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The Hunt For The Best White Shirt Ends Here
The most iconic essential in history is surprisingly hard to get just right
It goes without saying that the white shirt is a wardrobe must-have for women. Comfortable, flattering and perennially chic, this design classic will never date – and in 2024 it’s more versatile than ever. Basically, if you thought this staple was strictly for business, you need to get more creative with your styling.
Take inspiration from fashion icons of the past if you’re lacking imagination. The white shirt was more fitted in the 1950s and perfect for tucking into high jeans à la Marilyn Monroe or underpinning louche tailoring like Katherine Hepburn. Two decades on, things were more 'mensy' and oversized – Diane Keaton epitomised this look with her waistcoat-and-tie combo in the 1977 film Annie Hall. Fast forward to the early 1990s and stylish women were quite literally borrowing from the boys. They added a little flair, though: Julia Roberts wore hers knotted in Pretty Woman, as did Jennifer Grey's character Baby in Dirty Dancing, and who could forget Carrie Bradshaw cinching Big’s white shirt with an Hermes belt in SATC?
This year, look stateside to the queen of white shirts Hailey Bieber for styling tips. She likes to wear hers oversized – thrown over distressed denim and accessorised with either high-tops or statement heels – for a relaxed off-duty vibe. But if you’re just here for workwear browsing purposes, remember you don’t have to settle for the simple, slim-fit styles of old. Shake up your office looks with small but impactful details like a balloon sleeve or tie-waist, or let a pointed collar peek out from beneath your suit. The more experimental your shirt, the better it’ll look once you’re at the bar after hours sans blazer.
Keep scrolling to see ELLE UK’s edit of the 25 best women’s white shirts to buy – for every budget:
Crafted from pure silk, this Sézane choice is a softer, more feminine take on the formal white dress shirt. We love the attention to detail (check the covered buttons) and the fabric’s semi-sheer finish. Make the most of it with a contrasting black bralette and leather trousers on evenings out.
Linens don’t have to just be part of your holiday wardrobe. Pair this white shirt from Reiss with a high-waisted trouser to instantly take it from resort to workwear.
A crisp white cotton shirt deserves a place in every wardrobe. Arket’s effortlessly cool take has a relaxed fit, dropped shoulders and wide cuffs. Wear yours with tonal wide-leg trousers for luxe-but-louche weekend vibes.
A fitted white shirt usually lends itself to fancier looks, but we think this structured style from Mango is too good to be hidden by suits at work. Wear yours beyond the office with low-rise jeans or 1990s-inspired cargo pants.
With Nothing Underneath is quickly becoming a fashion editor favourite for its array of shirts with optional monogramming. Cut from a cool, linen-cotton blend with a relaxed fit, this staple adds a feminine touch to traditionally masculine tailoring.
Trust French It-girl Camille Rowe to put a sultry twist on the classic white shirt. From her collaboration with LA-brand Reformation, this staple features a slim-fitted bodice throughout, and is ideal for transitioning from the office to after-dark.
Loved by French 'It' girls and fashion editors alike, Balzac Paris is the new brand to know now. This white shirt has a Victoriana vibe with its pie-crust collar and ruffled cuffs. Wear it beneath a knitted tank or dungarees to really show off those details.
The boyfriend fit of Reiss’ white shirt makes it super versatile. Perfect for work and play, this cotton-poplin style would look just as good worn with distressed denim as it would with a classic black blazer.
The Frankie Shop is loved for more than that admittedly note-perfect oversized Bea blazer. Another clear hit, the Lui shirt is cut from cotton to that perfectly oversized silhouette that feels carefree and chic all at once.
Mango's boyfriend-fit shirt will be one of the most versatile pieces in your wardrobe. Showcase the long, curved hem with stirrup leggings and stilettos in the evening.
This crisp cotton design is defined by its dropped shoulders, patch pocket and oversized shape. Plus, the high-low curved hemline means it's perfect for layering – over leggings, jeans or flared trousers.
