White, the ultimate power colour, is synonyms to purity, saintliness, carefree living, summer and even Wimbledon. It’s also the colour of hope and mystery. A summer wardrobe essential, designers say that since the hue has a lot of variations to offer — off-white, ghost white, white smoke, baby powder, snow, ivory, floral white, seashell, cornsilk, old lace, cream, beige, linen, antique white, champagne, eggshell, Dutch white, bone, vanilla and so on — it’s about time we quickly embrace the updated ways to rock the timeless hue.
Begin with a beautiful full white skirt, says designer Pria Kataaria Puri. She adds, “Pair it with a thin neutral-coloured belt and a loose tank top. Voila, you will be a vision in white. While it may seem as though it’s wrong to wear a colour in two different shades, since they belong to the same family, however, if the international and national runways are anything to go by, gals, it’s fine to mix and match different shades of white nowadays. Mix in off-whites (ivory, cream, and ecru) with pure white to achieve a perfectly imperfect blend. Even though there’s the nagging fear that an off-white piece could potentially look faded or yellowed, especially against something so blindingly white but I’d say go for it — it will be a chic combo.”
White on white can be great on curvy women, she adds, only if you mix right textures and shades. “Don’t be afraid to mix in some colour. Play with textures. A top-to-toe white outfit looks clean, crisp and completely confident. Silver belt and a piece of jewellery will add a beautiful contrast to the whole ensemble. A long silk tuxedo jacket emphasises the vertical seams on a drop-waist beaded dress for a slenderising effect; with geometric earrings and silver shoes, the outfit will be a refreshing, flattering take on evening wear.”
Take advantage of the clean white canvas and style your trousers and simple blouse with patterned outerwear and statement jewellery, suggests, designer Ridhima Bhasin. “Also please never ever overaccessorise. Add a few key pieces like sunglasses, a bag, a cape even, but keep the look clean. Think less is more when donning a white ensemble.”
White shirt or blouse with white trousers or skirt can always be failsafe options but we also should be within the sartorial boundaries. Designer Aditi Somani says, “Always match your underwear and bra to your skin tone. Don’t wear a white bra underneath your white tops as it will only accentuate all the wrong areas. Also, leave lace, printed, and white underpinnings at home. When shopping, put your hand behind the fabric to check its transparency.
You might even ask the salesperson to let you take an item outside into the daylight. A white dress shirt is always in style. You don’t need to spend a lot for nice ones, but replace them seasonally — they have a tendency to yellow. In the office, stick to sturdier, thicker fabrics. They look more professional than flimsier ones, like linen. Match your skin colour, or choose metallics or brights for footwear. Apply perfume before getting dressed to prevent staining; makeup after to avoid smudging when pulling on clothes.”
Well, we all know that there is nothing more depressing than tossing a brand-new white tee into the closet, only to notice that the existing shirts look sad and dark in comparison. Don’t fret, says designer Amy Billimoria, as there are a few things that you can do to prevent this from happening. “Even if you can’t see them, invisible body soils and perspiration can turn white fabrics yellow or gray over time. So, wash them after every one to two wears.” She adds, “Attack stains as soon as possible. Always separate white and coloured clothes. This is a must! Lastly, dry clothes according to the care label.”
