Joyful and uplifting, there’s something about wearing our signature shade in summer that’s just so right. Fashion journalist Jess Cartner-Morley explores how to keep it fresh and modern.

For me, summer truly begins the first day I wear a white dress and sandals. It makes me smile just to write that. What a happy day! The light-hearted simplicity of an all-white outfit is the perfect way to leave the heavy baggage of winter behind and greet the loveliest months of the year with a spring in your step. White for summer feels good. And – even more cheering – it looks great, too.
 
White is the ultimate summer colour. White is Wimbledon champions and June brides. It is vanilla ice cream and fluffy clouds in a blue sky. White never goes out of style, but in summer it comes into its own. The harmony between warm weather and white clothes isn’t just something fashion editors, like me, have made up, by the way. It starts with science. White reflects light, bouncing the sun’s heat away from you, while dark colours absorb it, making you feel hotter. And there are important emotional benefits, too. Wearing white is like opening a window and feeling the sun and breeze on your skin. It is uplifting and energising, bringing that extra pep and stamina you need when the days start early and go on until late.

One of my absolutely favourite things about wearing white is that it is a very easy way to look like you have made an effort. I am always on the lookout for outfits that give me a high return on my styling investment, as it were. The best clothes are those which make a minimal amount of thought go a long way, and white does just that.
 
For one-and-done dressing, a white dress can’t be beaten. A drop-waist sundress with a simple scoop neckline, or a button-through shirt dress, are versatile choices that you will reach for time and again. On holiday, team them with tan sandals and a big floppy hat; back home, keep the holiday spirit alive (and show off that golden glow) by wearing them with smart black accessories. A slim, black leather belt and a classic pair of black shades will add plenty of polish for a smart lunch in town. Simple white palazzo pants are a brilliant summer basic, teamed with a blouse or a light knit. Texture comes into its own when you wear all white, as the blank canvas of the colour lets the fabric take the spotlight, so look out for deliciously detailed fabrics, like broderie anglaise or pin-tucked cotton. White is more flattering when worn a little loose – and allowing a little air in will keep you cooler, too. Choosing natural fabrics over synthetics is even more important in the heat. Linen, which is brilliantly breathable and brings character to the simplest silhouette, is a summer classic for good reason.
 
Ring the changes with a few quick style tricks to make classic white look newly minted for 2024. Waistcoats are having a moment and can be worn with trousers to make a cool summer two-piece suit, or open over a dress as a light summer jacket. Basket bags are particularly in vogue, and perfect for adding that just-popping-to-the-market-for-a-baguette summer joie de vivre.
 
Wait. I nearly forgot! The ultimate accessory to a white summer look is, of course, a glass of ice-cold rosé. Mmm, that made me smile all over again.

Jess Cartner-Morley is Associate Editor (Fashion) at “The Guardian”.