I’m always in the market for high quality and great tailored basics, like blazer, white shirt, trench coat, black skinny jeans, leather work bag… They are the foundation of my wardrobe and I’m willing to pay for the best quality I can afford.
So I was so excited when I scored this EQUIPMENT Signature Blouse at half the price via Moda Operandi. I have shopped at this site since last year. They have great deals on the latest runway looks and awesome custom service.
This shirt has everything I wanted: 100% silk, cute front pockets, casual vibe and perfect size. I cannot wait to pair it with the red Rag & Bone high waist skinny jeans that I pre-ordered several months ago. Both of them will arrive in July. I will definitely share them with you.
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-EQUIPMENT signature blouse](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-EQUIPMENT-signature-blouse.jpg?resize=290%2C464)
Reminded by my newest shirt, I decided to do this featured post as part of my “white essential pieces” series. (Check other related posts here and here.)
It’s Audrey Hepburn who made me fell in love with white shirts. Who doesn’t like the photo below? Of course <Mad Men> helps a lot too (you know what I mean). Menswear can always give women a sexy twist, let alone the crisp fresh color.
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Audrey Hepburn in white shirt](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Audrey-Hepburn-in-white-shirt.jpg?resize=560%2C442)
My favorite way to pair white shirt is with leather pants. There is an attractive contrast between the delicate, innocent white silk shirt and the tough, sexy leather pants. Adding a blazer over the shirt can cover our “problem area” and also give the whole look more colors and textures.
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Miranda Kerr Kim Kardashian and Elizabeth Olsen paired their white shirts with leather pants](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Miranda-Kerr-Kim-Kardashian-and-Elizabeth-Olsen-paired-their-white-shirts-with-leather-pants.jpg?resize=580%2C481)
I used to avoid purchasing leather skirt. But these ladies changed my mind: Angelina Jolie and Kate Bosworth gave the leather dress an elegant vibe, while Kristin Cavallari gave it a sweet ‘girly’ feel.
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Angelina Jolie Kate Bosworth Kristin Cavallari paired their white shirts with leather skirts](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Angelina-Jolie-Kate-Bosworth-Kristin-Cavallari-paired-their-white-shirts-with-leather-skirts.com_.jpg?resize=479%2C502)
Loose white shirt and denim or colored shorts combo is my summer uniform. Check how these ladies wore this combo for a casual day or a night out.
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Alexa Chung Olivia Palermo Nicky Hilton and Elizabeth Olsen paired their white shirts with shorts](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Alexa-Chung-Olivia-Palermo-Nicky-Hilton-and-Elizabeth-Olsen-paired-their-white-shirts-with-shorts.jpg?resize=580%2C405)
For more feminine look, change the shorts to different types of skirts: from maxi to tweed. I love Olivia Palermo’s look: by adding a pair of metallic heels and a nice bag, she made the maxi dress and casual shirt combo evening appropriate.
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Olivia Palermo Heidi Klum Miranda Kerr and Taylor Swift paired their white shirts with skirts](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Olivia-Palermo-Heidi-Klum-Miranda-Kerr-and-Taylor-Swift-paired-their-white-shirts-with-skirts.jpg?resize=580%2C419)
White shirt and jeans combo may be boring sometime. But try different types of jeans: high waist, scratched, or colored:
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Blake Lively Kim Kardashian and Alessandra Ambrosio paired their white shirts with different types of jeans](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Blake-Lively-Kim-Kardashian-and-Alessandra-Ambrosio-paired-their-white-shirts-with-different-types-of-jeans.jpg?resize=580%2C383)
If you are also looking for nice white shirts, below are some I like for your reference:
For designer shirts, besides the EQUIPMENT blouse I just ordered, there are two more I like–one from BOY. BY BAND OF OUTSIDERS and another from BLK DNM. Both of them are made of great material.
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-BOY. BY BAND OF OUTSIDERS Cotton and silk-blend shirt, BLK DNM Silk Military Shirt](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-BOY.-BY-BAND-OF-OUTSIDERS-Cotton-and-silk-blend-shirt-BLK-DNM-Silk-Military-Shirt.jpg?resize=410%2C365)
Some affordable but equally stylish versions:
Below two from Zara, check them here and here :
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Zara T-Shirt with applinque on collar or with flaps](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Zara-T-Shirt-with-applinque-on-collar-or-with-flaps.jpg?resize=447%2C375)
This one fromJ.CREW (similar here):
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-J.CREW Blythe blouse](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-J.CREW-Blythe-blouse.jpg?resize=270%2C334)
Or this one from Forever 21 (great one from Old Navy)
![The Art of Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Forever 21 Split Neck Top](https://i0.wp.com/helenhou.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/The-Art-of-Accessorizing-HelenHou.com-Forever-21-Split-Neck-Top.jpg?resize=328%2C400)
White shirt is so versatile, stylish and timeless. Many talented bloggers shared their ways to pair white shirts: “Popsugartv” has a great video “10 Ways to Wear a White Button-Down“. Wendy from “Wendyslookbook” did a beautiful pairing episode featured white blouse, which you can check here.
I hope all of these help. You may already have a white shirt in your closet right? How do you style it?