The Imperative White Shirt

Allow me to open with a quote from Carolina Herrera:

"There are endless ways of wearing a white shirt. You can try one in the evening with jewels and a skirt, or with trousers and a wonderful belt. You can wear it with shorts, or on top of a bathing suit, and it always looks fresh and very snappy and seductive at the same time."
- Wall Street Journal

I have to agree.  I love white shirts.  A staple for every woman's wardrobe, I advise you to always have on hand, not one but... five!  White shirts can go it alone in the summer, with a light sweater in the fall, under a sheath dress in the winter, and with a scarf in the spring.  There is no end to their usefulness.  And the great thing is, you don't have to spend a fortune!  Check out my picks below - seven options all for $36 or less!

SohoShopGirl Picks

• Mossimo Racerback "Bib" Top, $19.99, Target.  This back of this blouse is very unique and I also love the tuxedo detail on the front!
• Jaclyn Smith Embellished Dress Blouse, $17.99, KMart.  No one would ever guess where you got this intricately detailed top!  Keep your figure by belting or tucking it in.
• Poplin Stretch Dress Shirt, $26.50, Old Navy Online.  A pair of these would do well in any woman's closet.  Wear on its own, or under a sweater in the fall and winter.  Or, jazz it up with a beautiful brooch!
• Apartment 9 Essential Roll-Tab Sateen Shirt, $36, Kohl's.  The ruching along the button line will be ultra-flattering to the bust!
• Sleeveless Cotton Tunic, $16.90, Forever 21.  This sheer shirt is sexy!  Layer long necklaces in front.  For play, wear just a nude bra underneath; for work, layer a nude tank underneath and pair with a long cardigan as well. 
• Cherokee Relaxed Fit "Camp" Shirt, $17.99, Target.  Simple but classic, this three-quarter sleeved shirt with one pocket is a no-brainer.
• Worthington Bow Blouse, $30, JC Penny.  I adore this blouse!  White goes with... everything, so just add a cardigan for your finished professional look.

Special Cleaning Trick!

I drive myself crazy trying to keep my whites clean.  It's so hard!  A few years ago I learned a great trick (thanks, R!).  Wash your whites in warm water, with nothing but a full box of baking soda.  You'll be surprised!

Something to Aspire to: Anne Fontaine

This amazing French brand focuses largely on the white blouse.  Each piece is intricately and beautifully detailed, and the cost reflects the dedicated manual labor, with shirts costing up to a few hundred dollars each.  Luckily, an eBay search has proved that there are lots of Anne Fontaine masterpieces ready for their second life as star pieces of your wardrobe!  For a peak at the Fall/Winter collection on Facebook, click here ("Like" to see).