Stop telling women we need a “crisp white shirt”

I love the idea of a crisp white shirt. But in practice, I think it’s one of the most overrated pieces in women’s wardrobes.

The white button-down has been sold to us as the holy grail of style for decades. It shows up on every must-have list, every capsule wardrobe roundup, and nearly every conversation about timeless dressing. The message is always the same. If you want to look polished and put together, you need a white shirt.

But in my experience, both as a woman and as a style professional—the classic white button-down is far more work than it is worth.

A crisp button-down white shirt is supposed to represent ease and elegance. In real life, it often becomes one of the most high-maintenance pieces in our closets. White shows everything. Makeup at the collar, wear at the neckline and cuffs...Crisp cotton is wrinkle-prone and requires careful laundering to avoid looking tired or yellowed.

What is marketed as effortless polish can quickly turn into something you feel like you have to manage.

But the same tired advice keeps coming. Style sites call it a foundational wardrobe piece. Editors insist everyone needs one. So if you don’t have the perfect white shirt, it can start to feel like you’re somehow missing the point of good style…

Then there’s the fit problem that almost no one talks about

For women with fuller busts, the classic button-down can feel like a constant compromise. The buttons holding on for dear life…the fabric pulling across the chest. Sizing up fixes one problem and creates another—leaving the shirt boxy and shapeless everywhere else.

This is where many women internalize the issue. We assume we just haven’t found the right one yet. Or that the problem is us and our bodies…not the garment. But if a so-called universal classic consistently fails large groups of women, it’s worth questioning whether it’s truly universal at all. RIGHT?

And then there’s the “100% cotton” myth…

A white shirt does not have to be one hundred percent cotton to be considered “good quality.” A one hundred percent cotton shirt often means stiffness and wrinkling—unless you know where to find the easy-care cotton pieces.

This is where blended fabrics make a real difference. For example, a white shirt made mostly of cotton with a small amount of stretch, or blended with a softer fiber like modal or TENCEL, will move better, recover its shape, and drape more naturally on the body. Choosing a blend isn’t lowering your standards. It’s choosing clothes that actually work in real life.

To be clear, this isn’t about declaring white shirts off limits

There are moments when a white top paired with black can feel elegant, like editorial or formal settings where the contrast is intentional and dramatic. But in everyday life, that same white-top-black-bottom formula can start to feel like a uniform for job interviews or to satisfy a corporate dress code. Or service attire...

If you love a white shirt, there are ways to make it work better. Start with fabric blends that hold their shape and feel easier to live in. Look for more textured, relaxed styles in fabrics like linen or cotton blends that aren’t meant to look perfectly crisp. Wash in cold water with a gentle detergent, and use bleach sparingly, if at all. Treat stains as soon as they happen, even if you can’t wash the shirt right away. Choose skin-toned undergarments instead of white, and rotate your white shirts rather than relying on one “perfect” piece.

And if you’re ready to rethink the white shirt

Women often experience a shift when they start introducing cream, ivory, ecru, bone, soft stone, or champagne tones into their wardrobes. These colors soften contrast, work more harmoniously with the skin, and age more gracefully throughout the day. A cream blouse with black trousers is still elegant, but it feels intentional.

But here’s the real point

From a practical and functional perspective, do you REALLY feel like a crisp button-down white shirt even belongs in your wardobe? It’s okay to let it go, if the answer is no.

And this conversation isn’t actually about white shirts. It’s about learning to look at your life with discernment.

Just because something is promoted as essential doesn’t mean it’s essential for you. Just because something is labeled classic does not mean it belongs in your wardrobe, your lifestyle, or your next chapter…

As we move toward a new year, this is the invitation I want to leave you with. Start asking better questions. About what you wear, what you buy, what you keep, and what you’re ready to release.

Great style, like a good life, doesn’t come from following rules blindly. It comes from knowing what to choose and what not to choose.

Style should support and enhance your life! And I’m here to help you with that, regardless if your wardrobe contains a crisp button down white shirt or not. :-)

If this sparked something for you, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment and share your perspective. Your engagement helps my work reach more women who are rethinking style in this season of life.

And if you want more thoughtful, in-depth conversations like this—along with style guides, shopping tips, and tools that help you build your own sense of style—I invite you to join my Signature Style Notes community:

Thank you for reading.

With style and gratitude!

-Lauren