A White Shirt, But very Far From Basic-Mhenase Touch at Paris Men’s AW 23/24

Josephine Agbonkhese

Nigerian fashion brand, Mhenase Touch, founded by Amenawon Monica Okoh, made an appearance at Paris Men’s AW 23/24 presenting their White Shirt Project, a design that gave a different feel to the classic white shirt, making it look more artistic and far less predictable. The white Shirt project was developed by Amenawon as part of her ongoing MA Fashion Design studies at the University of Salford.

When you see a white shirt, apart from it being associated with “uniform”, there’s always this familiar thing about it that feels timeless. It is usually crisp, clean, and full of many possibilities. But this one right here isn’t your regular office button-down, it is a very dramatic white shirt-dress, which with its structured sleeves and statement metallic detailing, is a piece that cannot be ignored even if you wanted to.

As someone who sees hundreds of garments pass through Lagos and international fashion circles alike, I had to make a quick pause when these images came across my screen.

Let us talk about what works in this beautifully crafted garment first.

The overall shape is unapologetically bold. Those oversized, structured sleeves with the exaggerated cuffs are the star of the show, they look like they could fit both as part Victorian poet and part modern power dressing.

When the model in one of the displayed pictures turns around on the stairs, the way the shoulders flare out gives you this real presence of the dress, almost like the garment starts to come alive when it moves. Then the golden grommets running down the sides and along the sleeves also now adds a raw, modern feel that keeps it from feeling too romantic or costume-y.

When you explore these clever detailing further, you see how well it catches the light so beautifully that it makes the garment feel expensive and special, very red-carpet worthy i would say.

The mini length works very well with the black thigh-high boots. It creates that striking contrast: soft white fabric against the sharp black leather, and that on its own gives the whole look a fierce attitude.

When you look at the belt with the gold rings and how it cinches the waist nicely, you will immediately appreciate how well it worked in defining the silhouette and preventing the oversized elements from overwhelming the wearer.

From the front, the high collar with golden grommets shapes the face so well, and the pocket detail also adds another point of attraction without overshadowing the clean white base. I love how the detailings are not competing with the shirt dress for any attention whatsoever.

Now, for the honest observations. This is not a garment for the Lilly livered nor the faint-hearted or for everyday Lagos traffic nor the London Underground train struggles.

The sleeves are massive. They look really beautiful in pictures and on the runway or at a fashion event, but you will need serious space to manoeuvre in real life. I can already imagine trying to eat at a restaurant or get into a car without some strategic folding. This particular one without watering down its creative output is a statement garment that will ask for a lot of commitment.

The styling in the images is spot on; it keeps everything else minimal with just the boots and lets the shirt do the talking. But I wonder how it would work for the average Nigerian woman who wants to wear something bold but still practical, or the London woman who loves statement fashion but still needs comfort and ease in her everyday movement. Also, would this garment work when thrown over a pair of jeans for a more casual take? Or worn under a tailored blazer for cooler evenings? The versatility is there, but it will require a lot of confidence to pull off.

The most interesting take on this garment is how it pushes boundaries without changing its original state as a “classic white shirt” a shirt that is already a familiar wardrobe essential that many of us love. The idea of making something dramatic out of a rather safe wardrobe staple is sure worth an applaud.

This garment stands for fashion that celebrates drama and individuality. The truth is, not everyone will love it, and not everyone should wear it. But for the woman who wants to walk into a room and own it, whether at an art opening in Ikoyi, a creative meeting in Soho london, or a stylish evening out in France, this white shirtdress delivers.

Would I recommend it? For the right woman, absolutely. Just make sure you have the personality and the occasion to match its energy. Because this shirt dress? It does not whisper. It arrives.