A shirt is just about as versatile as a piece of clothing gets. A spectrum of hues, a wealth of fabrics, a myriad of collars; the choices are endless. But alas, our wardrobes are not, and a well-curated sartorial collection needn’t be overflowing with seldom-worn styles. You just need one good shirt that can be called for duty time after time – the secret is in the styling.

But first comes the shirt itself. What a capsule repertoire needs is a clean slate from which to build any look for any occasion. For this, a crisp cotton should be your go-to. While we’ve long been in praise of linen outside of its on-the-beach confines, and a touch of wool never goes amiss when it comes to adding texture and depth, cotton’s welcome minimalism makes it ideal for both casual and smarter wear, as well as any weather forecast.

Take our Weekend Oxford shirt, for instance. With its signature button- down collar and subtle buttons, it’s going to work as well for the boardroom as it does on the weekend. Plus, the fact that it’s not made of poplin – its cotton yarns are spun with a thicker weave – means that it’ll only get better with age in its own unique, love-worn way.

Next to note is colour: a white shirt might have initially sprung to mind as the blankest of blank canvasses, but its pin-neat, precious connotations render it less easy to wear off-duty. This is where blue comes in. It somehow says elegant yet cool, smart yet laid-back all at the same time. It might seem like a basic but what you do with it creates looks that are anything but.

There are not many wardrobe crises that can’t be fixed by a good pair of jeans. Style your blue shirt open over a white T-shirt to add polish to your favourite seen-better-days pair come the weekend, or wear under a blazer with a smarter dark-wash, straight-leg style and sleek boots to really nail the smart-casual brief.

There’s a time and place for tradition and paired with a suit is where the shirt comes into its own. Steer clear of black – perhaps a bit too close to school uniform territory – and instead opt for a deep navy or soft grey two-piece to make the touch of blue feel like a wholly purposeful detail. It should go without saying, but make sure your iron comes out of its box for this one – it’s what it deserves.

With its understated backdrop, a blue cotton shirt is ready and waiting to help you pull off those trickier prints lurking in your wardrobe. Style under a jauntily patterned blazer, or finish with a multicoloured tie to add some personality to your outfit without feeling too kids’ TV presenter.

To roll, or not to roll? That is the question. A few turns of the cuff dispel any hint of its prim-and-proper preconceptions, adding just the right amount of devil-may-care attitude. You only have to look at the ineffable insouciance of old-school Hollywood actors such as Paul Newman, or more recently Ryan Gosling, to get the gist. But this one’s tricky. There’s a definite nonchalance you’re wanting to achieve but you don’t want to be mistaken for a bedraggled geography teacher. Our advice? Keep the rolls loose but semi neat and mirror with just a couple of undone buttons at the collar.

A shirt needn’t always be the star of the show – best supporting act is also a pretty important accolade. Layer yours underneath a contrasting- coloured sweater when the weather takes a chillier turn for a look that’s as comfortable as it is stylish. Top tip: the Oxford shirt’s buttoned collar means it’ll sit nicely under a sweater’s neckline – whether V-neck or round – without any one-in-one-out shenanigans.