Women's and Men's White Shirts: Cotton, Silk, and Poplin

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The white shirt is the garment you buy thinking it will be simple, yet it is the most difficult: it has no colour, no print, nothing to hide behind. What remains is the fabric, the collar and how it falls over the shoulder.

The fabric decides everything

Cotton poplin is the office shirt: a dense weave, a smooth surface, it holds its shape. This is the fabric used by Emporio Armani and by Lacoste in stretch poplin, which offers greater freedom of movement.

Technical stretch fabric - the Ingram shirts - is the practical choice: it needs little or no ironing and holds up throughout the day. This is why Ingram has the deepest size range in this selection.

The silk and crêpe de Chine from Marella are something else: they do not hold their shape, nor should they, because they are designed to drape. They are evening shirts or shirts to wear under a jacket, not for eight hours in the office.

Broderie anglaise and lace - MC2 Saint Barth and Pinko - are textured white fabrics: they are openwork, so they should be considered together with what you wear underneath.

White is not just one colour

The word “white” covers different shades - optic white, cream, off white - and they are not interchangeable. Optic white is cool and crisp, and works well with black and dark denim. Cream and off white are warmer and look better with camel and beige tones. Next to optic white, cream appears dirty: this is why they should not be paired together.

How to keep it white

The enemy is not dirt but yellowing, which almost always comes from two things: deodorant and an iron that is too hot. Deodorant residue under the arms reacts with perspiration and turns yellow over time; prevent this by letting the deodorant dry before getting dressed.

Bleach is the most common mistake: on white cotton it works once, then weakens the fibre. Percarbonate is better for soaking, and never dry a garment with synthetic parts in direct sunlight, as they yellow precisely because of the light.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between optic white, cream and off white?

Optic white is a cool white, often achieved with optical brighteners: it is the crispest and works well with black and blue. Cream and off white have a hint of yellow or grey and are warmer, so they work better with camel, beige and brown. The practical advice: do not wear them together, because next to optic white the other two appear dirty.

What is the best fabric for a white office shirt?

Cotton poplin, or a technical stretch fabric if you want to iron less. Both have the dense weave needed to prevent white from becoming transparent. Silk and crêpe are beautiful but drape instead of holding their shape: they are evening shirts.

How can you prevent a white shirt from turning yellow?

Let the deodorant dry before getting dressed, because residue reacts with perspiration and is the most common cause of underarm stains. Then: use an iron that is not too hot, avoid repeated bleaching - it weakens cotton - and soak with percarbonate when necessary. If the garment has synthetic parts, avoid direct sunlight.

Is a white shirt transparent?

It depends on the weave, not the price. Dense poplin provides coverage; lightweight silk, lyocell and broderie anglaise or lace fabrics are openwork by construction and should be considered together with what you wear underneath. We specify the fabric in the product details for precisely this reason.

By department

If you are looking for a specific style, it is best to start here: women's white shirts - silk, poplin, broderie anglaise and lace - or men's white shirts, in poplin and technical stretch fabric, with collar sizes from 38 to 46.