iGamine: White Tee Commandments

Summer is officially here, and I feel like it's been ages since I updated this blog! A lot has happened over the past few months, as in, I graduated college and got married, so I've been a little preoccupied;) However, since I no longer have an excuse to neglect my blog, I'll be updating more frequently over the summer and hopefully re-vamping a few things.

It's only fitting that my first post of the summer would involve what is perhaps the most common and best-loved warm-weather wardrobe staple: the white tee shirt [tank top, blouse, etc.]

But as with any type of fashion, there are ways to wear the look, and ways to ruin the look. With a white tee, it's hard to go wrong, but it is not impossible! Follow these "white tee commandments" to make sure you get a lot of mileage out of this wardrobe staple and look hot while doing it!

1. Look for lightweight, sheer, or flowy fabrics.

The reason being that white is not as kind to the body as darker colors. While black tends to mask any body flaws and make its wearer appear instantly slimmer, white has the opposite effect. It makes bulges appear bigger and highlights flaws in your silhouette,since it's a light-reflecting, rather than absorbing, color. So be mindful when you are trying on and purchasing white tees. If it's too tight, skip it. If your white tees from last year are too snug in the tummy, toss them. It will only make your tummy look larger and make you lose confidence. Avoid the tiny fits and opt for something in a gauze-like fabric, with a longer hemline, or heck, just go a size up! One of the best ways to wear a cotton white tee is to buy it oversized. Check out a great example below by Lanston. Love it!

Lanston oversized Scoop Tee $74 at shopbop.

2. Please wear a nude bra.

Hot pink bras are sexy under white tees...at the pool or a rock concert. But please, ladies, do not show your undergarments to the world while you're at the mall, a restaurant, or heaven forbid at work. The best bra to wear under a white tee is one that's invisible (but do not go bra-less...at that point you might as well be topless). If you are pale, that means a nude or pale pink bra. If you have medium skin, try a dark nude or beige. If you're dark-skinned, try a rich cocoa or light brown color that blends to your skin tone. That will keep your look natural and people won't be distracted by your chest! Also note: don't wear a white bra with a white top; it actually makes the bra even MORE visible underneath! Not chic!

Just because one of the Olsen twins can do it doesn't mean you should!

3. Use your blank canvas as an opportunity to accessorize!

When you wear a plain white tee, it's an ideal time to pile on those accessories! A lightweight scarf worn with a white tee and rolled up boyfriend jeans will really make an outfit pop while keeping it comfortably casual. Add big earrings, bangles, or a statement necklace and your outfit instantly becomes more glam. Summer is the perfect time to give your go-to black club top some time off and replace it with your white tee. Pair your tee with a sexy mini skirt or some skin-tight jeans, heels, and some fun jewelry, and you have a new outfit for your next night out that's a lot cooler to wear! Odette Yustman gives a great example of this at the bottom!

Odette Yustman makes this white tee look so fancy!