How to Wear a White Shirt with Style？

The white shirt is the most basic style among all shirt types. A white shirt is essential in every man’s wardrobe. It is versatile, fundamental, classic, and stylish; having an extra white shirt in your closet is always a good idea. Don’t think of the white shirt as monotonous; it all depends on how you choose and style it.

There are many ways to wear a white shirt, which can be summarized into several styles: pairing with a suit, pairing with a trench coat or jacket, wearing it alone, and pairing with a vest. Each style has its own characteristics, and you can choose different ways based on your body features and preferences.

01 Pairing with a Suit
If your body shape isn’t perfect, wearing a suit is a better option. When wearing a suit, the shirt serves a complementary role, revealing only a small part, typically the collar, which helps hide any imperfections in your physique.

It’s worth mentioning that many people shy away from wearing suits due to their body shape, but, on the contrary, a well-tailored suit can greatly enhance one’s figure. A suit can create the illusion of a muscular chest with added chest padding, solve narrow shoulder issues with shoulder pads, and give a nice waistline to heavier individuals. A perfectly tailored suit can address many body shape concerns.

There are two ways to wear a shirt with a suit. The more formal option involves wearing a suit with a tie. A high-collared shirt looks best in this scenario because the collar rises above the suit collar by over an inch, creating an elegant and upright appearance.

The other option is a business casual look, where you wear a suit without a tie. This combination feels more relaxed and is great for non-work settings or meeting friends.  Now，Enjoy Bond.

02 Pairing with a Trench Coat or Jacket
In addition to suits, trench coats and jackets can also be worn over a shirt, with trench coats being the most recommended. While trench coats don’t conceal body shape like suits do, they can make you look more stylish. When paired with a trench coat, it’s important that the shirt fits well around the waist; otherwise, excess fabric can look unflattering.

 

 

 

 

 

 

03 Wearing a White Shirt Alone
The best way to demonstrate the charm of a garment is by wearing it alone. When worn solo, a shirt has higher requirements for fit and tailoring than when layered. A well-fitted shirt gives a clean and elegant impression and helps to enhance the body shape.

3.1 Choosing the Right Cut for Different Body Types
Many believe that people with less-than-ideal body shapes can’t wear white shirts well, but that’s not true; choosing a fitted shirt is key. For those who are heavier, a moderately loose cut is best—too tight looks unflattering and uncomfortable, while overly loose can make one appear larger. For particularly slim individuals, avoid overly fitted styles, as they may appear too skinny.

A well-fitted shirt should contour to the body, with inward lines at the sides and a slight inward curve at the back. The sleeve length and circumference should be appropriate—too long or too loose, or too short and fitted are not ideal. The shirt length should be long enough to stay tucked in, as a short shirt can easily come untucked and look awkward.

3.2Advantages for Those with a Good Figure
If wearing a white shirt alone, those with good body shapes have an advantage as they can display the shirt’s essential charm without needing additional layers like suits or trench coats.

However, you don’t need to be as muscular as a fitness coach; being overly muscular isn’t ideal for wearing shirts or suits. It’s fine if you don’t have a perfectly toned body; just make sure to address any protruding bellies, as shirts cannot hide them.

3.3Pairing with Vests or Sweaters
For those with less-than-perfect figures, pairing with a vest or sweater can help conceal imperfections and add a different flair. During the spring and autumn, a vest can be both stylish and warm, while a sweater can be added in cooler weather.

 

Depending on personal style, a white shirt can express various looks. For example, one set of images shows a mature style (letf) and a youthful style (right). The differences in these styles are primarily influenced by the adherence to classic designs or trends.

 

 

Many designers today enjoy adding embellishments to white shirts, such as patterns on the collar or chest, but for daily wear, a simple, solid white shirt is recommended. Shirts with bold patterns often have a lower quality feel and can be challenging to pair. If you feel a plain white shirt is too simple, you can opt for patterned trousers. However, pairing it with dark plaid casual trousers provides a clean and mature look.

04 Q&A about White Shirts

1. How many buttons should be done on a shirt?

Generally, there are a few ways to button a shirt: fully buttoned, one button undone, or two buttons undone (the tie exception applies). Fully buttoning can look stiff, so be cautious; leaving one button undone looks more intellectual and composed; two buttons undone is quite common, casual yet appropriate; leaving three undone can appear overly casual and is not recommended for everyday wear.

        2How to roll up the sleeves of a shirt?
Rolling up the sleeves of a shirt while wearing it alone is quite relaxed and casual. If wearing a vest and tie, rolled sleeves can appear younger and more stylish

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There are a few ways to roll sleeves (as shown in the images). The first method is less common and is generally favored by those with developed biceps or tattooed arms.

The second method is the most common and widely used. The third method, if done too long, can appear sloppy, but it can conceal skinny arms.

The second method is suitable for everyone as it maintains a neat and orderly appearance. It’s straightforward—undo the cuff button and roll the sleeve up layer by layer, ensuring the width of the cuff is balanced. After rolling, adjust it to keep the fabric smooth and presentable. Avoid rolling too short; ideally, it should sit around the elbow for a more polished look.

The third method is the most casual and appears more relaxed, with sleeves falling loosely over the arms.

      3Should the shirt tail be tucked into the pants

This depends on the style you choose. Leaving the shirt tail untucked creates a more lazy and relaxed look, while tucking it in presents a more polished and professional appearance. For example, leaving the tail out is common when pairing with jeans, while tucking is necessary for formal dress pants or casual trousers. For a beach holiday style paired with shorts, wearing it untucked is advisable.