Stripes are indeed quintessentially English and one thing I notice, our American cousins seem to sport white shirts more than the Brits.

I think the historic smog may have something to do with it, but in saying that, if you look at photos of manual workers in the first half of the 20th century and many appear to be sporting white shirts, unless the B&W prints showed certain shades of blue was white in prints.

I am British and i don't look down on white shirts. I have plenty in the wardrobe, mainly  OCBD's. I think the white shirt is quite a versatile item. Back in the early 80's I worked for an American consultants involved in the oil industry and when attending meetings with BP etc. It  was considered proper to wear a white shirt (normally with a pinstripe suit). I never got used to wearing the pinstripe suit. In the late 80's I worked for an architectural practice in West London where several architects wore white shirts on a daily basis. Back then I think the big names Foster and Rogers often wore white shirts without ties. I usually wore knitted ties with my shirts but the more flamboyant members often wore bow ties.
Today I please myself and find that a white shirt can suit either casual or formal occasions. I rarely wear a tie.

Last edited by RobbieB (2016-08-01 10:44:11)

Plenty of white shirts around in the City, but I would say more common amongst the younger crowd outside the higher status professions, worn alongside too-short suit jackets and skinny lapels.

Don't see as many butcher stripes as you used to.  Personally I go for pale pink and pale blue plain shirts as a rule, with a few gingham checks for Fridays...

That looks more like the typical T&A pyjama stripes.
Butcher's stripes were executed best by H&H before they modernized their portfolio.

They are s predictable. Usually worn by some Alan Clark type, wearing a canary yellow jumper when trimming the roses.

Welcome to Pyjama World

Last edited by Bop (2016-08-13 12:26:13)