Jess Cartner-Morley: the white shirt as a confidence-boosting 'superhero cloak'

Jess Cartner-Morley argues that the white shirt is more than a versatile wardrobe staple: it is “self-confidence” and, she writes, a kind of superhero cloak that bestows formidable power.

She notes the shirt’s practical merits — it goes with anything, can take you anywhere, rarely dates and good-quality versions can be affordably accessible — but says the real secret is how it makes you feel. Cartner-Morley suggests that if you feel confident wearing it, the confidence becomes real: “faking it and making it are one and the same.”

Beyond smart suiting or neat tucks into tailored trousers, she favours freeing the white shirt from its corporate role. Worn loose and breezy, it can lift casual bottoms into something more fashion-forward, supporting rather than competing with the wearer and creating a calm, intentional look that still appears effortless.

She offers practical styling tips: soften the edges by leaving the top and bottom buttons undone, roll sleeves to the elbow and let the shirt tails drape and swing. For wider jeans, she advises resisting a full tuck — let the shirt swing free rather than half-tucking — to preserve better proportions and a relaxed harmony.

Cartner-Morley cautions that the white-shirt look takes practice and is not one-size-fits-all; oversized, fully buttoned styles suit some people but do not work for everyone, including herself.

Key Topics

Culture, Jess Cartner-morley, White Shirt, Jeans, Essentiel Antwerp, Imogen May