THE JOURNAL
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When it comes to clothes, white is supposed to be a neutral colour. T-shirts, underwear or socks in white or an adjacent tone can be as elevated as you like, but will still be as basic as you can get. The building blocks of an outfit, in essence. And yet, for a blank canvas, a white item of clothing can exude a lot of main-character energy. Especially when worn in tandem with other white pieces.
Fashion psychologist Ms Shakaila Forbes-Bell says that, at a subconscious level, we invariably link the colour – or lack of it – to the concept of a clean slate. “So, when we wear it, we embody traits associated with purity, simplicity and peace, making us more thoughtful about how we carry ourselves,” she says. “A 2016 study discovered that people wearing white clothes considered themselves to be more moral, upstanding citizens than those wearing black. This of course depends on where you are in the world. In China, white is associated with funerals, which may give off more ‘sad boy’ than ‘main character’.”
In the West, white is also typically tied to summer, with rules about when you should wear it (notably between Memorial Day and Labor Day in the US). And, sure, it helps in the hotter months that sunlight just bounces off it. But learn how to bring white into your everyday wardrobe and it can be an effective team player all year around.
However, have you considered how white can affect the way you look? “People should be aware of what it does to the perception of body,” Forbes-Bell says. “Unlike black, which absorbs light and makes the body appear smaller, white reflects it and as a result makes the body appear larger. So, it’s important to think about how you are balancing your proportions.”
Suddenly the most stripped-back of tones gives us a lot to consider. And that’s before we get to keeping it clean. Thankfully, we have a guide to the latter, as well as a five-point plan for wearing white, below.
01. Keep it simple, keep it smart
Photograph by Mr Vincenzo Grillo/IMAXTREE.COM
A white T-shirt is undoubtedly the best place to start when it comes to wearing the colour. It is, after all, the item of clothing that most of us have readily available. It’s a wardrobe essential that it’s more commonly teamed with blue jeans. But tucked into a pair of white or off-white trousers, it will instead offer it an elevated air. Incredibly practical in the summer heat, this basic piece doubles as quiet luxury. Indeed, the assumption is that wearers of white either have money or don’t have children (or possibly both). And while we don’t see offspring with grubby hands anywhere near this man, we can’t help noticing the neat brown loafers, which really ground his look.
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02. Suiting doesn’t have to be stiff
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Conversely, white is also an effective way of softening a suit. And where tailoring can have a rigid, formal reputation, white can offer it a natural breeziness. Of course, swerving a shirt for a deep-necked tee or tank top is another break with convention. Once the core outfit has been taken care of, turn your attention to your accessories. Shoes, bags and sunglasses in richer tones add drama against an otherwise white ensemble. It’s also the ideal backdrop for a glint of jewellery.
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03. Work it, baby
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It seems counterintuitive given that white shows up dirt like no other colour, but one of the easiest ways to bring it into your orbit is in the form of workwear. Utilitarian clothing is prized for its functional aesthetic, so this pared-back tone really allows you to appreciate a chore jacket or jeans, with industrious details such as pockets shining through. And while an all-white getup can look directional, workwear makes each piece straightforward to pick up and layer, with slight variations in tone feeling deliberate rather than thrown together.
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04. This sandwich is not for eating
Photograph by Ms Francesca Babbi/IMAXTREE.COM
Does the phrase “sandwich dressing” have you reaching for white wine vinegar and Dijon mustard? If so, put down the condiments (you wouldn’t want them anywhere near your all-white fit, after all), step out of the kitchen and dive into the wardrobe. Within the context of clothing, it’s a styling technique that relies on a matching top and bottom with a visual point of difference – a filling, if you will – in between. White trousers can be a high-impact filling, but another way to construct your sandwich is with light-coloured layers as the bread. Which makes sense, when you think about it. Bonus points here for the neckerchief that mirrors the shorts, adding an extra ingredient.
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05. A white shirt is more versatile than you thought
Photograph by Mr Vincenzo Grillo/IMAXTREE.COM
Every man should have at least one quality white shirt, possibly for work. However, in these days of looser dress codes in the office, it likely doesn’t get as much wear as it once did. Well, this gentleman is here to suggest that, perhaps, it should. Not buttoned up with a tie, but slung on effortlessly as an overshirt. As an extra layer at the height of summer, it makes for a go-to fix. You don’t even need to iron it, which might just seal the deal.
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