Where is Atam?

Photos?

The white shirt is miles better than the white suit .  I personally do not wear them a lot, but I have a favorite that is a linen/cotton blend.

Last edited by kenperes (2006-05-24 18:30:26)

From last Sunday's Times of London:

The Sunday Times    May 21, 2006

Fashion moment

White shirts

The white shirt has been a staple of the male wardrobe since Beau Brummell made clean linen a male fetish at the turn of the 19th century. In Victorian times, along with top hats, canes and waxed moustaches, it was a sign of masculine probity, the distinction between gentleman and blue-collar worker. A white shirt made clear that the wearer had enough money for frequent laundry bills. It was a symbol of power, and it is this power that women annexed in the 1930s when they began to have their blouses tailored in imitation of men’s shirts. It was the first masculinisation of female dress since Mrs Bloomer’s doomed attempts to get women into pants in Victorian times. This time, it worked. Women were already getting used to slacks for casualwear, and the perfectly cut man’s shirt, in cotton or silk, seemed a natural accompaniment. What made the look a fashion perennial was that it came from the 20th century’s most potent influence on dress — the movie screen. Dietrich, Hepburn, Bacall and Gene Tierney all looked stunning in this crisp, tailored, masculine/feminine combination. Nowadays, a white shirt for women, like the white shirt for men, is less formal. The collar is unbuttoned, and it is often worn over the trousers. And it is so much the look for this summer that, if you are wise, you will put those tired-looking polo shirts back on the shelf until next year.

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I think this piece was written by Colin MacDowell who wrote a review of Kelly's Beau Brummell for the Times.  Whether the Times Literary Supplement had its own review, I'm not sure.  I think it did and I think it was a pretty long one.  I'll post the Times review elsewhere, but I can't find the TLS review (which I only saw in print and which excoriated Brummell as a know-nothing, dumb as a rock, vain and surface-minded man).

Vaclav, that is one disturbing photo

I can't do without white shirts. As FNB says the focus is on the cut, and, I would add, on the texture. For white shirts pique, melange, garza, and jacquard weaves are wonderful. Also Irish linen is ultra-chic for Summer shirts (and in Italy, also commonly used for Winter shirts). I never cared about plain white broadcloth until I saw one particular cloth, which I thought it was silk but was actually the finest white cotton cloth made by Riva. Amazing cloth. I promise I will post pics soon.

Last edited by Cruz Diez (2006-11-22 20:52:32)

I love a white shirt myself.  Though a broadcloth button down like the Troy Guild are my fave. I've since been very happy with the Andover BD.  It's as close to a Troy as I could find.  Need it be said that I can never resist another white Brooks oxford cloth BD....

Love them, especially in oxford cloth button down, and broadcloth or oxford club collar.  With most any yellow, navy, reddish or red striped tie, and blue or grey jacket/suit.

Last edited by Coolidge (2006-11-26 20:50:18)