Okay, I am not referring to a little black dress literally. What I mean is that every man should have a basic white long-sleeve shirt as a staple in their closet - like every woman should have a little black dress. But the necessity of having these particular articles of clothing is where the similarity ends. To my mind, men's basic white shirt is more versatile. That you can wear it virtually anywhere, anytime. Let me show you how.

The good thing about a white shirt is that it will never look outdated because it's classic enough that you can wear it everyday to the office and nobody would raise an eyebrow as to your personal hygiene. They would never know. But that's beside the point.

A white shirt goes with ties of any color or pattern. Just make sure your tie is neatly placed and its tip rests above your belt buckle (remember: it's either a belt or suspenders, you should never wear both at the same time). Since the fashion now is for slim/skinny ties, make sure that if you're wearing one your shirt has sleek collars (as opposed to wide collars) and slim silhouette. But all this sleekiness will be for naught if the shirt is wrinkled all over the place. Make sure it's crisp and fresh. Now put on your suit jacket and head on out. While in the office, you may loosen the tie a bit but don't roll the sleeves up if you're going to a formal affair after 5. This way, in case you may want to take off your jacket at the event, you're sleeves will still look fresh and, yes, formal.

tip: although ties of any color would sit well with the white shirt, go for the muted hue and non-flashy pattern. With ties, it's better to appear commonplace than out of sort.

Going out after 5? If it's not a formal affair, here's what you need to know. Take off the tie, unbutton the shirt (maximum depth, chest level and never lower). Dispense with the suit jacket and in its place, put on a sport jacket, a blazer or a sport coat. The good thing about a sport jacket is that it's informal without going too casual. And it allows you to freely move about and not to be too careful on how you go about wining and dining. Or you can just hang it on your chair or place it on your lap but never put it atop the table or the bar. When it's off of you, you can now roll up your sleeves to complete that nonchalant casual chic look.

tip: the age of the pleated front slacks is long gone, at least for now.

it's a crime to: wear white socks if you're wearing slacks, socks should match the color of the slacks.

For a day in the mall, at the cafe on the corner of your street or just about anywhere, the white shirt can be worn completely unbuttoned but make sure you have a great looking tee inside. White plain tee can be an option (white on white) but it would not look as fun as a printed T-shirt or a plain tee in either bright or dark color. Roll up your sleeves (but not totally exposing your elbow) and compliment your top with your favorite pair of jeans. A warning though, if your favorite pair of denim jeans is not slim or straight-cut, chances are you bought it during the 90s and its about time you find a new favorite. And if you decide that it's time for a change, look for a pair that is snug but not too tight, with a waistline that hovers around the pelvis area (anything lower or higher does not look good, trust me) and preferably with button fly. If you're not confident about your rearend, opt for those with unflattened back pockets (yes, those with flaps). To complete the look, put on your favorite sneakers. Although sneakers hardly age fashion-wise, it would be wise to remember that dirty is not synonymous with vintage.

tip: you can show your character by donning T-shirts that show your favorite band or artist, it can also be an icebreaker (like a starting point for a conversation) when you're on a blind date.

it's a crime to: wear T-shirts with sexist jokes or overtly sexual messages - some people find it offensive.

When you're going for a weekend getaway to the country, thank God that you have that ever reliable white shirt. With the sleeves rolled up, and the topmost button undone, put on a vest (knits are ideal) or a sweater that you can actually wear or put around your shoulders. Again, as with the tee, it can be of any color or design though it is safe to wear a plain vest with subdued hue just as long as it does not disappear in your white shirt. But if you want some design going on, the argyle print is a classic and the way to go. This also applies to the sweater. Now with your top all set, you can put on favorite chinos or khakis or shorts. But don't get the idea that chinos are the exact opposite of denim jeans. Chinos should be worn as you would denim jeans. They should also be of slim silhouette (not cargoes) and the waist should also rest within the pelvis area. You can wear your driving shoes with this ensemble or you may try slipping on an Oxford pair or loafers but never sneakers or any other sporty footwear. A reminder, if you feel more comfortable with shorts make sure that its tailored and you should forget about wearing socks - regardless of its height. Putting on a pair of slippers (thong-type or banded) could also be pulled off if you have public-ready toenails and your slippers are leather or look like one. And if you're going this route, off goes your vest or sweater. They just don't make practical sense put together.

So there. I hope you will now look at your white shirt with a little more appreciation. Really, when everything in fashion becomes too much for you, you can rely on it for a classic and always-ready off-the-hanger style.