Maison Margiela has been shaking up traditional wardrobe staples like the white shirt ever since the brand's conception back in 1988. The beauty of this crisp cotton number is that it can be styled layered over flared trousers or leggings now and as a shirt dress come the summer months.
Ganni is the king of re-worked shirting. We like the girlish bow detailing and puffed sleeves on this white poplin style. Wear yours with baggy jeans on the weekend for a Scandi vibe.
Massimo Dutti’s boxy cropped shirt is the perfect length for showing off a pair of high-waisted jeans. To run with the 1990s vibes, keep your styling super relaxed by unbuttoning and rolling the cuffs.
Stella McCartney is making a case for the nostalgic peplum hemline with this playful white shirt. With its classic Oxford collar and flared waist, this style is the definition of business in the top, party at the bottom.
The relaxed fit and dropped shoulders on Asket’s cotton-blend shirt makes it so easy to pair with items you already own (we’re talking jeans, tailored trousers, slip skirts and so much more). We love the brand's capsule wardrobe concept – Asket only stocks a streamlined selection of must-have basics, this chic shirt being one of them.
Ganni’s cult shirt has pretty much been all over Instagram for the past few years, but we’re still not over it. Made from cotton-poplin, it’s trimmed with tiny ruffles and topped with an on-trend Pilgrim collar – show off these details with a knitted vest.
If you want to invest in the perfect white shirt this season, look to quiet luxury brand Toteme. The beauty of this cotton design is that you can wear it buttoned-up and tucked-in for a preppy vibe, or keep things loose, open and relaxed.
Freshen up your work wardrobe with this timeless white shirt from Jigsaw. Cut from cotton-poplin, this one has a relaxed fit and the perfect longline hem. This season, elevate office looks by wearing yours with 1970s-inspired trouser suits.
Rosie Davenport is an Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK and Red Online, covering fashion, beauty and travel reviews, as well as major sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Rosie has reviewed everything from Reformation dresses to the latest massage guns and knows the new brands to bookmark as well as the latest trends to follow. Before this role, Rosie was a Fashion Ecommerce Writer on publications including ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping for nearly two years, and gained a MA from Central Saint Martins in Fashion Journalism in 2021, focussing on the rise (and rise) of fashion podcasting. Rosie has also worked at The Times, been a sub editor at The Mail on Sunday’s weekly YOU magazine and produced in-depth retail reports for the trend forecasting agency WGSN. Her career highlight? Previewing Prada’s AW21 menswear show in the depths of lockdown and interviewing Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons from her bedroom. Outside of work, Rosie can be found rummaging through vintage shops or getting lost in one of London’s iconic department stores. You can follow Rosie on Instagram @rosie.davenport
Kara is the Ecommerce Editor, Women’s Lifestyle at Hearst UK. Leading Cosmopolitan’s digital shopping strategy, she shares style advice for life’s big moments, reports on the latest fashion collaborations, and creates beauty reviews across skincare, makeup, and haircare.
Kara’s most popular guides include ‘Affordable Jewellery Brands to Shop’, ‘Ski Wear to Shop, According to an Editor’, and ‘The Best High Street Wedding Dress Brands’, while covering deals events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. When she’s not behind a laptop screen, she’s hosting shopping videos and livestreams for Cosmo’s TikTok Shop. Kara also creates shopping content for Red and Prima, and was previously contributing Fashion and Beauty Ecommerce Editor at ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar.
Since starting her career as a journalist in 2018, she has held the role of Fashion Content Editor at NET-A-PORTER’s Porter Magazine, Associate Editor at PopSugar, and written for Refinery29 and LOVE Magazine, where she covered fashion and beauty news, trends, and features. An experienced interviewer, Kara has spoken to Zendaya, Alicia Keys, Simone Biles, and Tyla about life, work, and style. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Kara lived in Toronto, Canada before moving to London.
Follow Kara on Instagram @kara.kia
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