We could wax lyrical about the best white shirts for women, because when it comes to hard-working wardrobe staples, nothing creates a smart – but effortless – look quite like one. Though they’ve rightfully earned a place as a building block in many a capsule wardrobe, they are by no means ‘a boring basic,’ as proved by the spring/summer 2025 runways – where white shirts rightly took their time to shine at some of the biggest and most-loved shows of the season.
The catalyst for the white shirt renaissance was at Saint Laurent, where Bella Hadid (along with many other models) made a case for tailoring by sporting slouchy ’80s-style trouser suits complete with a tie and shirt duo. Worn with pointed-toe heels and fuss-free accessories, timeless white shirts have proven to be the starting block to so many chic outfits for 2025, and beyond.
A white shirt has proven to stay relevant across the decades, with Princess Diana‘s go-to look in the late ‘90s and Meghan Markle’s first public appearance with Prince Harry (as his then-girlfriend) being a white shirt worn with rhinestone earrings. When it comes to how to style for spring/summer 2025, the likes of Tove went for layering – styling longline white shirts with a fitted blazer, Michael Kors tucked exaggerated collar iterations into brodie anglaise embroidered midi skirts and cropped white shirts were spotted at Peter Do.
Given the dominance of white shirts on the runways in recent seasons, it isn’t surprising that it has become a permanent fixture in celebrity outfit pictures over the past year, too. Of course, the magic of wardrobe staples is that you can style them any way you like. The likes of Sofia Richie-Grainge and Dua Lipa have been wearing theirs oversized, with high-waisted, straight leg denim, but the world really is your oyster when it comes to how to style the classic.
The Bear actor Ayo Edebiri wore a white silk button-down shirt and high-waisted jeans by Bottega Veneta – a refreshing cool-girl spin on party dressing. And while one of the easiest ways to style a white shirt is tucked into a pair of jeans with ballet flats or Mary-Jane pumps, or for the office with a pair of wide-leg trousers , we also love how it looks worn loose and unbuttoned. See how Gigi Hadid has worn her slouchy oxford shirt over baggy jeans? This style – in organic cotton or linen – would also look so chic as a beach cover up if you’re planning a summer getaway.
Given this is a wardrobe building block, it is worth spending some time to find a shirt that will go the distance. So keep scrolling to view the best white shirts for women we’ve found for 2025, from new-in styles to bestsellers.