The white shirt goes with everything: it keeps you sharp in a suit, in jeans and trainers, in shorts or swimwear. From Paul Newman to Barack Obama, by way of Don Draper, the hero of Mad Men, they all wear the white shirt as their essential piece.

The white shirt is the foundation of a good men’s wardrobe. It is to a man what the little black dress is to a woman: a classic that gets you through any situation.

With a white shirt on, you can’t go wrong. Matching your shirt to your complexion is no longer a chore when you go for white, because it suits everyone - men with a fair or low-contrast complexion just need something else near the face (a jacket, a jumper) to create contrast. 

You still have to pick the right model, because between fabrics and finishes it’s easy to get lost… Fortunately, LE CHEMISEUR® has put together a guide to help you make the right choices.

Your guide to choosing the right white shirt

A white shirt works for every occasion. But depending on the fabric and the finish, it will be more or less suited to the kind of event you’re attending.

The thick white linen shirt

Linen is summer’s signature fabric. You see it everywhere, from the runways to the shops. It has a real talent for turning any summer outfit chic, even with shorts. The linen we’ve chosen for you is thick, which limits transparency, extends the shirt’s life and lets you wear it in town even in high summer. 

Daytime look: a white linen shirt or short-sleeve shirt, beige or coloured shorts, espadrilles on your feet, a beach towel over the arm, and you’re set for a spot of doing nothing.

Evening look: a white linen shirt, navy or khaki chinos, loafers or espadrilles, and you’re done.

The white French poplin shirt

For hitting the road, living life at full tilt or dancing till dawn, the white stretch shirt keeps you comfortable whatever the occasion. Its stretch gives you unmatched freedom of movement and flawless comfort; it feels like wearing a tee-shirt, especially across the shoulders and waist.&nb Hemd aus französischem Popeline

Ob unterwegs, im Vollgas durch den Tag oder tanzend bis in die Nacht - das weiße Stretchhemd hält Sie in jeder Situation bequem. Sein Stretch schenkt Ihnen unvergleichliche Bewegungsfreiheit und tadellosen Komfort; es fühlt sich an wie ein T-Shirt, vor allem an Schultern und Taille. 

Zum Look > Verzichten Sie auf Verspieltes und setzen Sie auf Schlichtheit: Raw Denim und Sneaker. Für einen edleren Auftritt sorgen schöne geschnürte Boots.

The easy-iron pinpoint shirt

Thick and opaque, Oxford is a fabric that works just as well with a formal style as with a casual look. It’s the Swiss army knife of our collection.

An Oxford shirt works beautifully with a suit for professional events and even ceremonies, because the fabric holds its shape superbly. 

Otherwise, wear the white Oxford shirt casually with a roomier cut. A simple pair of raw denim, a white Oxford shirt and city shoes will dress you in no time. Single cuffs and a button-down or short collar finish the shirt with taste.

The luxury white shirt

This poplin shirt has real nobility and a very distinctive elegance. Its Byron cloth, from the house of Thomas Mason, is woven from Egyptian cotton - Giza 87, one of the most luxurious cottons on the market. It is exceptionally light and fine. To the touch, you’ll immediately appreciate its softness and the quality of the cloth. 

Made to see you through life’s great moments, this shirt stands out for a quality that lends you an impeccable presence. 

The easy-iron white poplin shirt

A great men’s shirting classic, fine and light poplin is ideal for warm days, because the weave lets you breathe all day long. With a close, tight weave that gives it good quality, poplin is perfect for your smart shirts at the office or a ceremony. 

Style-wise > white poplin pairs perfectly with a suit for a business look, and works just as well with beige chinos and a light jacket for a smart-casual feel.

The easy-iron twill shirt

Twill is the fabric we love for ceremonies and celebrations. Also suited to professional wear, the white twill shirt makes for a truly elegant look. Thicker than poplin, twill guarantees good opacity and makes for a brilliantly white shirt.

Style-wise, go for a navy suit and a blue tie with stripes or a pattern. Here you can choose a simple placket and a standard collar for a classic, elegant look.

White shirt: best practices

The white shirt is certainly the easiest of shirts to match. But take care not to commit a few of these tasteless faux-pas. 

The first thing to watch is the cut. If your shirt is too loose or, conversely, too tight, it will show at once. The same goes for the collar and the sleeve length.

At LE CHEMISEUR®, we know it isn’t always obvious how to get a perfectly cut shirt. That’s why we developed an algorithm that calculates the perfect cut from your height and your back length. If you’re curious and want to try our algorithm, start by choosing a fabric on this page. You can also look at our page on the slim-fit men’s shirt, which flatters you whatever your build, or our article on the 6 markers that show a shirt is well cut.

High-end finishes for an elegant white men’s shirt

The cut isn’t the only thing that matters when buying a white shirt. The fabric and the weave are essential too. A white shirt can turn out more or less see-through. By paying close attention to the fabric, you’ll avoid that. You’re sure of a nicely opaque white shirt if you go for a thick fabric like twill, whose diagonal weave - visible in the fabric’s structure - also gives it a more crafted feel. Take more care with poplin which, being lighter, is often more see-through. Choose a very good quality, like the ones we offer.

The LE CHEMISEUR® tip

As a rule, keep French cuffs for big occasions - with our Ceremony shirt, for example. Avoid adding a pocket, so as not to break the minimalist, elegant feel of the white shirt. A coloured accessory, on the other hand, such as a smart tie, is perfectly fine to lift your look. To find out more, our styling team has written a piece on the different ways to accessorise your shirt.