall at the wrong place they will make you look awkward.
There are many elements to consider when choosing a great white shirt. The right one will be the most useful garment in your wardrobe, the wrong one can pull your style down. If you are feeling overwhelmed, but know that a white shirt is what your wardrobe is missing, think about getting professional advice, it can really help.
What design details do you think work for you best?