A White Shirt Is A Year-Round Staple, And These Are The Styles Our Editors Rate
There is a reason why the late, great Peter Lindbergh repeatedly returned to photographing women in a look that became synonymous with his work: the white shirt. After all, nothing spells timeless chic quite like a pressed button-down – nor an artfully crumpled version, come to think of it. Calm, considered, and concise, the best white shirts are a wardrobe staple packed with quiet charm. In sartorial terms, it represents a certain air of confidence. What other item could equip you for a job interview, a glamorous party, a weekend coffee or a winter city break? It’s no wonder the quest for the ultimate white shirt is a tale as old as time.
Each year, fashion lovers and office-goers alike prepare their wardrobes for an annual reshuffle of button-ups, this time layered thoughtfully beneath chunky knits, sharp tailoring and wool coats to form a variety of winter outfits. Many of us make a point of editing our wardrobes at the first real cold snap – crisp linens and breezy blouses are pushed aside, heavier shirting and stiff-collared layering pieces are moved front and centre, ready to be worn under blazers, v-necks and scarves on city pavements throughout the season ahead.
Although nothing can quite surpass a classic white shirt for its versatile wardrobe potential, winter has delivered a wealth of new iterations to pique our interest. There’s been a continued appetite for undone styling – relaxed collars, off-kilter fastenings and shirts worn slightly askew as seen on the autumn/winter 2025 runways of Prada, Issey Miyake and Stella McCartney, styled under strong-shouldered tailoring and scoop-neck knitted jumpers.
Then there were the more bohemian-leaning blouses (that work particularly well for layering) with ruffles, statement cuffs and pussy-bow collars, styled under a pinstriped waistcoat at Anne Demeulemeester and a sheer lace dress at Chanel. Alongside a flurry of polished iterations as seen at Marine Serre, buttoned up to the top, and at Sarah Burton's new vision for Givenchy, styled with clean-cut leather trousers.
Whether you’re looking to invest in something new for the winter months or need encouragement to pull out that old faithful white shirt for another season of layering, we asked team Vogue to share their favourite styles to see you through winter. One thing they all have in common? Classic, with a hint of undone.
