Pa starting point for any self-respecting wardrobe, the white shirt is among the timeless classics that are worth keeping over time. A long-standing must-have, a blank sheet of paper for all the greatest stylists, today it returns as a protagonist of catwalks and street style. Yet for some it is still difficult to read.
Which model is worth always having in the wardrobe? And how can we be sure to enhance it with taste and originality? Now that the fashion of white shirtt comes back into fashion, a guide to choosing and wearing it is quite useful. Here you are all updates on the matter to know by heart this Spring Summer 2026, to bring it back to the center of the plot.
The white shirt, the starting point of the wardrobe
«The white shirt is the basis of everything» said Karl Lagerfeldstrong in a personal uniform where the white shirt was never, ever missing. The true genealogy of the luxury item starts even earlier: Charvetfounded in Paris in 1838 in Place Vendôme, is considered the first maison entirely dedicated to shirts, the absolute reference text.
In the women’s wardrobe, then, the decisive step comes with Yves Saint Laurent: in 1966, with the first The Tuxedosthe couturier translates the masculine lexicon into a gesture of emancipation, transforming the white shirt into the perfect counterpart of the tuxedo. It’s not just styling: it’s an idea of female power built precisely through an item borrowed from his wardrobe. If Yves Saint Laurent made it a symbol of power, Gianfranco Ferré elevated it to a pure construction: his white shirt, sculptural and impeccable, remains one of the most memorable interpretations.
From the Gianfranco Ferrè Autumn Winter 1994/95 fashion show. (Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media/Getty Images)
The white shirt today, much more than a trend
Collecting these and other blank pages full of ideas are the Spring Summer 2026 collections where the classic shirt returns as the absolute protagonist of the outfit. Chanelfor example, he takes it up in an almost philological way: in the debut of Matthieu Blazy a version appears for the maison created together with Charvet. Bbrass-pearl, tuxedo cut, red embroidered signature, the details that transform it into a cult piece.
The white shirt according to Chanel Spring Summer 2026. (Spotlight Launchmetrics)
From the shirt as a foundation, to the shirt as a symbol, today the shirt is rather an object of contemporary desire. New obsession to wear with jeans and blazer for Michael Rider, now creative director of Celine (and fashion lovers will remember well how much former director Phoebe Philo liked the garment), total look version with the matching skirt by Jil Sander, under a (leather) jacket for the new Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello.
From the Saint Laurent Spring Summer 2026 fashion show. (Spotlight Launchmetrics)
A single white shirt, a thousand outfit possibilities
For everyone, the incipit that gives character, structure and importance to the look remains. Even for common fashionistas who are starting to take it out of their wardrobes, especially in the men’s version, the one with the perfect oversized fit that lends itself to various style combinations. In stiff cotton poplin, with exposed collar, tone-on-tone buttons; smooth or at most with a breast pocket, whether it’s a piece for a select few by The Row or a mainstream item by Zadar.
A black or navy blue tailoring trousers are perfect to enhance the more classic white shirt. (Christian Vierig/Getty Images)
The most original tricks to wear it in 2026? As in the 90s, the period of greatest popularity of the white shirt, with straight jeans or the black miniskirt. Its infinite spring layering possibilities range from the t-shirt, to the cardigan, up to the only apparently casual layering of shirts. Looking for a look with a vintage and colorful touch? A scarf around your neck is enough.
And the wardrobe starts again, like this, from a blank sheet of paper.
