Work Your Wardrobe: Gok's Gorgeous Guide to Style that Lasts. Gok Wan
with a pair of your favourite stilettos. High-waisted trousers would also look good if you prefer not to wear skirts. Silky pyjama-style pants will ooze Old Hollywood glamour—think Katharine Hepburn—paired with some great wedge heels.
Gok’s FIT TIPS
THE WRAP
1. The wrapover shirt will suit all my busty beauties who would prefer not to look too top-heavy: it will flatter your gorgeous curves in all the right places. A three-quarter-length sleeve version will balance your shape by focusing attention on your small waist.
2. The plunging V-neck of a wrapover makes it a perfect option for any of you ladies who say ‘no’ to diets but who want to make your top half look slimmer, as it has a narrowing effect.
3. If you are one of my girls who has that annoying problem of shirts gaping across the bust, the wrap is for you.
3 the wrap
I KNOW THAT LOADS OF MY GIRLS LIKE THIS STYLE FOR WORK, AND I THINK THAT THE WRAP IS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO THE CLASSIC WHITE SHIRT. It always looks smart and city-like, but doesn’t feel too buttoned up, so it’s the perfect style for all you ladies who like a more relaxed look.
· A CHOICE CLASSIC
This is a great style for the office or for off-duty days. To stop it looking too matronly (some wrap shirts can have an ageing effect by making you look too square on top, so watch out!), go for a wrap with detail, such as an extra-wide collar or big, puffy sleeves. Pair it with black three-quarter-length narrow—or cigarette—pants and plain pumps for Audrey Hepburn-esque chic.
“The wrap is a great alternative to the classic white shirt…it’s a great option for all my older girls who like a more relaxed look.”
· NIGHT AND THE CITY
A wrap shirt tucked into a sexy pencil skirt and—at the point where the shirt crosses over—pinned with a big, glam brooch looks fab for evening. Accessorising like this has been a real trend on the catwalks lately—it reminds me of those sexy Givenchy styles. The most brilliant thing about this outfit, though, is that it’s so easy to pull off: just pin a brooch on to your shirt, leave your jacket hanging loosely over your shoulders, sling on a pair of black stilettos and, beautiful, you’re ready to sashay on into cocktail hour.
“The wrap will flatter your curves in all of the right places. It also has a narrowing effect at the waist. Gorgeous!”
1 the classic
2 the pussy bow
3 the classic
4 the wrap
5 the pussy bow
“The white shirt is a true classic. Like your best friend, you can always depend on it.”
Gok’s style glossary
My at-a-glance guide to other shirt styles
THE GRANDAD
THE LOOK: this straight-up-and-down collarless style says casual cool—perfect for girls who don’t like the stiffness of a fitted white shirt.
WEAR WITH: jeans and some plain thong sandals, plus a pair of big hoop earrings—so simple. So sexy!
GOOD FIT FOR: curvy girls who want to cover the tummy area—try one with a little smocking to stop it clinging. Petites should get as neat a fit as possible so that your shirt draws attention to your shape in all the right ways.
NOT THE BEST FIT FOR: juicy pears—if your shirt’s too narrow at the top, it will set your shape off balance.
FAMOUS FOR WORKING THE LOOK: preppy A-listers, such as Gywneth Paltrow and Jennifer Aniston.
“Wear with a big pair of hoop earrings. So simple. So sexy!”
“No matter how you wear it, your white shirt should make you feel red hot!”
OVERSIZED
THE LOOK: loose, natural, I-just-threw-this-on chic.
WEAR WITH: leggings and jeans. Wrap a big belt round your waist to add definition to your shape, or an oversized jacket for a cool seventies Annie Hall take (I love that style!).
GOOD FIT FOR: it’s a winner for most shapes and ages—all that fabric means that you can play with proportions to suit your shape.
NOT THE BEST FIT FOR: petites or skinny chicks might feel a little like Casper The Friendly Ghost in this look.
FAMOUS FOR WORKING THE LOOK: everyone from Diane Keaton to Stella McCartney.
where to buy
FIND CLASSIC WHITE SHIRTS AT: TM Lewin, Jaeger, Thomas Pink, Whistles, Zara, Gap FIND WRAPOVER SHIRTS AT: Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, Zara, Gap, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, TM Lewin FIND GRANDAD SHIRTS AT: Topshop, ASOS, Reiss, Savile Row Co, Debenhams FIND PUSSY BOW SHIRTS AT: Wallis, M&S, GAP, Vivienne Westwood Anglomania, ASOS FIND OVERSIZED SHIRTS AT: M&S, Gap, Thomas Pink, Topman
SAVVY SAVER
IF YOU’VE GOT A WHITE SHIRT IN YOUR WARDROBE THAT YOU FEEL IS LOOKING A BIT WORSE FOR WEAR BUT WANT TO PULL OUT AGAIN, YOU CAN EASILY REVAMP IT. HERE ARE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO REFRESH IT:
1 NOW, GIRLS, I’M NOT USUALLY ONE FOR CONFORMING, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHITE SHIRTS, EVEN I FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE: it has to be as crisp and clean-looking as humanly possible. So make sure you use a good brightener: John Lewis has a great selection, and so does Dylon, which is stocked in most supermarkets.
2 THIS TIP WILL ONLY TAKE A FEW MINUTES and, even better, will only set you back about a fiver: change the buttons on your shirt for a mix of coloured ones to add designer-like detail.
3 I LOVE THAT GOOD-AS-NEW FEELING THAT DRY-CLEANED CLOTHES HAVE, but I’m not so keen on shelling out a fortune for constant trips to the dry-cleaner. Try Dr Beckmann Dry-Clean Only sheets, which you stick in the tumble-dryer for 20 minutes. What a brilliant idea! (Dr-beckmann.co.uk)
SAVVY SAVER
HOPEFULLY YOU’RE ALREADY WEARING YOUR FAVOURITE WHITE SHIRT IN A WHOLE NEW WAY, BUT IF YOU WANT TO START AFRESH AND BUY A NEW STYLE, HERE ARE THE DEVILISH LITTLE DETAILS TO LOOK OUT FOR:
1 WEARING GOOD FABRICS WILL MAKE OR BREAK YOUR OUTFIT, and you deserve the best, sweetheart, so always buy the best fabric you can afford—100 per cent cotton is a pretty good benchmark. Also watch out for wonky or puffy seams and any poor finishing.
2 Now, gorgeous, the length of your shirt is so important: it can beautifully outline your shape or play