Elzbieta Irena Siolkowska

Getting to understand the relevance of a white shirt through an older generation.

When would you wear a white shirt?

- I was bought up by your grandma to always wear a white shirt in school, on special occasions such as Christmas, easter, to a job, church etc.

How does a white shirt make you feel?

- I always knew they were elegant, but, as a child, I never used to like wearing white shirts to school; it made me feel restricted and under a strict regime. Grandma always told your auntie and me how nice and we looked in them. When I grew up a bit, I didn’t mind them much. I would wear them to work or on special occasions. They made me feel elegant and mature as if people would take me more seriously in a working environment. I don’t wear them anymore.

Why do you not wear white shirts anymore?

- White only suits certain people. Skin colour, hair colour, eye colour and age in my belief all play a significant role in the white shirt. It satisfies a younger generation more. The only white shirts I would wear are T-shirts with a low neckline, a jumper or a loose blouse.

Should a white shirt be worn every day?

- When I was growing up, polish culture would suggest that you have specific ‘everyday clothes’ and your ‘Sunday clothes’ which would, in fact, consist of a white shirt. I thought it was stupid. If I want to wear a white shirt, I will. I wouldn’t wear a long ball gown every day, but that doesn’t mean I can’t wear a long dress.

Additional comment.

- At a wedding, the colour white usually dominates even if the dress is slightly beige, blue or ecru white always comes out on top. Because of its clean, crisp colour. It resembles a new blank page.

#mum #interview #eighties #culture #society #identity