All White Outfits for Men: A Classy Summer Favorite

An all-white outfit for men sounds bold. However, believe it or not, it can be quite flattering, and its history as a summertime staple is truly fascinating.

I’ve spent many summers in the English countryside and Nantucket. Because I’m bicoastal, I’ve been to my fair share of white parties. I may very well be an expert when it comes to all-white outfits for men.

Okay, I didn’t study fashion in school. But I majored in art history and have studied countless paintings of women in white throughout history. White clothes have gone from haughty beginnings to Jay-Z’s Big Pimpin’ music video.

Also, black garments often get a better reputation than white ones. They’re slimming, they say. They go with everything. 

Frankly, I think it’s difficult to pull off all black without looking like a vampire (not impossible, though).

That said, I’m more into white. So today, I’m going to help you pull it off and explore what it might mean for your personal style.

Some History: All White Outfits for Men and Beyond

When you think of men’s all-white attire, what do you think of? Some might think it’s “potentially tacky”, while others might think it’s “a wealthy person’s beach house party”.

But where did these associations come from?

Well, here’s the interesting thing. Consider the white t-shirt. It’s the piece of clothing modern-day eyes associate with Marlon Brando’s chic but working-class style. From an art history perspective, one of the first records of white shirts was Marie Antoinette’s.

Sure, her frilly white top was a far cry from the tee on Brando’s back. Still, here’s what the two have in common.

Both used what was essentially underwear and made it outerwear. For Brandon, the white top was a sign of anti-fanciness. For Marie Antoinette, it was a subversive move, rebelling against the order of the day because she famously hated her life.

Between these two style icons, though, was a fascinating development. The tragic queen’s fashion choices became standard. Only aristocrats had the means to clean their white clothes as often as needed. Thus, white garments became a sign of upper-class status.

Relatedly, white parties became a staple in high society events. They were often on a boat, at someone’s beach house, or someone’s estate garden in summer. This really blew up in the 1980s, among the fundraisers set in New York and Paris.

In the ‘90s, white parties became a staple among hip-hop stars. Remember my Jay-Z reference? Of course, they took a more urban cool approach, often ditching the stuffier traditions. Heck, Jay-Z pairing his wifebeater with white trousers is a combination of the Brando vibe and the aristocrat vibe.

So, there are several ways to approach an all-white men’s outfit.

All White Casual Outfit for Guys

You may be asking, can an all-white casual outfit for guys be more every day? What if I’m not trying to look like an aristocrat or a rapper?

Of course. Remember, there’s summer white and winter white, too. The only time an all-white outfit might not work is in the middle of fall.

White Jeans and White Sneakers

First, white jeans and white sneakers are year-rounders, depending on how they’re styled.

White Polo With White Shorts

During warm weather, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a white fitted T-shirt or polo with classic fitted white shorts. Finish it off with boat shoes, loafers, or sneakers.

Especially with short sleeves and shorts, the monochrome look doesn’t look as statement. After all, the all-white blocks aren’t taking up that much real estate. 

Alternatives

If it’s spring, feel free to cheat with a few light-hued accessories. Pale blue accents won’t stand out and can bring some dimension to the whole look.

If you want to add a little structure, go for a henley instead of a regular crew neck shirt.

You don’t want to wear shorts or short sleeves during winter. Between the long sleeves, long pants, and potential layers, that seems like a lot of white.

You can either accept this and be okay with an all-winter-white look or implement some trickery.

The first is to go for a subtle contrast. A light ecru or light beige will still read as white but break things up a bit — for example, a white button-down with beige khakis. Or, you can go for a white button-down and white pants, then break it up with a beige pullover.

Relatedly, textures can make you look less like a one-color block. Imagine if said pullover was cashmere or if you replaced it with a chunky shawl cardigan. 

White tweed is another good option. A white, structured long-sleeve shirt, with a high-wasted, straight-leg tweed trouser, for instance. This is also a good example of how different fits can create a dynamic silhouette.

Mixing fits, shades of white, and textures are the best approaches to winter white. Still, since putting together an all-white outfit for males is more common in the summer, let’s focus on that specifically next.

All White Summer Outfit Men’s

Sometimes, you can’t just go with a T-shirt and shorts in the summer. If you’re going to a networking event, for example, you might opt for a smart casual approach. Maybe the event requires all white, or maybe you just want to look seasonal.

Let’s put together a good-looking all-white summer outfit in men’s style (it’s often easier for women to wear all white). Again, just as in winter, I implore you to mix textures and shades.

Instead of looking at tweed and cashmere, you might consider linen, silk blends, tropical wools, slub cotton, and poplin.

For a night in the town, you may wear a loose linen shirt and white jeans. For a more professional event, you can go for a white dress shirt. Pair it with a linen suit jacket and either matching trousers or beige bamboo pants.

Again, use accents as a cheat. Pair an all-white Havana suit with a light tan or light blue shirt, completely unbuttoned, with a white shirt underneath. The accent colors will merely peak out.

Okay, now you have some ideas and examples of how to put together a completely white casual or professional outfit.

But can you pull off all-white formal outfits for men in the strictest sense? Let’s dig into it.

All White Formal Outfits for Men

The easiest situations are formal events that also happen to be themed parties requiring all white. In situations like this, an all-white suit doesn’t look weirdly striking.

Moreover, there are such things as fully white tuxedos, particularly for white-tie situations. If you like, you can break it up using a stark, whitest-of-whites shirt and tuxedo pants. Then, you can pair it with a more ivory-toned jacket.

To achieve men’s all-white attire without looking costumey, it’s all about understanding the nuanced shades of white.

Or, if you want, just be bold and go for a fully, truly monochrome look. A tuxedo mixes textures by nature, anyway. The tie, shirt, and tailoring are made of different materials or weaves.

Not all parties are formal, though. In fact, many of those upscale events in the Hamptons aren’t. But you still have to look elegant when putting together all-white party outfits in men’s style.

All White Party Outfits for Men

Depending on the dress code and context, you can implement any of the tips above for an all-white celebration outfit. 

In fact, all-white outfits for males are arguably easy to achieve by just following the dress code. On top of that, you want to pick good cuts and fits. You don’t have to get too creative if you don’t want to.

But if it’s a party, feel free to have a little fun. You can bring this energy or added sophistication with accessories.