The white shirt. Seemingly basic and boring. But because of their ubiquity, every gentleman must know how to style a white shirt. And those who do will stand out from the masses who misuse this versatile wardrobe staple.
White shirts come in many varieties, from t-shirts and polo shirts to casual button downs and dress shirts. Some are plain white, while others use white as the predominant color base for a colored pattern.
The ultimate neutral piece, white matches nearly everything. It also looks good with almost all skin tones, except those with a very pale complexion. Because of its neutrality, you can style this shirt in an endless number of ways. Knowing how to balance it with the rest of your outfit and how it works with other color combinations will help you maximize this otherwise standard shirt color.
We’ll explore how to style a white shirt with all of the other common wardrobe items below, including the best color combinations to use with each piece.
- Denim
- Chinos / Slacks
- Suits
Denim
A white t-shirt and jeans, the most classic casual look. James Dean and Paul Newman illustrate the rugged timelessness and masculinity of this look.
For more modern times, the simplicity of a well-fitting white t-shirt and jeans can accentuate a good physique. Not in great shape? You can easily throw on your favorite jacket for an effortless casual vibe. This look pairs well with plain white or colored sneakers, or casual boots (desert boots, workwear styles, etc…).
White polo shirts and casual button downs also work equally well with denim. Feel free to tuck these in or leave them untucked, although a very long button-down that is untucked will appear a bit sloppy. You can match these with most footwear types, from plain sneakers to dressier boots and everything in between. Your choice of footwear will determine how casual or formal you want to look.
White shirts work great as a base layer. Notice how well different jackets can pair with a white shirt and denim. From a casual chore coat or bomber jacket, t-shirt, and sneakers to a casual button-down, boots, and a casual sport coat, the white shirt and denim combo provides a great foundation for any situation.
In terms of denim washes, you cannot go wrong with dark denim. Lighter washes can work well too – if you go this route, it’s a safer bet to stay away from distressed or intentionally faded styles. A white t-shirt and black denim can work, but the contrast is severe, making it a riskier move. It can work as a good contrast piece to black denim and a black jacket. The gentleman below pulls it off well.
Last note, avoid wearing more formal white dress shirts with denim. The contrast in dressiness between a dress shirt and denim is too drastic. See below.
Chinos / Slacks
Because chinos and slacks come in so many different colors, a white shirt can provide a great foil for a variety of pant styles and colors, while covering many different style scenarios.
Casual
A nice white t-shirt can pair well with almost any color of chinos and a pair of plain white sneakers for a casual vibe. Experiment with different color chinos if you go with this look – bold, fun colors will work better than the neutral khaki/navy/grey colors. Try pale blue, or sage green, or salmon, or a light beige or any other number of not so common colors that work with your personal style. This advice applies equally well to chino shorts.
As for plain white polo shirts, you can apply the advice above and pair these with bolder pants for a more fun/casual look, or you can dress it up a bit. You cannot go wrong with a white polo, olive/navy/grey chinos, and brown suede or leather chukka boots or loafers. This combo covers many situations, from running errands and going for coffee to grabbing dinner/drinks or going on a casual summer date. If your polo has enough structure in the collar, you can even throw a sport coat on top for a refined casual look.
Dressier
The advice above also applies to more casual white button downs, like Oxford collar button-downs (OCBDs) or white patterned poplin shirts. Feel free to adjust the dressiness by swapping out sneakers, casual boots, dress boots, or loafers with the chinos.
A dressier or long sleeve white polo can work well with dress slacks for a more casual-leaning business casual look. Stick with the basic color business slacks (grey, navy, brown shades) to keep it business appropriate. You can even throw a navy blazer on top of it for a little extra polish. This is an easy way to mix it up in the office.
The style advice for a white dress shirt and wool dress slacks is pretty basic. Keep it simple. Make sure your shirts fit well (get them tailored if necessary), and stick to the basic business colors. Patterned white dress shirts work well for business casual looks if you keep the pattern subtle and the pattern neutral. Blue, red, or green checks or stripes keeps it professional while varying your white shirt lineup.
For serious business interactions or dressier situations (like a wedding rehearsal or nice dinner), a plain white dress shirt works well with neutral slacks and a sport coat. Grey/brown slacks, a white shirt, and a navy sport coat has stood the test of time for these situations. Or you can mix it up with navy slacks and a grey sport coat.
Try to mix and match different colors if the event is more fun – think tan or bolder blazers matched with neutral pants, or green, red, bright blue, or off-white chinos/slacks. A white shirt provides the perfect base for more fun and bold looks.
Suits
The formality of a plain white dress shirt goes best with a suit. For more classic looks and traditional events (like weddings, funerals, or more serious business events), a navy or dark grey suit and a white shirt remains the standard. If you require a tie, darker shades of neutral colors like burgundy, navy, or dark green work best in these situations. Tieless with a strong collared white shirt, however, is a great look if the situation allows for it. David Beckham nails it, as usual.
Some dressier occasions may allow for some leeway with different suit colors. A white shirt provides the perfect balance for a bolder suit, whether it’s green, burgundy, tan/brown, or a bolder pattern. It keeps your outfit from veering into clown-ish looking territory by grounding the look. You can go tie-less or choose a matching tie with these looks – either works well.
White patterned shirts also go well with suits for more casual settings. Again, it’s best to keep the patterns subtle and the colors of the pattern neutral. If you feel comfortable with a louder pattern, you can try it out, but make sure not to overpower what is meant to be a simple, elegant outfit.
Conclusion
The white shirt is anything but boring. But you must properly style this piece. It works well to balance more colorful or bold looks. And when standing alone, it can bring an elegant simplicity to your look.
When in doubt, keep it simple. Try to avoid white shirts with collars and cuffs with different colors or designs. These come in and out of style quickly and usually don’t look good. Make sure the fit is dialed in, as always, and use it as a foundation to let your personality shine through the other pieces of your wardrobe.
