the land of cotton

NOTHING CAN beat a good shirt. Cuffs may get long and flappy, collars may get big, long, pointy or disappear altogether - bits of string around the arm were fashionable a few seasons back. But a shirt will never let you down (unless, that is, you are Nigel from EastEnders). A crisp, white shirt is one of the sexiest items of clothing a man can wear: those perfectly turned back cuffs, that immaculate collar, a hint of aftershave mingling with the smell of Bold All-in-One. Aaah. The really boring thing about shirts, though, is the ironing. But now, the famous shirt makers Van Heusen have developed the non-iron shirt in a cotton rich fabric (available from Selfridges, John Lewis, Debenhams and House of Fraser stores, at pounds 29.95, telephone 01773 727546). Another company worthy of note is Wealth of Nations. They source their clothes from around the world and their suppliers are paid a fair price. Two shirts of theirs which are highly recommended are the Croatian linen shirt (pounds 55, pure linen), which is beautifully floppy and romantic; and the Hungarian shirt (pounds 38, pure cotton) which has softly gathered arms (the sort of shirt Errol Flynn wore when sword fighting). Both styles are available for men or women, telephone 0171 371 5333 for details and mail order.

Annalisa Barbieri

Clockwise from top left:

THE WHITE SHIRT

(l to r) Lady's fitted cotton shirt with turnback cuffs, pounds 110, Margaret Howell, 29 Beauchamp Place, SW3 and 7 Paved Court, Richmond; inquiries 0171 6275587. Nepalese silver elephant cufflinks, pounds 28, Wealth of Nations, mail order on 0171 371 5333.

Indian poplin shirt with gathered yoke (available for both men and women), pounds 35, Wealth of Nations as before.

White cotton shirt with puffed collar, pounds 57.50, Workshop Shirts, 52 Bow Lane, London EC4 and branches; mail order 0171 498 5878.

Basic white cotton shirt with breast pocket, from a selection from pounds 24 for women and pounds 28 for men, Gap branches nationwide, inquiries 0171 499 3821. Man's ribbed cotton grandad shirt, pounds 22.50, Marks & Spencer, selected stores nationwide, inquiries 0171 935 4422.

THE PATTERNED SHIRT

(l to r) Lady's snakeskin print satin shirt, pounds 39.99, Warehouse branches nationwide, inquiries 0181 910 1400. Man's watch print heavy cotton shirt, pounds 125, Paul Smith Jeans, 9/11 Langley Street, London WC2, inquiries 0171 379 7133. Man's sunflower print shirt, pounds 24.99, Foster's Trading Co, branches nationwide, inquiries 0121 608 3100. Lady's red/white polka dot pyjama- style shirt, pounds 62.99, Hobbs branches nationwide, inquiries 0171 586 5550. Wooden hands from Wild Clothing, 4/6 Broad Street, Nottingham (01159 413928).

THE SATIN SHIRT

(l to r) Red satin shirt, pounds 24.99, Dorothy Perkins branches nationwide, inquiries 0171 291 2604. Cream satin shirt with turnback cuffs, pounds 30, Principles, branches nationwide, inquiries: 0171 927 1443. Camel satin shirt, pounds 25, Marks & Spencer as before.

THE SILK EVENING SHIRT

Shot gold silk fitted shirt, pounds 209, Paul Smith Women, 40 Floral Street, London WC2; Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW1: 15 Ethel Street, Birmingham. Inquiries: 0171 379 7133. Floral arrangement by Yvonne Jean (01572 737712).

THE CITY STRIPE SHIRT

(l ro r) Man's striped cotton shirt, pounds 20, Marks & Spencer, selected stores nationwide, inquiries 0171 935 4422. Yellow silk tie, pounds 45, Olivier Strelli at Europe, 64 Hampstead High Street, NW3; inquiries 0171 436 1701. Man's blue/white cotton shirt, pounds 44, Van Heusen, John Lewis, Oxford Street, W1; Selfridges, Oxford Street, W1 and branches of Moss Bross; inquiries 01773 727 546. Fuschia silk tie, pounds 45, Olivier Strelli as before. Cufflinks, pounds 75, Sackville & Jones, Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW1; Liberty, Regent Street, London, W1 and mail order 0171 405 3100. Bowler hats and umbrella, stylist's own.