The white shirt is a must-have for the summer season

“The white shirt is a symbol of mental purity. I believe that many collections today are white because there is a rejection of everything that fashion is doing". declared the designer Massimo Piombo. From the first essential element of men's clothing, over time the shirt has become a must-have even in the women's wardrobe, where white is the evergreen protagonist.

This garment saw its first appearance in ancient Rome, where men and women used tunics with wide sleeves that were shortened or lengthened according to the seasons, and until 1300 it remained almost unchanged, only after details began to appear on the sleeve and neckline, where were inserted fabric cords with lots of friezes and embroidery.

The history of the white shirt goes hand in hand with women's emancipation, becoming for women of the 70s an emblem of feminism. At the beginning of the 1900s, Coco Chanel herself contributed to the liberation of the costume by replacing female corsets with male white shirts, thus revolutionizing an entire style class. After the Second World War, it is Christian Dior who proposes a white shirt this time covered in organza and expertly combined with wheel skirts or high-waisted shorts that highlighted the waist, a look that immediately became a classic among Hollywood stars.

The versatility of this garment that makes it perfect for any occasion, is also an indisputable and clear synonym of femininity: white, candid, clean, the buttoned shirt highlights the waist while unbuttoning the neckline. It was a symbol of the customs clearance of the so-called androgynous look thanks to its thousand interpretations made concrete with every type of fabric, including taffeta, crêpe de chine, organza, satin, tulle, silk or cotton fabrics.

But what are the differences between the male and female white shirt? Unlike the more classic and austere male version, the female version of the shirt as a whole has a lower rigidity of the collar and cuffs while its close-fitting line with the buttoning on the left is suitable for the fit of the female body. With the development of the society, the stylistic category of menswear and womenswear have become mere labels that no longer define the gender but become means to declare identity and style. The shirt is no longer an exclusively male affair but takes on a universal and genderless connotation.

Designed for him but claimed by her wardrobe, the shirt is now re-proposed as the symbol of immortal elegance involving universal dress codes, thus working on the stylistic and creative dialogue between the respective sexes.

“I like to think that my white shirt is a term of universal use, which however everyone pronounces as he wishes", declared Gianfranco Ferré, who defined this garment as the distinctive element of his style.

Now, in the mid-season, the white shirt automatically becomes the most appreciated and valued item of the wardrobe thanks to its candid, clean and fresh lines that shout carefree but at the same time show a timeless elegance that gives an air of solemnity even to the simplest outfit and reassure the spirits in this period of uncertainty. So nss G-Club selected the perfect white shirts for this season in a mini shopping guide.