What’s Happening With ‘The White Shirt’?

Designers are interpreting the white shirt in different ways: from oversized collars to teaming them with ‘lehengas’

A model displays a creation by Burberry during their Autumn/Winter 2017 London Fashion Week Show (L), a creation by designer Payal Khandwala (M) and a piece by House of Milk (R). (Photo: AP/Payal Khandwala/LFW)

White has always held a special place in the mind of the aesthete. No matter what the colour of the season is, there is a high probability that white aficionados will ignore the chromatic suggestion and proudly display their freshest whites instead.

In fact, almost every style savvy celebrity, at some point or the other, has implored us to get ourselves that most vital basic: a crisp white shirt. And while we just love it, we are also looking for ways in which we can add some excitement and drama to the wardrobe staple. I mean, let’s be honest – we all love our LBD, but an LBD with a dramatic cut is just straight out of our deepest sartorial desires.

And so, we thought it would be interesting to find out what are the new and interesting design iterations being made to our beloved white shirt.

So let’s straight up go to Burberry, the doyen of British fashion. Christopher Bailey, chief creative and the man behind the brand’s recently concluded Autumn/Winter 2017 London Fashion Week show, added some Victorian flair to the white shirt for his presentation.

Victorian Fantasies

There were ruffles — lots and lots of them — on the collars, replacing even the shirt cuffs.

A model displays a creation by Burberry during their Autumn/Winter 2017 show as part of London Fashion Week in London, Monday, 20 February 2017. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Suzy Menkes, renowned fashion writer pointed how Bailey’s show focussed a lot on the shoulders. Even the cuffs were supersized. In an interview to Vogue, the ace designer was quoted as saying how he wanted to use clothes so as to visually alter the shape of the body by moving the seams and lines a bit, and styling the pieces in an unconventional way.

Devil is In The Details

It is truly amazing how small design interventions can lend a new definition to the classic white shirt. See how dramatic shoulders and a black collar just lift up the aesthetics of this look by Indian brand, The Circus.

White shirt with black collar by The Circus. (Photo Courtesy: The Circus)

Oversized Wonders

Keeping in mind the current trend for all things oversized, Koovs has come out with a cool shirt with front pocket detailing in black. Teamed with a pair of black trousers or a skirt, the look seems like a monochromatic wonder.

An oversized Shirt With Binding by Koovs. (Photo: Koovs)

Even for the men, a longline shirt looks quite stylish, and is a refreshing change from the usual shirts we are used to seeing.

A Cut And Sew Longline Shirt With Slit Pocket by Koovs. (Photo: Koovs)

Sheer Love

White is also such a great colour to experiment with the sheer trend. At the recently concluded Lakmé Fashion Week, the label House of Milk added some sheer to their white appliquéd shirt, and the outcome was pretty interesting.

A House of Milk creation unveiled at Lakmé Fashion Week. (Photo: LFW)

Drawstrings for a Casual Look

A creation by designer Armaan Randhawa for his label Ekam. (Photo: LFW)

Designer Armaan Randhawa adds a nice bit of detailing to the white shirt and the drawstring also helps keep the look casual.

White Shirts and Lehengas: Hell Yes

Since we all live and breathe a bit of India, this look by designer Payal Khandwala is just such a brilliant amalgamation of maximalism and minimalism.

A creation by designer Payal Khandwala. (Photo: Payal Khandwala)

A creation by designer Payal Khandwala. (Photo: Payal Khandwala)

A creation by designer Payal Khandwala. (Photo: Payal Khandwala)

A creation by designer Payal Khandwala. (Photo: Payal Khandwala)

Take a cue from Khandwala and just team up your gorgeous desi lehengas with your freshest whites. Safe to say, the world will take notice!