Are classic white shirts the fountain of youth?

33 Comments

1. I love the look of a classic white shirt and jeans on other people. I have tried many white shirts over the years and they always get returned or donated. I’m done searching for something that doesn’t work for me. The little black dress is also a unicorn for me.

2. Good morning. Smiling here! I, too, could never understand why the white shirts didn’t work well for me unless I had a tan in the summer. With that, and being much younger, I could get away with it. I would go back to school, the tan would fade, and it wouldn’t work. I am a deep autumn. And my ‘whites’ have become softer colors like macadamia, almond, pale light olive, pale peach, apricot, etc. In the summer there are the off white linens, which are helpful for more classic styles, but they are usually casual and oversized. Why someone can’t produce a ‘classic’ white shirt in off white color is beyond me. If anyone has a source, please share! I have donated as many white shirts as classic jean jackets, another item that took me years to realize that I don’t wear denim well near my face. Sigh.

3. I did the same thing until I saw that it was not me or the shirt but the color. We live and learn…right? I agree they are lovely on some.

4. I am discovering the look of light peach and it works for me. I agree…if someone would create the classic white style in a beautiful off white, they just might make much money! Thanks for sharing, Deborah.

5. I love the classic look of a simple white top (T or shirt or blouse) with jeans. I have cool coloring But I cannot wear white, even though I have cool coloring. Ivory is better, but still not great. Love the sounds of “macadamia, almond…”

6. Yes…I also love those sounds! It is really interesting that you are a cool palette and cannot wear the white shirts. Thanks for sharing, Kim.

7. Classic white shirts never worked for me. I am a winter so the colour is ok but I am a carrot shape and blouses are difficult with my bust, and then the white draws the eye up to my larger top. No wonder I never wore them!

8. I wore a white blouse for 12 years as part of school uniforms. And a white blouse was considered proper business attire with my navy and gray suits. So I guess I just was in the habit of buying white tops. Like DeborahLM they looked OK in the summer when I was younger and tan. It wasn’t until I let my hair go natural that I realized that no matter the style, white just doesn’t work for me and I resolved to stick to my warm palette. Before there were influencers we had fashion magazines telling us that all women need a classic white shirt, little black dress, etc. I guess a lot of us bought into it. I agree that shopping online can be challenging. Colors in catalogs or on our monitors aren’t always accurate. And I could go on and on about inconsistency in sizing at some stores. When we had a local well known chain I would usually have to take 3 or 4 different sizes into the fitting room. And if I had to order a different color half the time the size would be different. I’d don’t mean to sound like I’m ranting but I am tired of spending money and returns when the size or color is not as advertised. Hope you are healing.

9. Good point, Barb. I suspect there are many who feel this way,

10. You are not alone, Kathie. So many weary of returns. I am one who often takes several sizes into the dressing room with some retailers. It helps to know what works and doesn’t work for us when we shop either in store or online. Knowing my best colors and knowing what I want to say with what I wear has helped so much…and it helped to scratch off white shirts when we know they don’t work or make us look younger! These lists are getting more and more ridiculous.

11. Something I have always noticed, which isn’t to do with traditional color seasons but can make or break the look of white near the face: if the white is whiter than the person’s whites of their eyes or their tooth enamel. An ivory shade can be more flattering.
    Those cashmere scarves are Gorgeous!

12. I think you may be making a good point here, Connie. And these scarves are lovely and so soft.

13. I love a classic white camp shirt. But most of them are too see through for my taste. I don’t wear long sleeve classic shirts as they feel stiff and uncomfortable on me. I am sad to learn of your horrific fall and wish you the speediest of recoveries!

14. Thank you, Lisa…you are so kind.

15. My mom’s rule: never wear anything whiter than your teeth. Stark white tops will only make your complexion and teeth appear dingy and/or yellow. I’ve tried white blouses and, like you, have found they are not the most flattering. What a white shirt does provide, however is the “crisp factor”….a texture that’s so often missing from older women’s wardrobes. We gravitate to the soft, cozy, rounded shoulders and necklines…and bustlines. A collar and fitted shoulders provide structure and that can be both youthful and slimming.

16. As a winter, I do wear white collared shirts but for some reason I always feel that I need some color close to my face so I wear colorful jewelry or a small scarf tied around my neck. Same thing with tee shirts…I wear some jewelry or scarf. Perhaps it’s just my recognition that I am not quite classic, but more bohemian and colorful in nature. I rarely wear neutrals but usually wear something colorful near my face. I hope your injuries are healing well…no fun to be hurting when you move.

