A white shirt is a key closet piece in every woman’s wardrobe. It’s probably the most versatile piece you own, one that goes from the office to the beach with little thought.
While we all know how to wear one, if you’re here it’s clear you’re looking to style yours a little differently. Perhaps you just bought a new silhouette, or you’re shopping your own wardrobe and looking for fresh ideas. Either way, a little inspiration goes a long way.
In this post, we’ll explore how to style a white shirt like an Italian woman – with jeans, trousers, skirts, and more. By the end of it, you’ll have plenty of new ideas on how to wear your white button up throughout the coming seasons.
Let the inspiration begin.
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Table of Contents
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How To Style A White Shirt For A Timeless Look
Let’s start with the classics. In this first part of the article, I’d like to share a few outfits I often refer to as the Italian uniform. These are those outfits you immediately recognize as being totally Italian, partly because you’ve seen them before and also because they are so simple yet perfect, they scream Italian style.
These are the kind of outfits many Italian women wear on repeat. Consider them as simple Italian fashion formulas.
1. White shirt with blue jeans
My favorite way to wear this combo is to pair lighter wash slightly wide straight leg jeans with an oversized white shirt that makes a statement. It could be tucked in or slightly cropped, either way you want it to have a more boxy silhouette at the top. You can do sandals, pumps, loafers, a small handheld purse, or a large tote, depending on where you are going.
2. White shirt with jeans and blazer
This is one you see Italian women wear all the time, yet everyone does it slightly differently. They could be wearing a classic colored blazer like navy blue, or a bright red. The white blouse is usually your classic cut that’s tailored, good quality, fits well, and is worn tucked in your jeans. Blue jeans are the preferred color, but you can experiment with those.
The most important is the fit of each piece, the jeans should be well tailored, whether they are straight leg or flared. The same holds for the blazer, although you could do well fitted or oversized. Don’t forget to choose your shoes carefully – loafers, leather boots, stiletto pumps, or even a classic pair of block heeled sandals. Match your bag to your shoes, and you’re done.
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3. White shirt and cropped tailored trousers
This can be dressed down or up, for running errands and for business meetings, paired with loafers or pumps. With a pair of more casual trousers, you could go tonal or high contrast – like a black cigarette pants with a well fitted white button up. For the office, I would suggest choosing a pair of pants that stand out, rather than your usual black. If you do go for black, play with the accessories. Add a little color with your shoes, or at least some interest with their design. Those are the details that can make a simple outfit look and feel unique.
4. White shirt with a suit
This is the classic work outfit, but it doesn’t have to be boring. You can wear your suit, and your white shirt, but how about we switch the black suit for a tan one, or brown, or even a pastel one in the Spring months? With the right color suit, a great fit, and a great fabric, all you have to do is inject that very standard outfit with the right accessories; and the right accessories are those that are going to make the outfit feel like you!
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5. White shirt with a midi A line skirt
This is probably my favorite because it’s more unique, while still being timeless and loved by Italian women. It also mixes different styles beautifully – classic, feminine, and even edgy.
While a classic button up can go beautifully with a midi A line skirt, my advice is to choose a white shirt that makes a statement. A larger neck collar, a stiffer fabric that creates and holds volume, accentuated shoulders or sleeves, a more open neckline. The idea is to create that beautiful hourglass shape by going for volume at the top and bottom, and then cinching in that waist with the skirt waistline.
If you want to add that edge I mentioned, wear a midi A line leather skirt!
You can wear this outfit formula to the office with pumps, or to go out and about with loafers or sandals.
The five white shirt outfit formulas above can work throughout the seasons. All you have to do is pair them with the right accessories and outerwear, and switch to thicker and lighter fabrics, if and as needed.
Five More White Shirt Outfit Formulas
I could go on and on with the timeless looks, but I want to leave enough time and space for the streetstyle inspiration. Before we look at those, let me suggest more other classic ways to wear your white shirt like an Italian woman.
6. A white cotton shirt tucked in a Summer linen skirt and sliders or sandals.
7. A white chiffon shirt tucked in a pair of wide leg tailored trousers with pumps, block heel sandals, or even high knee boots.
8. A white button up layered under a cashmere sweater, perhaps one with a v neck, and with the sleeves pushed up for that added style element.
9. A white button up with classic fit jeans, brown loafers, and a classic mac or trench coat.
10. A white shirt tucked into a tailored cropped cigarette pants, worn with classic loafers and a chunky sweater over the shoulder. You can tie a loop, but lately I have been preferring letting the sleeves hang.
What’s the difference though?
As you read those pairings, you might think what’s so Italian about wearing a white shirt with jeans. Isn’t that done everywhere else in the world?
You’re right. But here’s where the difference lies..
In order to appreciate the difference, you need to pay attention to the details, for example the style of the jeans, the cut of the blouse, the type of footwear, belt or no belt, etc.
It’s those details that can transform an outfit from boring to stunning, from basic to elevated. And that’s how Italians do it differently!
White Shirt Outfit Ideas From Milan
In this section, I am going to do less talking and more showing. I will show you how Italian women have been wearing their white shirts lately, while still giving you a few outfit ideas from the previous and next season. You’ll see more classic looks, but also unique ones, and sometimes bolder ways to style a white shirt. Enjoy!
White button up with a black mini skirt
White shirt with a modern and edgy grey suit
White button up with jeans and blazer
White shirt with a black leather jacket
White button up with jeans and a cap
White shirt with black trousers and a utilitarian jacket
White button up with a cardigan
White shirt with white jeans
White button up under a sweater
White shirt with a coat
White button up untucked with jeans
White button up with beige pants
I hope you spotted a few favorites to recreate. I know I did, starting with that white shirt and maroon cardigan combo, which I might wear to the airport this Sunday. Outfits 12 and 14 are another two great ones I can see myself wearing both to run errands and on city breaks.
I also really like n.5, perhaps not with yellow pumps though! Don’t get me wrong, that outfit is perfect as is, but not for a monochrome and tonal lover like me.
More Italian Fashion Styling
Styling a white shirt might not sound like the most exciting thing ever, but if you want to define your style so that it feels more and more like you and the type of fashion you love, you have to nail the basics. After all, it’s the basics that make up the majority of our outfits.
If you agree and want to keep working on more basics styling, have a look at these other posts I wrote:
21 Black Coat Outfits Inspired by Italian Style
Chic Black Boots Outfits Italian Women Wear
Italian Camel Coats Outfit Inspiration
How to Style Loafers Like An Italian
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A presto,
Alessia
