Now that we’re in the dog days of August, it’s time to begin thinking of transitional dressing by adapting our wardrobes to Fall trends while staying cool in the humid summer heat. It’s the same challenge we face each season, and each season we find ourselves drawn to the classic of all classics: the white button-down dress shirt.

First made popular during the 1920s, the white dress shirt has transformed from simple man’s dress shirt to fashion closet staple. Carolina Herrera and the crisp white shirt go hand-in-hand. We’ve even highlighted the humble white shirt on this week’s The Ten… Each season we see a refresh of the crisp white shirt cropping up in a variety of collections… But what about a designer who, season after season, devotes their entire collection to the dress shirt?

Meet Anne Fontaine, a Brazilian designer who only sets her eyes upon the tailored formal shirt. If that’s not enough, Fontaine designs over 500 new styles each season. That’s right, since 1993, Fontaine conceives 1,000 different dress shirts a year. For Fontaine, the button-down is a second-skin that has an unseen level of diversity.

This Fall, Fontaine looked to Tolstoy’s tragic heroine, Anna Karenina, for a collection of shirting that is both fresh and classic. Imagined in three different chapters (from a smoky train station to The Ball of St Petersburg), Fontaine’s Fall collection presents a breath of styles to suit your personal taste – there’s the Armantine for the buttoned-up modernist, the Christie for those seeking an unexpected touch and the Patsy for the romantic.

The easiest way to dress your singular white shirt from late summer to mid-fall is to carefully consider its mate. In August, consider a pair of City Shorts and modernist wedges; September polish it up with a pair of high-waisted, wide-leg pants or breezy A-Line skirt; and, in October, fall into the pace of the season with slender checked pants.

Join us this Thursday, August 9 as we present this collection of timeless classics to the Sixth Floor. For more details, call 212 872 2757

Complete the look:

GIVENCHY Wide-Leg Chevron Pant, 212 872 8747
VALENTINO Pleated Leather A-Line Skirt, 212 872 8948
ALC Mick Macro Check Pants, 212 872 2887