Reading · The Voice of Reason with Carole Radziwill

My love affair with white shirts dates back to 2005. Kiki de Montparnasse had just opened on Greene Street when I wandered in and bought one.

It had long French cuffs, a back pleat, and a men’s cut. The length was exactly right. So was everything else.

By any reasonable standard, it should be gone. The fabric is worn thin. The cuffs are frayed. The repair marks are a badge of honor. It bears my history. It has survived moves, relationships, and closets full of newer, more expensive things.

Nothing has replaced it.

Over the years, the cotton has become almost sheer. Not fragile. Better. I still wear it. Less often now. Mostly because I’m afraid of what happens when it finally gives up.

White button-downs may seem like the simplest things on earth, but they’re deceptively complex.

My collection now includes cropped, personalized, bib-front, and boxy versions. The possibilities are endless. That’s what drew me in, and it’s what keeps me searching for the next one.

Little-known fact: Jennifer Zuccarini was the original creative director behind the Kiki brand. I still have pieces from her designs. I bought a lot from Kiki in those years. I was recently widowed and needed guidance! They would sometimes tell me I kept their lights on in the early days. Jennifer later left and started Fleur du Mal, a lingerie, lifestyle, and ready-to-wear brand that quickly became a favorite among celebs and NYC girls. It’s still one of mine.