What is it about a classic white shirt that everyone loves so much? With the French countryside as the backdrop, we explore foundational elements of a modern minimalist wardrobe with Grammar, a capsule line with the perfect white shirts.

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell.”

–William Strunk, The Elements of Style

hat is it about a classic white shirt that everyone loves so much? I have always wanted to find out the formula of a timeless fashion piece.

Timelessness is term ubiquitous in fashion, representing the iconic silhouettes of historically popular designs. But what makes a piece timeless? Is it simplicity? Is it a hidden complexity, or it is luck?

It takes time to become a classic. If there’s one definition of this abused term, it’s about resisting the inevitable ebb and flow of taste and fashion. Classics can’t be invented, they evolve. They have to win approval and slowly acquire value.

Constructed by hand in New York City’s garment district from organic cotton, GRAMMAR is a line of 5 perfect white shirts creating foundational elements of a modern minimalist wardrobe.

The catalyst for starting GRAMMAR came out of misfortune for Althea, Simons, founder of the line. In early 2016, Althea’s apartment building burned down and she lost all of her belongings. The difficulty she felt trying to replace her wardrobe lead her to conclude that the perfect garments for her life did not yet exist. A fan of iconic wardrobe essentials, Althea decided to apply her eye for detail and nuance to the challenge of creating the perfect white shirt.

A common misconception about minimalist styles is that is strips one of a sense of individuality– yet GRAMMAR has took this iconic wardrobe staple and created five distinct pieces, each with a unique personality.

During my one-month stint in Paris this past Summer, I needed pieces that would satiate the following non-negotiables: (1) effortlessly styled with a limited amount of clothes (I was directing a documentary and didn’t have time to invest in curating outfits), (2) could traverse the humid Parisian summer (this California girl is used to dry heat, not humidity), (3) all while embodying the essence of French style (a balance between timelessness and avant-garde looks).

I opted for the Antecedent Shirt and the Exclamation Crop. The Antecedent is modern take on a peasant top with gathering all up and down the slightly-cropped dolman sleeves. This loose, airy top is perfect for warmer days throughout the spring, summer and fall. The Exclamation Crop is short-sleeved crop with a pleat in the back, this swingy top pairs perfectly with high-waisted pants. Its double-breasted closure can be buttoned all the way up or with the top button open.

This series was shot with the backdrop of Versailles, a city in the Yvelines département in Île-de-France region, renowned worldwide for the the Palace of Versailles and the gardens of Versailles.

A common misconception about minimalist styles is that it strips one of a sense of individuality– yet GRAMMAR has took this iconic wardrobe staple and created five distinct pieces, each with a unique personality. This editorial showcases two pieces from the collection, with the foreground of the French countryside: a geography known for striking the balance between timeless and avant-garde style.