More than a classic, an essential. A cult piece that is constantly reinvented, it is the blank canvas on which to paint your own style. Decoding an essential and universal garment.
Originally, white
The history of the shirt dates back to Antiquity, to the Roman era. But it was not until the end of the 19th century that it adopted its current form and use. The complete biography of the shirt will not be covered here, but it is important to understand its use in the Middle Ages in order to better understand the symbolic dimension of the color white – and therefore of the white shirt .
Before the industrial revolution and fast fashion, people had few clothes, and these were primarily intended to withstand and adapt to weather conditions. The thickness or lightness of these clothes made them relatively difficult to wash, especially since access to hygiene was not as obvious as it is today.
The shirt appears at this time as the solution, an easier-care undergarment.
It must be added that for centuries, all fabrics in direct contact with the body (sheets, towels and... underwear) had to be white, for reasons of hygiene (black symbolizing dirt) but above all for practical reasons: fabrics were boiled to wash them and these (often made of linen, hemp or wool) tended to lose their color. White ultimately proved to be the most stable and resistant color.
Classic among classics
Timeless, it crosses the ages by constantly adapting, transforming itself according to the trends. The white shirt is a medium of choice to express one's creativity, like a blank page on which everything remains to be written. Emblem of a casual chic from the opening of two buttons. Professional uniform with a plain and silky tie : from underwear, it has become a symbol of virility, power and French elegance.
The white shirt is a masculine universe that women appropriate in the same way as trousers at the time of sexual liberation, thus claiming their right to equality.
It is invited to religious and political ceremonies, finds its place everywhere and all year round, from PowerPoint presentations to Eyes Wide Shut evenings. It allows itself all accessories, highlighting the other colors without losing its own brilliance.
The white shirt is universal, seen on the shoulders of gentlemen in impeccable tuxedos or adorning the most nonchalant artists.
White, symbol of the essential
White, the color of the essential and absolute perfection. The oldest color, since at the origin of the world, that of primordial light. Fascinating by its symbolic universality, representing life, the innocence of the newborn, purity in religion, but also death, like the white beard of the old man and his mystical wisdom. Since the Hundred Years' War, a white flag has been brandished to ask for an end to hostilities, a new symbol of peace and more generally, of good.
These symbols, extremely strong and recurrent in European societies, nourish the collective imagination almost everywhere in the world.
How to wear a white shirt today?
The essential piece of the male wardrobe is the shirt. White certainly, but which can go just as well with a suit as jeans. It is one of the essentials to have and must therefore be chosen with care: cut, material (natural, obviously) and collar are to be observed carefully.
As for style, it's a much easier matter: with a tie for work, one or two open buttons for a casual evening, a bow tie for a celebration, the white shirt allows for all accessories and patterns.
With a structured jacket like a leather jacket, cold wool pants or raw jeans washed with sea salt, it adapts seamlessly to any style.