A classic white ensemble can be simple, yet refined and endlessly versatile. Photo composite (from left): Carolina Herrera, Coach, Michael Kors
When Pantone named white as its top pick for 2026, reactions were mixed.
The global colour institute’s choice, a shade called Cloud Dancer, drew criticism on social media, with many calling it uninspiring and suggesting that more striking options were available.
Yet white remains a timeless favourite in fashion.
Whether worn as a monochrome statement or layered to contrast with other hues, it is a versatile wardrobe staple for any occasion.
Seen as neutral, white is extremely easy to style. A white garment pairs with virtually anything, and the same goes for accessories like a white bag or shoes.
Local designer Jimmy Wong showcased an entire collection of white looks on the runway in 2015, marking his debut in Malaysia after decades abroad.
He told StarTrends in September that the collection represented a “fresh start” and that white is the “colour of purity”.
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A white shirt is seen by designers as a classic staple. Photo: Bottega VenetaOn international runways, fashion houses frequently use white looks to break up heavier colour palettes, create a sense of calm, or highlight the precision of tailoring and fabric textures.
White offers designers a blank canvas too, allowing details, silhouettes and craftsmanship to truly stand out.
The white shirt, in particular, has achieved iconic status.
In a 2013 Vogue interview, Carolina Herrera said she loves white shirts, describing them as a “security blanket”.
“You can wear them with anything. It’s the person and the way that they wear it that makes it different. I have been designing white shirts forever, but I don’t get tired of it.”
Victoria Beckham shared with Elle in 2017 that she believes “anything looks good with a white shirt”.
She added, “You don’t even have to think about it. Every woman should have that piece, but to be honest, I wear David’s (husband David Beckham) white shirts as well!”
The late Karl Lagerfeld was famously quoted as saying he wished he had invented the white shirt, describing it as the “basis of everything”.
“Everything else comes after,” he added.
In 2019, after his passing, several of Lagerfeld’s close friends launched “A Tribute To Karl: The White Shirt Project”. They redesigned the wardrobe staple as a homage to him.
Seven designs – created by celebrities including Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss and Diane Kruger – were each replicated 77 times and sold for charity.
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More recently, all-white outfits stood out on the Spring/Summer 2026 runways.
These looks added flavour to the so-called “monotony” of heavily patterned and richly coloured collections.
Pantone described Cloud Dancer as a “lofty white neutral whose aerated presence acts as a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world” – which is exactly what fashion has been using white for, across decades and within countless seasons.
“Peeling away layers of outmoded thinking, we open the door to new approaches,” read the statement by Pantone’s vice president, Laurie Pressman.
She further said the airy white hue will be able to inspire creativity, giving the mind room to explore and bring bold ideas to life.
Well, designers are already well acquainted with white. Even with social media dismissing it as bland, it will continue to retain its place at the heart of fashion.
