ASK LISA: ‘HOW CAN I FIND A WHITE SHIRT THAT ACTUALLY FLATTERS MY FIGURE?’
Lisa Armstrong is The Telegraph’s head of fashion. She began her career in fashion at Vogue. She has written four novels, has an honorary doctorate from the University of Arts in London, and was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to fashion.
Each week, she responds to your queries, lending her expertise to help you shop smart. Have a question for her? Submit it below.
Dear Lisa,
There are two things I long to be able to sort out in my wardrobe. First, I would love to be able to wear a white shirt, but have trouble finding one that is cut in a way that doesn’t make me look like a brick (I am 53, 5ft 5in and usually a size 12-14, hourglass-ish figure).
Second, I love a good pair of trousers but find that tops tucked in make my “mum tum” and hips look very round, while untucked tops can look messy. It’s fine for t-shirts and such but I would love to find my perfect shirt!
– Sinead
Dear Sinead,
Fashion editors love to present white shirts as the ultimate chic-simple panacea for everyone. Guilty as charged – at least until recently, when some of my friends reported that white shirts do nothing for them either.
There are four key considerations when shirt shopping: fabric, cut, length and collar.
For boyish figures, densely woven cottons that hold their shape are fine, but for an hourglass-ish figure like yours, something flowy and softer that shows your shape would be good. That way if you decide to tuck it in, it won’t look boxy, but should instead accentuate your waist.
This one is recycled polyester rather than silk, but that’s reflected in the price. It drapes well and you can pop it in the machine – two big pluses.
Collared shirt, Marks and Spencer, £29.50
Go for slim cuts that aren’t long so there isn’t lots of fabric to tuck in. This one from Hawes and Curtis looks promising.
Stretch cotton shirt, Hawes and Curtis, £45
This jersey edition from The White Company is interesting too – definitely no stiff, boxiness here. I wondered whether it might be a bit sheer on but it gets excellent reviews.
Organic cotton jersey, The White Company, £55
A cropped-at-the-waist style might work for you. Something like this from With Nothing Underneath, who specialise in women’s shirts and pride themselves on having something for every shape.
Poplin cropped shirt, With Nothing Underneath, £95
This Cubana-style shirt from Gap, in organic cotton, looks smart on its own or layered over vests and worn open.
Organic cotton cropped shirt, Gap, £35
Finally, don’t overlook necklines – this is often the sneaky culprit when people have difficulty finding white shirts that suit them. A conventional collar isn’t for everyone – it can sometimes jar with a round face and round features, for instance. This is where a nehru or grandad shirt can be lovely; it’s got the same crisp effect, but is less fussy than the standard white top.
Grandad collar blouse, Reiss, £138
Inevitably, there will be a bit of trial and error here, but once you find your shirt, dressing should become much simpler.
Let me know how you get on,
– Lisa
Do you have a style query of your own? Ask Lisa here.
More from Lisa Armstrong
Ask Lisa: 'Since the menopause I have put on weight around my tummy – can you help me create a new style?'
2024-06-05T18:02:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd