The absolute wardrobe staple has to be a white shirt. It’s great for work dressed up with cigarette trousers, and at weekends over an A-line mini. But did you know there are a million (OK, five) more ways to wear it than you realised? We got creative with this basic Topshop pocket front shirt, the perfect item for when everything else is in the wash, or you can’t afford anything new pre-payday.
Off-the-shoulder
Who knew you could nail this season’s cold-shoulder trend with a shirt you’ve already got? Unbutton it to about halfway and slide the sides over your shoulders. This looks ace layered under a pinafore dress or dungarees (this one’s from ASOS).
Full tuck
This is what I like to call ‘Fuck-I’m-going-out-and-I-have-nothing-to-wear’ – it rolls off the tongue, eh? When you’re at work and suddenly there’s an opportunity to check out a cool new bar opening, simply tuck your white shirt under your bra all the way around, relaxing the sides and back to ensure it falls naturally. Now you have a crop-top showing the exact right amount of midriff and didn’t even have to change. Win!
Half-tuck
There’s no practical reason why you’d only tuck your shirt in on one side, and it’s probably one of those things you’ll look back on with horror. But it’s an easy way to mix up your look, and generally gives off that ‘thoughtfully un-done’ thing that all the street style girls are doing. To master the half-tuck, unbutton your shirt from the bottom to just above the waist of your jeans. Tuck one side in and blend the side by bunching the fabric so it sits naturally.
Skirt
This is where it gets interesting. A white shirt CAN be an excellent skirt replacement when everything’s in the wash. I tend to find it works well over a long white vest, so as to avoid any risk of see-through. To get it right, button up your shirt to halfway, or until you can get it over your hips. Slip on the shirt as if it’s a skirt and just tie the sleeves in the middle. Ta-dah!
Half open
This one is excellent for those stuffy summer days when all you want is cotton and a breeze to cool you down. Pair with a high-waisted bottom half if you’re less comfortable with showing a lot of skin, and unbutton your shirt from the area at the bottom of your bra all the way down.
Here are some white shirts to buy if you need an extra push.
Oversized pocket shirt, £30, Topshop; Oxford Shirt, £14.90, Uniqlo; Tunic shirt, £49, Cos
Like this? Then you might also be interested in:
An Outfit For Every Possible Summer Day, From Urban Outfitters
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Photographed by Luke & Nik
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.