In Defence Of The White Shirt

This is an apologetic little addendum for the recent post about 'fashion challenges'. I would like to sincerely apologise to all those Library fans who love their white shirts. Truly. I'm very sorry if I offended you. I would be thoroughly mortified if I did. I'm sure you all look beautiful in beige, and gorgeous in suede, and utterly sophisticated in a crisp white cotton shirt. I think I'm just jealous. I wish I could wear these fashion classics with élan. (Thank you for the lovely comments and emails too.)

I blame the fatigue. I've not been myself lately. We've had a big two months. Listing the house for sale. (Getting the house ready for sale.) Selling the house. Buying a new house. Trying to save one of our puppies from dying. Writing, writing, writing, trying to finish 3 books that never seem to end. And finally organising the logistics for a month-long business trip in May. I've been getting to bed at 3AM most nights. Indeed, it's now 4.09AM and I'm still here.

But lack of sleep is no excuse for provocative, tongue-in-cheek posts, and so, as an electronic apology, and a solemn attempt to make it up to you, I'd like to do a tribute to one of these great style icons. Here, with my love, is a look back at one of the greatest fashion classics of all time: the white shirt. With your permission, I'd like to sneak off to bed now...

Diane Lane. Oh, how I love Diane. (Did you ever see her film Must Love Dogs?). Look how she rocks a white shirt with that navy pinstripe number. 

The Women. Another fabulous film. See it just for the fashion. You won't be disappointed. (I've only seen the 2008 version, not the earlier ones, but I hear they're all great.) {NB I think this spread was from Vanity Fair}

A Vogue cover paying tribute to the timelessness of TWS.

Vogue contributor and New York fashion consultant Amanda Brooks shows how to do The White Shirt Look with casual elegance. Cuffs up. Buttons undone. Hair artfully loose. Black background behind. Almost looks like an Annie Leibovitz portrait.

Monica Belluci looks good in anything. But she looks especially good in a white shirt. For the record, I think brunettes do white shirts better than anyone else. But I'll go back in my fashion box now.

Julia Roberts sexing it up in Ferre. (See what I mean about the brunette thing?) Love the French cuffs on this shirt. (French cuffs make a white shirt.)

Keira Knightley sexing it up even more in the Coco Mademoiselle adverts. Another brunette.

Colin baby sexing it up even more as Mr Darcy. (Just had to toss this image in.) Look at those brunette sideburns. Remember how the shirt got wet in the lake? Classic scene for a classic fashion piece. Colin Firth should just walk around in a wet white shirt every day for the rest of his life.

Audrey Hepburn in a succession of chic white shirts for Roman Holiday and Breakfast at Tiffany's. {Via the great site rareaudreyhepburn.tumblr.com} I believe it was Roman Holiday that first popularised the white shirt. I could be wrong though. Don't lynch me.

More Audrey. This was rather a sexy pose for the normally demure Ms A.

Ashley Olsen, chanelling Audrey.

Another Ms Hepburn, who also loved her white shirts.

The famous scene from Pulp Fiction. Uma wears a white shirt with a certain sassiness, don't you think?

Designer Carolina Herrera, whose white shirts – whether her own or those from her collections – are always glamorous.

Elle, who always dresses well.

And me in a favourite white shirt from Ink. Just to prove I do wear and adore them. This was on the first date with my now-fiancé. (I know my hair was messy but I was so nervous.) Ah, those were the days. Young, carefree, skinnier, spare cash for highlights, Chanel lipsticks and expensive tuxedo-style jackets... Nowadays, all the money goes on gardening, renovating, books, wellingtons, travel and vet bills. That's what happens when you settle down in the countryside...  (PS I know I was trying to pose and I know it doesn't work. I could never pose very well. All the confidence was in the white shirt.)