17. Good comment, Ruth…and I love what your mom said. Before today, I ever considered out teeth in addition to our complexions. Now it makes sense why others said they looked better with a tan…teeth look white with a tan.
    Thanks for sharing.

18. I don’t know what my season is, but I have a pronounced ruddy undertone in my face, and I like how Optic White looks on me. Now that my hair is it’s natural color, more salt than pepper, I like it even more.
    My problem with white is that my eyesight is good and I see any stains or spots immediately; if I’ve had a meal in something white I feel that it needs to go into the laundry.

    If it’s white it needs to be no-iron!

19. Good point for those who do wear white, Rose…no-iron would be my choice as well.

20. I am a winter and find that white is like a ‘fountain of youth’ as it really makes me pop. My hair is silver now, so white is even better on me than it used to me. I don’t buy into the teeth comment too much. Optic white is hard to wear period. Even optic white teeth can be distracting. I have lots of ‘normal’ white shirts and they are easy to wear and go with anything. Now, if only I could wear peach that look so good on others lol.

21. LOL! So glad to finally hear from a winter, Maeve. Thanks for sharing. My point is only that the white shirts are good for some but not for ALL…and I think the comments today have substantiated that. Thanks so much.

22. A classic white shirt & white t-shirt are a part of my wardrobe because I am a cool pallet lady & one of my adjectives is classic. Do I wear them to look younger? Not necessarily & I don’t wear the shirt with the collar standing up as is often advised by the list making people. I have a short neck, so the stand-up collar look is not flattering. I think how something fits & how it makes you feel is the key to making you feel confident or younger. Of course, those lists always include a few things that won’t be making an appearance in my wardrobe. I have a wool allergy, so cashmere is not my friend, & the neutral high heeled pumps are a no.

23. Hi Celia, I just now saw your comment. I could be wrong, but I believe you are right in thinking wearing the color with a white shirt is more about your style adjectives than the colors. Sounds like you are not a traditional classic. Thanks so much.

24. Pam, thank you for your commonsense blog about shoes and getting older. I am in the process of culling all of the shoes that no longer fit my aging feet and lifestyle. Yes, I loved higher heels and low-cut shoes but now they are off to the local thrift store. Your comments spurred me to stop procrastinating and get going.

25. I’m guessing that I’m a cool summer based on the light cool blues and pinks that really light up my face. White, not so much. Crisp doesn’t look good on me. Soft linen, gauze or knits look best. I agree with Ruth about the color of our teeth. I’m a pale blonde turned white and silver streaks. My teeth have never been bright white. My dentist says mine are a creamy white and he matched my front crowns on my upper teeth where I fell on my face and broke a tooth in half on the rocks that zeroes scapes the slope where I fell. That was a few years ago and we no longer live there. Continue to heal dear Pamela.

26. Blesses me to hear this Jill…I want all of us to be safe from the nasty falls. Thanks for letting me know.

27. Thank you, Sydney.

28. Thank you for the validation I found in this post! Since I worked in a business formal environment for decades and was a disciple of all the classic “must have” lists, I have bought and donated at least a dozen white blouses over the years. I wanted so badly to wear them, even though the color made me look ill. Same for the classic white tee – I’ve bought so many. I finally found an off-white shirt that I wore to death before finally outgrowing it when I gained weight. The right color made all the difference. I am intrigued by the beautiful cashmere scarves, and will be checking those out. Hoping you are gradually feeling better in the week since your fall. Continued prayers for your healing and physical comfort.

29. I agree, the “classic white blouse” is not for all color seasons. I could say Amen to what you said in your post.

30. I was like you…I wanted so badly for the shirts to work out…but they never looked right…if anything, we look older and not younger when a color is not right on us. Thanks so much for being here today…and YES to the lovely cashmere scarves.

31. Thanks Audrey…I am surprised at how many agreed today, but obviously we should not be told these shirts are for ALL women.

32. I love a crisp white shirt and find that white looks better now with my white hair, especially if I wear a blue based red lipstick. I look best in cool undertones, so no beige. rust, tans or browns for me. Envy people who can wear them.

33. What’s funny, Kathy is how many of us envy you and your white shirts! lol!