This week You! brings to you the ultimate guide to wear white all year round…
wardrobe
There is a lot of anxiety surrounding wearing anything white (tea/coffee spills! makeup smears! period stains!). Maybe this is one of the reasons why many of us feel comfortable with dark colour palettes. The whites are usually more intuitive when it comes to summers as they include breezy linens and lawn dresses… however, whites are quite an underrated neutral which works in the cooler months of the year. There’s so much that we can do! So, we’re here to tell you to ditch all those pseudo-stringent rules and embrace wearing fresh whites at any point during the year! This week You! has the ultimate guide to wear white with confidence from head to toe…
We all know that white is versatile, but you would be surprised to learn that there are many hues in the white family as well. While anyone can wear white, pairing your unique skin tone with the right shade of white can help you pull off the look even better. For instance, many feel that white makes their skin look drab or grey. In that case, they might be wearing the wrong shade.
If you are fair-skinned, you will look the best with warm whites. You should avoid stark whites, as they will only wash you out.
If you have an olive complexion, you should consider a cool white to help balance things out. Champagne, rum, and silk white will also work.
Medium complexions with pink or blue undertones should consider creamy ivories and whites. These will keep you from looking too rosy or flushed.
If you have a dark complexion, you are in luck: you can wear any shade of white. Though dark complexions with olive undertones could avoid yellow or ivory shades of white.
White-on-white
It’s a good thing that white is now becoming all the rage. There are brands that even have an entire racks dedicated to it, which makes it easier for us to get our hands on one. A quintessential white dress can be worn in the sweltering hot days of summer and then be paired with a white cardigan well into fall. However, the best white dresses are the ones tailored impeccably to your preferred style. When you are out searching for your perfect white outfit, make sure to consider the fabric and how it feels when you wear it. For instance, a loose button-down in a cotton lawn fabric is a flattering, while a silk or linen looks amazing if it’s a perfect fit.
Our favourite white summer outfit is something light and airy, like a top (a blouse, or button-down) tucked under a flowy skirt or on top of smart trousers. Go for the cinched waist effect as it works for all body shapes.
As for the winter outfit, opt for an impeccably chic white trench or a cosy knit cardigan, and smart all-season accessories: i.e., crossbody bags and loafers.
The perfect neutrals
A delicate white dress is a closet staple, and while it’s not quite warm enough to wear on its own in spring like it is in the summer, it works well layered underneath an overshirt. If you want to breathe new life into white outfit, layer it over a collared shirt (or an embellished one if the occasion calls for it) and you’ll have an entirely fresh look on your hands. If it is still hot outside, consider a short sleeve T-shirt in a contrasting colour to get a similar look. For the all-neutral look, consider grounding the whites and creams with dark accessories such as black, charcoal or navy blue.
For a trendier territory, try pairing up some blush nude pants or shades of brown to transition from a summery to a more autumnal feel.
To prevent white from looking boring or plain, look for unusual pieces and then mix up feminine and tailored, tough and soft, sexy and ladylike. You might throw on a denim jeans jacket with a white pleated skirt; a basic white shirt with a leopard skirt; or a pair of wild, fringed white pants with a sophisticated jacket. You could shock that white pantsuit with a blue silk blouse and blue suede shoes.
Make that statement
This is perhaps the most fun part of wearing white: accessories! This hue is so versatile that it will accentuate literally anything! Think of your outfit as a canvas that allows you to display a piece of art that is your statement piece – whether it’s your scarves, jewellery, shoes, bags etc.
You can have a bright coloured or a unique patterned anything and flaunt it with this attire.
The rule of thumb is to keep the occasion and the style of dress in mind. For instance, a loose, flowing dress would look better with a boho-style statement, maybe something with big beads or something quirky like a necklace made from leather or feather pendants. A white satin dress would look better with either gold, silver or diamond accessories.
Although, if big, bulky, statement necklaces aren’t your thing, you can certainly wear statement pieces such as long chain necklaces. You can also try on a pair of chandelier earrings or bangles. You can even stack different types of matching bangles to create a unique look!
Last but not least, we had to give a shout-out to the classic red lip. Red lips are a league of their own and there is no better way to flaunt it than with an all-white attire.
We get it, not everyone is a fan of making a statement. Some like muted accessories which is more suited to their style. So, for the chic crowd, we recommend delicate jewellery like a pendant set in your choice of metal – gold, copper, rose gold, silver, etc. You can then pair is with plain strappy sandals matching your jewellery – if you’re wearing gold jewellery, opt for golden sandals. You can also opt for all-white accessories as they make you stand out and keep it chic!
