Want to know how to modernise your party look this season? Wear a white shirt.
I know what you’re thinking – what business does such a toned-down staple have in the twinkly, sequinned land of Christmas? The white shirt offers balance, which often goes out the window during the festive season. We go big on everything at this time of year – late nights, socialising, feasting, drinking and shopping. We turn the dial up to the max, and then wonder why we feel exhausted by Christmas Day. The way to really enjoy the festive season is to know your limits – to have the odd night in wearing pyjamas, to take that extra five minutes in the shower for yourself, or to block out 20 minutes for a solo walk through a crispy park. The fashion equivalent of all this is the white shirt – the perfect tonic for the sartorial excesses of Christmas. Just tuck it into a party skirt or trousers and you’re good to go.
Chanel spring/summer 2026
White shirts as eveningwear isn’t new; Sharon Stone was arguably the first to the party when she wore a Gap style with a Vera Wang skirt to the 1998 Oscars. Carolyn Bessette Kennedy was also an early pioneer, wearing hers with a 90s column skirt, an aesthetic that came to represent a nonchalant elegance. For spring/summer 2026, it’s a key look. At Givenchy and Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel, cocktail skirts were styled with crisp, boxy white shirts, made by storied Parisian specialists Charvet. Sofia Coppola apparently swears by them when she’s directing.
The trick is to go oversized; anything too fitted feels corporate. A rolled-up sleeve puts distance between you and any strip-lighting association. If you’re more of a trouser fan, then pair with a suit (I’m in love with this Reiss style that falls on the right side of Mrs Christmas), or party trousers – anything with sequins, feathers or velvet will do the trick.
Sharon Stone wearing Carolina Herrera at the 1998 Oscars
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Skirts and shirts is the least try-hard form of party dressing. It also feels grown-up; a woman wearing 2025’s shirt-cocktail skirt combination is not going to drink too much at the office Christmas party. She’ll have worked the room with a Prosecco in hand before making a chic Irish exit at 9pm. It’s a look that’s made it onto the red carpet too; Laura Dern matched hers with an Emilia Wickstead A-line skirt at Venice Film Festival earlier this summer, and Anne Hathaway made for one of the most toned-down celebrities at the 2025 Met Gala in her white shirt and monochrome beaded skirt both by Carolina Herrera. Victoria Beckham is a long-standing fan, wearing a white shirt throughout her documentary and on the poster.
Perhaps the reason the white shirt still holds so much power is that it suits everyone – it frames the face and sharpens the shoulders, and makes us all feel more pulled-together. It’s unusual that a style boasts a following so wide it includes Meghan Markle, Patti Smith and Rihanna, but the white shirt is that rare beast.
The poster for Victoria Beckham’s documentary
Me and Em autumn/winter 2025
Although the white shirt is your 2025 party dressing hero, it’s also one of the most reliable pieces you can pack for any winter sun holidays. It’s incredibly breathable, especially in cotton and linen fabrications, making it ideal for warm weather, and it’s also compact – another big tick in my packing criteria. Matched only by denim shorts in its versatility and hard-working propensities, the simple classic works as a beach cover-up – think of Jean Seberg in Bonjour Tristesse – and tucked into a breezy wide-leg trouser or shorts. It also makes for a great airport style outfit, immediately smartening up tracksuit bottoms or a relaxed trouser, and you’ll actually wear it when you reach your destination. It’s ideal for city breaks too, giving a freshness to your favourite pair of jeans. The white shirt works everywhere.
Sezane autumn/winter 2025
I have worn mine – a relaxed style from Gap like this – on the beach in Sicily, to members-only bars in West London and often to the office. When I don’t know what to wear, TWS makes me feel composed. Its simplicity is its super power, and – as we jump into the season of glitz – it provides calm. Who wouldn’t want a bit of that this Christmas?
Lead image courtesy of With Nothing Underneath
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