Be your own pop of color

I’m all about cream and whites and I love to pair them together. Often when I am shopping with my daughters I will pull something from the rack to which they respond with, “Oh that’s a shocker!” because most of the time it’s some variation of a white or cream-colored shirt. My love for the perfect shirt stemmed from the fact that white and cream shirts are essential in both the female and male clients' wardrobes. It’s what I refer to as a wardrobe builder because it has the versatility for all your wardrobe needs. White and cream-colored shirts look great with denim and sneakers. While this is still true, my real love for the white shirt stems from how important I believe styling details are to complete a look.

For our family photo session, I wore a textured cream-colored blouse. Styling the blouse with white denim as opposed to contrasting darker or bright colors allows the blouse to be my statement piece. Adding style details that add warmth to an all-white look keeps it from looking stark. I like to add gold-style details like this braided gold belt and gold jewelry.

Often we neglect to purchase wardrobe essentials because we have purchased that basic item that is encouraged for a capsule wardrobe but then it hangs in the closet unworn. Having a wardrobe essential does not have to be basic. It’s a matter of finding the correct white shirt that compliments your personal style and lifestyle. Trust me, I have given away plenty of white shirts from my clients' closets to new homes because these pieces aren’t the perfect wardrobe essential. Based on your personal style or lifestyle, a particular white or cream shirt might not be the best fit. For example, if you don't dry clean your clothing a silk button-down might not be a fit or if you don’t work in an office a classic oxford just might not be for you. 

From the same family session, I styled my husband in a white long sleeve t-shirt which he wears in his daily life because it suits his personal, casual style and it is the most fitting for his lifestyle. A white button-down would not do the same job in his wardrobe as an essential. This is because it doesn’t align with his personal style or his lifestyle.

I like white with a little personality because my personal style is an eclectic blend of classic, boho, chic. I look for details that might make a wardrobe essential have a little more personality.

Below is a carousel of photos of myself and some of my clients that I have styled in white or cream!

All images taken by Claire Marchand.