By Meher Castelino
For a woman her most prized possession is the little black dress. For men it’s the opposite colour. So it is the simple white shirt that can make that all-important impact as a power shirt that will give the right impression. Not for anything is it known as The Great White Hope of male fashion.

At times no matter what the trend or colour of the season it has hung on to the fashion charts maybe a little down the rung of the ladder. At one time it was the white collar cuff chambray shirt which was the corporate leader but it has moved into the background in the 90s.
The white shirt has been the Old Faithful that executives have returned to season after season. It’s a constant favourite on the high-powered boardroom fashion charts. At one stage in the 60s when the generation revolution took place the white shirt became a symbol of the old order, which stuck to staid standards ignoring change. The white shirt was reserved only for the church or funerals. In fact the term white-collar worker nearly turned extinct along with the white shirt and the grey flannel suit, which was also sent to the boondocks in the 60s.
But thankfully all that is a thing of the past and the revival is in.
Today looking impressive, dependable and authoritative in a white shirt is the most coveted thing. Executive in a white shirt and one in say a rust coloured one may have the same credentials but it is the one in white shirt who will project a look of dependability.
The type of fabric for the white shirt does make a difference and the all cotton version is of course considered an all time classic. The new anti wrinkle White Hope is obviously a dream item. Remember the days when cricket players wore white shirts and flannels? Those days have given way to techni-colour suits. Tennis too had long sleeved white shirts as its uniform in the decades of the past till Rene Lacoste changed it all with his crocodile logo being a status symbol.
Labels like Zodiac, Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allan Solly, Arrow have all paid homage to the white shirt during recent times. They have realised its worth and the authority it commands in business circular. The white linen shirt is of course considered the ultimate fashion statement. In spite of its crease induced nature the white linen shirt of formal or casual wear has its ardent followers.
It is now believed that to make a definite corporate fashion statement of authority all votes go to the white shirt. It stands tall among the clutter of multi hues.
So remember there is nothing more devastating than a white shirt for the corporate dresser, except of course the little black dress for the female executive when she wants to make a formal statement with corporate undertones.