Lisa Armstrong is The Telegraph’s head of fashion. She began her career in fashion at Vogue. She has written four novels, has an honorary doctorate from the University of Arts in London, and was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to fashion.
Each week, she responds to your queries, lending her expertise to help you shop smart. Have a question for her? Submit it below.
Dear Lisa,
There are two things I long to be able to sort out in my wardrobe. First, I would love to be able to wear a white shirt, but have trouble finding one that is cut in a way that doesn’t make me look like a brick (I am 53, 5ft 5in and usually a size 12-14, hourglass-ish figure).
Second, I love a good pair of trousers but find that tops tucked in make my “mum tum” and hips look very round, while untucked tops can look messy. It’s fine for t-shirts and such but I would love to find my perfect shirt!
– Sinead
Dear Sinead,
Fashion editors love to present white shirts as the ultimate chic-simple panacea for everyone. Guilty as charged – at least until recently, when some of my friends reported that white shirts do nothing for them either.
There are four key considerations when shirt shopping: fabric, cut, length and collar.
For boyish figures, densely woven cottons that hold their shape are fine, but for an hourglass-ish figure like yours, something flowy and softer that shows your shape would be good. That way if you decide to tuck it in, it won’t look boxy, but should instead accentuate your waist.
This one is recycled polyester rather than silk, but that’s reflected in the price. It drapes well and you can pop it in the machine – two big pluses.