How to style a white t-shirt -The Chicest Blank Canvas in Your Wardrobe

summer style for women over 40

I’ve always had a soft spot for a simple white T-shirt. There’s just something so effortlessly stylish about it — fresh, classic, and full of possibility. When I don’t know what to wear (yes, even stylists have those days!), I often reach for my favourite white tee, a great pair of jeans, and then… the magic happens. Add a fabulous jacket, some statement shoes, and a pair of oversized sunglasses — et voilà — instant Italian cool with minimal effort.

But if you’re stuck in a T-shirt-and-jeans rut, let me help you fall in love with this wardrobe essential all over again. Here are 7 ways to style a white T-shirt and look like you’ve just strolled off the streets of Rome.

1. Tuck It Into Tailored Trousers

This is such an easy trick to elevate your white tee. Pair it with high-waisted trousers — think creamy linen or sharp black — and suddenly you’re not just “dressed,” you’re styled. Add loafers or heels and a spritz of confidence.

2. Layer It With a Midi or Maxi Skirt

A soft tee and a flowing skirt is a match made in la dolce vita heaven. I love this combo on warm days in Italy — breezy, elegant, and perfect for everything from market strolls to aperitivo hour.

3. Add a Statement Jacket

This is my personal go-to. A white tee and jeans is lovely, but it’s the jacket that gives it edge — a sharp blazer, a cropped denim jacket, or my forever favourite: a buttery leather number. Add bold earrings or red lipstick and you’re ready for anything.

4. Wrap It Up With a Cardigan or Flannel

This one’s for the cooler months or just those days when you want comfort with a touch of style. A chunky knit or plaid shirt thrown over your tee adds a relaxed, layered vibe — and looks especially lovely with wide-leg trousers or cuffed jeans.

5. Go Classic With Denim on Denim

A white tee under a denim jacket is as timeless as it gets. Add white sneakers or boots, roll your sleeves, pop your collar — it’s casual chic done right.

6. Wear It Under a Dress

Yes, really! If you’ve got a strappy dress that feels a bit too much for daytime, layer it over your tee. It softens the look and gives your dress a whole new life. Bonus points for pairing with sandals and a basket bag for that Italian countryside vibe.

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7. Pair With Tailored Shorts or Bermudas

Especially in the Italian summer, this look is easy and elegant. Tuck your tee into a pair of high-waisted shorts, cinch with a belt, and add sandals or espadrilles. It’s cool, comfortable, and oh-so-chic.

From Me to You: How to style a white t shirt

• The Fit is Everything – Not too tight, not too oversized. Look for something that skims your shape and tucks in neatly.

• Think Texture & Detail – A slightly structured fabric or subtle sleeve detail can make a plain tee feel luxe.

• Accessories Are Your Superpower – Sunglasses, bold earrings, a gorgeous bag — they all elevate the humble tee.

• Keep It Clean & Crisp – White tees can lose their charm fast if they’re dingy or misshapen. Take care of them (or keep a few on rotation!).

  
  

So next time you reach for your white T-shirt, know this: it’s not “just” a T-shirt. It’s the starting point for Italian elegance, your way. Just add a little you.

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All photos credited to Pinterest

You might like to read How to dress like an Italian

The not so dolce vita - our journey begins (moving to Italy blog)

We left the UK at 8:30 on a Saturday night, towing the caravan (for the first time properly!) behind our "new-to-us" car, and drove through the night to catch the 3:00 a.m. ferry from Folkestone. Sleep completely eluded us. My husband managed an hour on the ferry — but then again, he could sleep on a pin!

On the ferry

We arrived in Calais at 6:00 a.m. and drove on… and on… and on — stopping briefly for a snooze (him) and a pit stop (me). Eventually, nearing the Alps, we found a hotel with a secure car park, collapsed onto the bed, and slept the sleep of the dead.

The Alps ahead of us - our next mountain to climb!

The next morning, we left around 10:00, thinking we only had a half-day's drive ahead of us. We had booked a hotel for the night — complete with pool and restaurant — but hadn’t checked whether we could actually access it with a caravan. (We couldn’t.) So, we drove on… and on… until, at last, we reached our beloved Tarquinia.

Arriving in Tarquinia - moving to Italy blog

We spent the night at the wonderful Civico Zero Hotel, who welcomed us and our caravan with open arms. The guard at the gate thought is was a bit strange for us to be arriving to stay at a hotel with a caravan, but then we are English......! After a huge bowl of perfect pasta and a couple of glasses of wine, we fell into bed and into another deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning, we dropped the caravan off at a friend’s farm, where we’d reunite with it in four days’ time, and made a beeline for our “special place” — the beach bar Porticciolo. It’s our tradition: arriving in Tarquinia always starts with time at the sea, letting our minds and bodies decompress, soaking up the Italian around us until it replaces our Englishness.

After a slow, lovely morning there, we headed to our usual apartment for a short holiday.

Now, we’re back in the caravan… and we already wish the holiday had been longer!

Don’t get me wrong — I love our little caravan. It’s brilliantly fitted out and everything works, but we hadn’t quite anticipated the intensity of the heat. We bought an air-conditioning unit (a total lifesaver), but our dream of working outside with our laptops? Not happening. So now we both sit semi-clothed in the caravan, the air-con battling the heat from both the blazing sun and our overheating devices.

Venturing out at lunchtime is short-lived — either it’s just too hot, or the diesel motor running the farm’s watering system is thundering away, or the combine harvesters are going back and forth right past the caravan, bringing in grain to the waiting lorry.

