John David Washington relied on the humble white shirt in the trailer for Malcolm & Marie. It’s time to follow suit
Jog your memory back to the time when you wore more shirts than you did joggers. Really think about it. There was no occasion that the trusty menswear staple wasn’t appropriate for: work, weddings, smart-casual drinks at the weekend, smart-casual brunches on bank holidays. Now, ironing a fresh batch of shirts for a week on Zoom doesn’t exactly feel worth it, does it? At a time when comfort has quickly taken priority over sharp style moves, we’ve forgotten all about the power of the freshly pressed white shirt.
Leave it to John David Washington to remind us. Sauntering onto the screen in the new trailer for Malcolm & Marie wearing a crisp white shirt that has just enough buttons left undone at the top and sleeves rolled up above the elbow, Washington proved that, sometimes, the sexiest style statements are the most simple. At points throughout the trailer, the shirt is dressed up with a simple black suit and tie, but the white shirt remains constant. The takeaway? Looking a million dollars doesn’t have to be complicated. You simply have to dig out the oldest style staple in your wardrobe.
A modern black-and-white drama, Malcolm & Marie follows a couple as they return home from a film premiere and anxiously await the critics’ response. As the tension builds, the cracks in their relationship begin to surface, presenting a study of the boundaries of love as the strength of their relationship is tested.
Filmed last summer, it’s been revealed that Washington’s costar, Zendaya, wore her own clothes in Malcolm & Marie to cut down the amount of people needed on set, and we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he’d also followed suit; after all, every man has a smart shirt and suit in his wardrobe to fall back on in sartorial emergencies. Now, thanks to Washington, everyone also has a leading man ’fit to rely on when Hollywood comes a-knocking. Star style made easy, the white shirt is a timeless flex that earns bonus points for its accessibility and ease. All you have to do is iron those creases out.
Well, that’s not quite all. First, you need to ensure that your white shirt is, you know, actually white. Facing a shirt wardrobe filled with murky grey hues? You need an upgrade, my friend. Find GQ’s pick of the best white shirts on the market below.
