After a successful collaboration between Jenny Le Roux of Habits and Jackie Burger of Salon 58 at the Awaken Grace soirée, we chatted to the two fashion masterminds to find out just what it is about the white shirt that works so well.

JENNY LE ROUX

Jenny Le Roux

How and when did the white shirt become a fashion staple?

I think it was the stars of the ’40s who were fashion-forward and made us all want to own white shirts, like Katharine Hepburn, who wore hers with wide legged men’s pants, and Ava Gardner, who got away with wearing it with shorts. But the day I fell in the love with the white shirt was in the ’50s when I saw Audrey Hepburn in that wonderful film Roman Holiday wearing it with rolled-up sleeves and turned-up collar.

Why does the white shirt work so well?

Think of any designer – all of them have had their white shirt moments: Dries van Noten, Coco Chanel, Donna Karan, Vivienne Westwood, Alberta Ferretti, and the clever Carolina Herrera, who wears hers with a ball skirt.

How does an item remain timeless?

How does an item remain timeless? It’s all about how you wear it. You can never have enough white shirts; they never go out of style. I’ve been doing the white shirt forever. I’ve done it in linen, organza, silk, voile and countless other fabrics, with small collars, big collars, mandarin collars and no collars. My favourite, however, is still the tuxedo shirt. It solves all my evening problems: I wear it with black velvet pants and a taffeta blazer.

JACKIE BURGER

Jackie BurgerHow should we wear the white shirt this summer?

There should be no rules except wearing it your way; dressing is about how you feel in what you wear. Fashion’s new mood embraces this notion, delivering a message of modern ease and a focus on individuality. Pair your white shirt with wide-legged trousers, creating boy-meets-girl shapes; teamed with track pants it is elevated to urban dressing; and worn with a diaphanous skirt it signals femininity. After dark, the white-shirt-and-tuxedo combo heralds YSL inspiration; or styled with a silk slip dress, oversized and slightly off-the-shoulder and buttoned down, it whispers unashamed sensuality.

How did the white shirt become a fashion staple?

Like the trench coat, it evolved from menswear, crossing over into women’s wardrobes in the 19th century. The white shirt occupies an uncontested place in fashion history and continue to be reinvented as a trend du jour.

Why does the white shirt work so well? 

It is a piece you can wear every day. It is seasonless, timeless and ageless, and strikes the perfect balance between refinement and ease. It offers endless style possibilities and always delivers an air of elegance.

The post Fashion Classics: The White Shirt appeared first on Visi.

Black, as classic as ever, is a colour worth investing in. Here’s 8 cool items you can buy in store and online this week.

1. Faceted Lamp R169.99, Mr Price Home

2. Kasimir Cheese Grater R157, Smacs.co.za

3. Black Croco Side Table R2 495, Weylandts

4. “No Such Thing as Nothing” by Ruben Ireland framed print R599, Superbalist.com

5. “Knowledge In The Brain” bookends R2 999.95, Entrepo

6. Four legged Lamp Set R375, Studio. W at Woolworths

7. Benno TV Bench R2 499, Nevada Furniture

8. Kitchenaid Mixer R6 989, @home

The post SHOPPING: 8 Classic Black Decor Ideas appeared first on Visi.

Which is why the Lollipop Shoppe in Britain is on our list of must-see stores. Right now, they’re reintroducing some of the most loved Scandinavian light designs by the world’s most revered architects and designers under the Pandul Danish lighting collection.

Giving no hint to the decade they were designed in, these lights and lamps still appeal to the modern aesthetic. We’re totally fascinated with the Swing VIP’s architectural qualities, which made the front page of architectural magazines around the world. Designed by Joergen Gammelgaard, it’s handmade in aluminium with a solid steel base. 

Another of Joergen Gammelgaard’s masterpieces, Tip Top, is also on offer. Made in the 1960s, the wall and pendant lights are most celebrated for the elegant gap between the shade and the socket house. Sleek and simple, this is a perfect example of cool Scandinavian minimalism.

Henning Koppel’s famous Bubi pendant and floor lamps have also been reissued. First launched in the 1970s, the lights have been given a modern twist with a chrome top and textile cords in several colours.

For a futuristic look, that will remain convincing in years to come, we’d choose Hans J. Wegner’s Opala. Used in public and private spaces around the globe, the high-gloss acrylic and painted aluminium top is still a testament to quality and style synonymous with Scandinavian design.

These lights and more are available for purchase at the Lollipop Shoppe online store.

More information: www.thelollipopshoppe.co.uk

The post The classics are back appeared first on Visi.