I should explain: our wonderful friends are hosting us at their farm while we wait to complete on our farmhouse purchase. Tarquinia is, above all, a farming town — with the sea and lido its secondary focus.

This region has long been a major producer of pasta wheat, along with fruits and vegetables. Our friend Claudio grows wheat, melons, and assorted vegetables. The upside? A fresh melon magically appears on our doorstep each morning, along with cucumbers and other glorious produce. We feel reconnected to the rhythm of the seasons and the land — something we’ve deeply missed.

The downside? We’re up at 5:30 a.m., sharing our “pitch” with tractors and combines. But honestly, it’s a small price to pay for the beauty that surrounds us: evenings watching the sun dip into the sea, spotting hares, red kites, bats, and fireflies.

The early starts mean that by 7:30 a.m., we’re at the beach — having already emptied the caravan loo, topped up the water, done our washing, a bit of Pilates, and other daily bits and bobs. We walk along the shore, swim in the sea, then enjoy a cappuccino and cornetto before getting back to our desks by 9:00. Sometimes, we flip the day — walking around the farm early and heading to the beach later for a sunset swim and an aperitivo, chatting with old friends and new, before returning to the caravan for a light salad.

Tarquinia in the evening light

So yes, a fairly sybaritic lifestyle — if I’m honest. That said, there are certainly less glamorous moments. Like dragging our laundry to a stifling hot lavanderia, only to return later and find the drying rack has toppled over into the dust, leaving our whites… not so white.

But do I regret it? Not for a second.

Are there challenges? Absolutely.

Will there be more? Without a doubt.

But we’re here — and that makes all the difference.

Moving to Italy blog.

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Dressing for the Heat (and Coping with It!)

Style, Comfort & Confidence—Even When It’s Boiling!

Italy in the summer is beautiful… but let’s be honest, it can also be brutal. Scorching heat, blazing sun, and the kind of humidity that makes even your sandals feel sticky. Whether you're navigating your new expat life, dreaming of moving here, or just trying to keep cool while looking chic on holiday—it’s not easy dressing well when it feels like the world is melting.

And if you’re also navigating midlife changes (hello, hot flushes!), it can feel downright impossible. But I promise, it’s not.

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Let’s talk about how to stay cool, feel confident, and embrace your Italian summer style—without melting into a puddle.

1. Fabric is Everything

Natural, breathable fabrics are your best friend. Think:

• Linen – Yes, it creases. But in Italy, that’s part of the charm. A softly wrinkled linen dress says “relaxed elegance”.

• Cotton – Lightweight and versatile. Perfect for shirts, sundresses, and even wide-leg trousers.

• Viscose – If you like a drapier, silkier feel, this is a great plant-based option that breathes well.

Top tip: Avoid synthetics unless you want to feel like you're wrapped in clingfilm.

2. Silhouettes that Let You Breathe

Think loose, flowing, and gently structured—not tight or clingy.

• Try a kaftan-style midi dress, a linen co-ord set, or wide-leg trousers with a boxy tee.

• Show some skin strategically: an open back, sleeveless blouse, or off-the-shoulder neckline allows air to circulate without baring it all.

  
  

Italian style tip: Italian women know that looking sexy isn’t about showing everything—it’s about suggesting elegance and confidence. A floaty dress with bare shoulders and flat leather sandals? Perfetta.

3. Layer Lightly

Even in the heat, you may want a lightweight layer:

• A sheer cotton shirt over a tank top gives coverage without bulk.

• A linen blazer for an evening aperitivo adds polish.

• A big straw hat and oversized sunglasses protect and elevate your whole look.

  
  

Bonus tip: A folding fan in your bag adds a bit of vintage Italian drama—practical and stylish!

4. Colours & Patterns

Lighter colours reflect heat, but that doesn’t mean boring beige. Try:

• Crisp whites, soft blues, blush pinks, olive greens

• Classic summer stripes or romantic florals

Body-positive reminder: You don’t need to hide behind black just because you're not “beach body ready.” Your body is already worthy of the sunshine.

5. Style Confidence in the Heat

One of the most beautiful things about living in (or visiting) Italy is this: people wear what they want, at any age or size. On the beach, you’ll see grandmothers in bikinis, men in tiny Speedos, and bodies of all shapes soaking up the joy of summer without apology.

What if you gave yourself that same permission?

Wear the sundress. Go sleeveless. Don’t punish yourself with Spanx. Let your body breathe, and enjoy how good it feels to move through summer feeling like you.

Read What Italian Beaches Taught Me About Aging, Confidence & Style - midlife style transformation

6. Coping with the Heat (Not Just Dressing for It)

• Take breaks. Step into the shade, find a breeze, drink a granita.

• Drink water like it’s your job. Add lemon and mint for a dolce vita touch.

• Siesta when you can. Midday heat? Not the time to conquer the world. Be Italian: rest now, live later.

• Set the mood. A fan, a light mist spray with rosewater, soft cotton sheets at night—it’s all part of the summer ritual.

  
  

La dolce vita isn’t about doing more. It’s about enjoying what you’re already doing.

Ready to Feel Good in Your Summer Style?

Dressing for the heat and coping with it - If you’ve been hiding away this summer, melting into the background, or unsure how to dress for your midlife body in the heat—I see you.

You don’t have to wait until autumn to feel like yourself again. It starts with choosing clothes that love you back. It starts with letting go of shame and rules that don’t serve you anymore. And it starts with treating your body with the same Italian elegance you give to a beautiful plate of pasta or a glass of cold prosecco.

If you're ready to reconnect with your essence, your elegance, and your Italian soul—even in the heat—come and book a Taste of La Dolce Vita style session. Let’s make summer feel good again.

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