Staple #3 - THE CRISP WHITE SHIRT

Firstly, let me remind you what a wardrobe staple is. These are your must-have pieces that form the foundation of your wardrobe. They are the pieces that will NEVER out-date and shouldn't leave you feeling guilty if you spend quite a bit of cash on them (consider cost per wear). In previous blogs I have covered the little black dress (LBD) and jeans by providing you detailed advice on which styles suit different body shapes. Today I'm tackling staple #3 - the crisp white shirt. I say "crisp" because nothing screams more polished than a shirt that looks fresh, bright and sleek.

You may be wondering why every woman should own a white shirt. Well, just like all wardrobe staples, you can dress a shirt up or down, it's trans-seasonal,  great for the office, great for the beach and even great for bed. You name a place and I can guarantee you your white shirt can be styled in such a way that it will look appropriate. 

Now, in terms of choosing the ideal cut for you, here are some little tips to consider. 

• A shirt with darts will always provide you with a feminine shape regardless of your body type. 

• To avoid gaping (cringe), make sure there is a button that lines up horizontally with your nipples (apologies for being so blunt).
• Two pockets placed over each breast will accentuate your bust, broaden your shoulders and potentially create a "boxy" shape.
• Gathering on the shoulders will broaden your upper body

With these in mind, here are some styles to suit each of the 4 body types...

Apples

• Avoid anything which is going to provide volume or attention near the bust, tummy or hip area e.g. ruffles. In other words keep it as simple as possible with no bells and whistles attached.
• Consider a side zip as opposed to a button up frontage. 
• Try to ensure the shirt does not finish at your fullest point (this is the case for all tops including jackets)
• Softer fabrics that skim the body are ideal.
• Empire necklines (cuts under the bust) are the most flattering on you and v necks elongate your upper torso. 
• Funnily enough, rolling up your sleeves to 3/4 length slims your waistline. Who knew!

Pears

• Try to avoid having the length of the shirt finish at the widest part of your hips.
• A shirt that accentuates your shoulders will balance out your proportions and give you a perfect hourglass.
• Anything that draws attention to your slim waist will work wonders for you. Just like my dear apples, an empire cut neckline ought to be considered.

Hourglass

• Provided the shirt is fitted, you can just about wear any style. However, I would recommend avoiding shirts that broaden your shoulders as that may visually conceal your perfect proportions and transform you into more of an inverted triangle. Similarly, bell sleeves will widen your hips and transform you into more of a pear. So technical isn't it?!
• Anything that shows off your beautiful waist will look amazing on you.

Rectangle 

• My fellow rectangles (yes, I'm a rectangle), the idea here is to create the illusion that we do in fact have hips.
• Thank goodness for the peplum trend. My hips (or lack thereof) have never been showcased as much as they do now. 
• Cinching a shirt in with a belt or a shirt which tapers in at the waist will also create the illusion of hips. 
• Believe it or not, bell sleeves provide us with some feminine curves as well. Go figure! - pun intended

  

Despite all this information that has been thrown at you this week, there is an array of different styles that provide a different look. Ideally, you want a style that is likely to stick around for many years to come. After all, you want to get your moneys worth.

On a much more important note, remember to embrace whatever shape you have and feel comfortable in your own skin. This is simply a helpful guideline for those who want to look their best, but I believe confidence is key to real beauty so wear whatever makes you stand tall. 

MM

Follow me on Instagram at maim_melbourne
Got a question? Email me at maimmelbourne@gmail.com

Photograph by Mishka Photography
Images created on Polyvore by Maim Melbourne