Everybody knows that a crisp, long sleeved white shirt is an essential item in a person's closet. They're feisty yet clean, heavenly yet rebellious, versatile yet distinctive all at the same time. That's why men and women should have at least one of it in their wardrobes. I have about eight in mine because I simply can't live without them. When you're absolutely clueless about what you should wear to an important office presentation on a Monday, take your basic white shirt and pull a knitted argyle vest or sweater over it. When you get home from work and you're just too tired to change, take everything off and wear your white shirt to bed every night. If you still couldn't think of anything to wear by Friday, wear the same white shirt and roll up the sleeves. Of course you would have to wash them in between uses but you catch my drift, don't you?



Men have always relied on the white dress shirt because it takes them zero seconds to think of it and take it out of the closet. And women have relied on their men to wear their shirts to sleep or even in the summer to replace their beach sarong overlap. It's savvy and sleek as a Porsche but sensible and staunch like an old beat up truck. A man's white shirt can be worn in almost any occasion or environment. Weddings are the first to come to mind. Now all you have to worry about is the suit, tie, and shoes and you're as good as hitched. They also make for versatile office pieces. If it gets too cold, you wear a sweater or jacket over it but as soon as the temperature rises, you just roll the sleeves up. The great white shirt can be an extremely liberating item of clothing simply because a guy can't go wrong with it. The Luxury English Spread French Cuff Dress Shirt is a perfect example of white shirt glory. It has pucker-free seams, a classy French front, elegant mother-of-pearl buttons, English spread collar, and signature shirring at the double button barrel cuffs. This luxurious dress shirt for men is exclusively available at Brooks Brothers apparel. Buy one now at www.brooksbrothers.com and get a ridiculously great bargain. From a regular retail price of $108 down to only $64.80 -- talk about discount shopping.

If you don't know what kind of white shirt to get, something with a classic everyday fit is your best bet. And when you're looking for essential couture, the greatest place to start your white hunt is at The Gap. Their Long Sleeved Fitted Solid White Shirt is a shopping cart favorite because it is absolutely comfortable and indispensably ineffable. This button down has a roomier fit, making it easy to tuck into your favorite bottoms for a cleaner look or wear on the loose on active days. For only $39.50, you can fashion the ultimate wardrobe essential without causing damage to your check book. This shirt, which comes in petite and tall fit, is also available in other colors. Check all of them out at Gap.com.

Elegant details and professional touches on a white shirt can make it perfect for the office or even a night out in the town. Anne Fontaine, a famed white shirt connoisseur and brilliant designer, has been taking the classic white shirt and transforming them to elegant pieces of fashion art. Her creations spring from the basic frame and spin into an even more lavish white canvass. The Ottone Shirt seems to be a Fontaine favorite. Its charming puffed sleeves and slimming waist are just hard to resist. The 50's stand up collar and folded cuffs of the Presly is also a bestseller in the collection. Big names like Carolina Herrera and Oprah Winfrey seem to think so anyway. So bid on your favorite on a variety of online shopping venues like eBay and you can have the highly coveted Anne Fontaine white shirts at great prices.

A great white shirt would go with almost everything -- from suits to jeans, khakis to denim skirts, shorts to even shorter shorts, cargo pants to tight fitting leg huggers, and my personal favorite, a sexy bikini.