The magic of white in your wardrobe

Sometimes what you dismiss on the catwalk as perversely unappealing turns out to be a brilliant addition to the civilization.
This is precisely what mostly happens to the colour white. It is considered just a commodity. It comes around most summers which is why it is called summer white. Every year the glossy covers show pristine permutations of white, and every year most women conveniently ignore them.Especially true for Chennai where ladies ignore white for the abundance of the sun and heat which leads to tanning. And in India, tan is a no-no, unlike in the west.
But white can look very modern. ‘Modern’ is the most overused word in the fashion lexicon. But in this instance, it’s replete with significance.
White can be worn with anything, even with white. It’s not just a Wimbledon outfit; tennis players do not do justice to it anyways.
Wear white with a long black silk evening skirt, and it becomes a playful, slightly casual but still glamorous combination. Slip it over navy or black jumpers, and it has a useful monochromatic effect. While wearing white, the operative word is blocking. You can go head-to-toe white as well, but it may look too dull. In any case, you can make it pop with red or neon accessories.
When worn closer to the face like a shirt, a jacket or even a scarf, white can have a glowing effect on your skin. It prevents pastels from becoming too saccharine, has a toning effect on neons and brights, and adds zest to neutrals like grey or camel.
Tip
When you want to try on white, invert the usual stacking arrangement. You don’t always have to wear white above the waist and a darker colour waist down. When wearing white waist down, always look for the right fabric and a good cut — white skirts and trousers don’t have to be figure-sabotaging.
Avoid tight and sheer, get washable material, get the lingerie right (nude or pale pink; counter-intuitively white underwear shows through under white).