Shirts are set to big one of the hottest women's fashion trends of 2016. The catwalks from Milan to Paris, London to New York all recognised the versatility of the classic white shirt.
At Anthony Vaccarello the reinvented white shirt revealed a seductive glimpse of flesh and a tie waist, it was worn with stonewashed boyfriend jeans and plenty of attitude.
Amanda Wakeley opted for a more laissez-faire effect with a slouchy cross-over shirt complete with trailing hemlines. Worn with loose suit trousers, this look added a fluid femininity to a masculine source of inspiration.
At Fendi the shirt featured ¾ length puff sleeves and a princess neckline. Tucked into high-waisted mocha coloured hareem pants, this look gave a cheeky nod to the power dressing of the 80s but benefitted from a beautiful lack of structure and rigidity.
Vera Wang showcased her oversized white shirts by wearing them with just the first couple of buttons fastened, and teaming them with high-waisted black hot pants and peep toe platform ankle boots in black stretch fabric. There was a touch of Mia Wallis to the blunt fringes and poker-straight black locks of the models, and I imagine that the infamous dance scene from Pulp Fiction featured on the mood board for this design.
Jenny Packham opted for a tie front white blouse, teamed with a vast dense black maxi skirt. Phillip Lim favoured high necklines and ruffles in his Victoriana themed interpretation of the white shirt.
Another huge fashion for spring/summer 2016 is wearing underwear as outerwear. Balenciaga, Alexander Wang, Pucci, Calvin Klein, Céline and Givenchy all chose to send their models up the runways in lingerie inspired daywear.
A great way to embrace the white shirt craze but make it entirely your own is to wear a white shirt with an underbust corset. Of course, by doing this you are also totting up extra style point by expressing the current trend for underwear as outerwear.
The great thing about this look is that it is unspeakably hot right now, yet the underbust corset isn't limited to this look. Of course it will more than hold its own in the bedroom, worn alone with a thong and stockings or teamed with a bra.
It can also be worn over a delicate camisole, or gossamer vest top or even to add intrigue to a fitted dress. The white shirt can also be reinvented in other ways. Worn with jeans or a mini skirt, tied at the waist over a corset dress. Thrown over a full corset if you are feeling a little exposed. The white shirt can also be the perfect bridge from work to party. It can look demure in the office when worn buttoned up to the neck and concealing your corset, wear with a pencil skirt for a smart chic look. Then all you need to do is remove your shirt, let your hair down, add a pop of colour to your lips and you are ready to party. Cotton shirts are perfect for this as they can fold up small and fit into a decent-sized handbag. The possibilities are endless.
