Women in the workforce 1910’s appropriately dressed in their white shirtwaists.

FASHION TREND REPORT EXCLUSIVELY FOR RANDOLPH STREET MARKET BY NENA IVON, nenasnotes REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION

Probably the most Always Classic Always New post I did during the first year of nenasnotes blog posts exclusive to Randolph Street Market was this one…White Shirts! Why you ask, because it is worn by everyone, women, men, children… no economic barriers, totally diverse and at all price points. Once considered elitist, and the term remains today, “white collar workers” and “blue collar workers” which, back in the day, really distinguished the classes. I would debate not as much today…but still there but perhaps a bit blured. Always flattering, if you think you can’t wear black or for that matter any color, white around the face works perfectly.

From Wikipedia… “White-collar work may be performed in an office or other administrative setting. Other types of work are those of a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor and a pink-collar worker, whose labor is related to customer interaction, entertainment, sales, or other service-oriented work”.

I’m not going into the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York in 1911, however, if you are not familiar with it I suggest you do your due diligence and research this horrific event in our history.

”It made its first public appearance at the Salon in Paris, worn by a queen in a portrait: Marie Antoinette in a muslin dress. A style and a portrait – by Madame Vigée-Lebrun – far from the royal etiquette: in 1793 it caused a scandal.” Quote attributed to Vogue

“The diversity of the white shirts influence can be traced through many examples, including: Beau Brummell’s dandy status with his legendary white shirting; the Gibson Girl with her decorated white shirt style blouse defining ideals of female beauty; business employees in the 1920s marketing trustworthiness through the uniformity of white shirts; the fictional advertising creation of the Arrow Collar Man, with his rigid white shirt, promoting American masculine ideals….” Quote from Beyond Retro site.

Beau Brummel

Gibson Girl late 1890’s

More Gibson Girls late 1890’s

Could be worn today and from late 1890’s, perhaps your search will yield something similar….I’d personally love it in my wardrobe!!!!

1920’s look.

The Arrow shirt man, a huge marketing success for collars, shirts for every time of the day…these by illustrator Joseph Christian Leyendecker. If you find one let me know I want one too!!!!

Marlene Dietrich in white tie and tails years before Yves Saint Laurent’ “Le Smoking”. Nothing sexier that a woman in black or white tie attire….long before the androgyny of what we accept today.

1948 photo of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall both in white shirts

1944 Sears Roebuck Catalog, Katherine Hepburn inspired

And the inspiration herself!!!!!!

1940’s “Bobby-soxers” in white shirts, a-line skirts and Oxford shoes.

1940’s ad….if I recall correctly, I thought these were really “cool” Mom would have worn them….these are looks I suggest you seek out they look good with khakis, jeans as well as with suits.

One of the first super models, Bettina wearing the Givenchy “Bettina Blouse” a worldwide sensation in 1952.

Another 1952 Hubert de Givenchy creation.

Audrey Hepburn 1953 screen test for Roman Holiday, casual chic then, casual chic now…

The 1980 film, American Giglio, not only made Richard Gere a star but also his wardrobe made Giorgio Armani the designer every man wanted to dress him and the man every woman wanted to undress….such a scandal and so tame by today’s standards, or lack there of…

Let’s jump ahead to a couple of designers on opposite sides of the ocean, first Gianfranco Ferrė, known as “the architect of fashion”. A independent designer, perhaps best known as the third designer to succeed Christian Dior (following Yves Saint Laurent and Marc Bohan). He was so obsessed with the white shirt he devoted a book and an exhibition to this iconic wardrobe item. Let’s look at some…

And Carolina Herrera, no one does the white shirt better… As for white shirts, Carolina Herrera says… “They make me feel secure,” she once said. “When I don’t know what to wear, I choose a white shirt.”

In my opinion… total perfection!!!

Wouldn’t you agree…stunning for any gala occasion, or work, or…

Vogue Cover with The Super Models all wearing Gap white shirts…what a modern statement.

I will end with Elle Fanning at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, wearing a modern version of the 1956 Christian Dior collection in 2019 Dior.

I must admit this post could be MUCH longer but I do have enough material to do a part two in another post…stay tuned!!