The All White Outfit Guide For Men

Dressing head-to-toe in one colour has its advantages. It’s simple, eye-catching, saves time in the morning and you can walk out of the house absolutely certain that everything you’re wearing matches. All-black outfits have been a menswear staple for decades and minimalist dressers swear by the understated power of navy blue. Tonal dressing with greens or even pastels has been popular recently.

But white? All white?

Usually, that’s left to nineties boybands, Simon Cowell loafing about a Mediterranean villa or P Diddy at peak bling. It’s a big look, and one that’s easy to get wrong. Even the High Priest of Menswear himself, David Beckham, looked sub-awesome (sorry, Dave) when he got married in an all-white suit.

So why the hell is it trending? The SS19 catwalks were dusted with all-white outfits, from sportswear to tailoring and amazingly, it looked good. Futuristic but comfortable, stark but in a good way. So how do you do white-out menswear without looking like you’ve seen a ghost?

6 Style Tips For An All-White Outfit

There Is A Grey (and Cream, and Beige) Area

First up, when we say all white, that includes off-white. Otherwise, you’ll look white as a sheet. To give your all-white outfit some depth, think chalk, ivory, stone, ecru and neutral tones which can be especially flattering for those with an alabaster complexion.

Chris Hobbs, MatchesFashion.com senior style editor, suggests you play by the same rules as when wearing double denim. “Keep the lighter colours at the top and go darker on the bottom. A white T-shirt, cream shirt and tan trousers is always a winner.”

All-White Doesn’t Have To Mean All-White

To avoid looking like a crime scene investigator, you can break things up with contrasting shoes, belts and accessories.

“Steer clear of black as it’s too much of a clash,” says Hobbs. “Instead, opt for tan or darker browns.”

Zara

Choose Your Fabrics Wisely

As ASOS head of menswear Nick Eley says, “There are no set rules when it comes to all-white, but playing with different textures and fabrics is an easy way to soften the edges.”

Contrasting tough, matte fabrics such as denim with smooth cottons and linens is a good way to differentiate your pieces and avoid the onesie look.

Fit Is Everything

There’s a careful balance to be struck when wearing all-white. Skinny fits are best left on Johnny Borrell circa 2006, while anything too oversized can end up feeling a bit ‘mum on a family holiday.’

“Stick to regular fits or experiment with slightly exaggerated shapes and layering for a more interesting silhouette,” says Eley.

You Are Allowed To Cheat

If the thought of all-white fills you with dread, you can con your way to a similar effect while incorporating a well-placed stripe or some subtle colour.

“If I’m allowed to cheat slightly I might wear a Breton top, depending on the weather,” says Hobbs. “I would also consider khaki to be an almost-neutral.”

Pick Your Timings

The American rule of no white after Labor Day is a little strict for our liking. Instead we stick to the (made-up) guide of not wearing white if there’s snow on the ground.

Equally, going all-white means there’s absolutely no hiding spills and stains, so steer clear if you’re eating spaghetti or indulging in red wine.

3 Failsafe All-White Outfits

Smart

“Unless it’s a Vegas wedding, I’d avoid a true all-white suit,” recommends Eley.

For formal summer occasions, stone or ecru coloured suits are much more wearable and flattering, or try tonal separates instead. Pair a white jacket with light grey on your bottom half, or a stone-coloured top half with crisp white trousers – just make sure that both pieces are in a similar weight and texture of fabric with a decent contrast between shades.

Leave the tie at home and wear with an open-collar shirt or tee, which you can swap for a slim roll-neck in the autumn. Smarten things up with a neutral pocket square and a proper pair of shoes.

Smart-Casual

As is always the case with a smart-casual invite, it pays to analyse the dress code a little before stepping out.

All-white isn’t really suited to business casual settings, but it can prove an excellent choice for weekend outings where a little more effort than usual is required (think: the birthday drinks where you’re bound to bump into your ex).

A white Cuban shirt with ivory chinos and minimalist tennis shoes is an easy way to impress, though you could go high-low by tucking a pristine white tee into an ecru pair of tailored trousers, too.

Massimo Dutti