On My Radar: White Jeans

white jeans in various cuts

White jeans have been a summer wardrobe staple for some time, and now I wear mine year-round. The right pair can dress up or down, and I’ve noticed many women (and men) in London and France wearing white jeans with more polished outfits. To my eye, it’s a more modern and current look than white trousers.

Shown above: left | middle | right

I’ve had the same skinny-ish pair for a few seasons now, and am on the lookout for something in a slightly more relaxed silhouette. Alyson’s cropped, frayed hem style looked fresh and fun (and would work brilliantly with ankle boots in cooler months), and I’d also be open to a slim boyfriend style.

I love to wear mine in a black and white outfit, how about you?

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26 Comments

  1. Totally agree about white trousers in jeans form – not just they “sit” better than most others (at least on my “lower half of a (big) pear”), but also tend less to the transparency which I positively hate :).

    As for black&white.. summer, winter or anything in-between – gimme, gimme, gimme… 🙂 Bright bag, shoes or statement piece of (costume) juwellery – ..look done!

    1. Living in Florida which is hot, hot, hot this summer I love the cropped white jeans with the silky scarf tops. I wear a tank under the filmy ones.

    1. When I was very young, my mum made me a pair of ecru jeans with brown sticthing. I wore them for years in my late teens and early 20s, but eventually they wore out. I don’t think I ever had any jeans or other trousers that fit me as well. And not as much a cat hair magnet as pure white ones.

  2. Still jittery about white on the bottom, and I notice that the models are all photographed against a white background, so … maybe it’s not just me. On the other hand, Susan, I follow most all your other suggestions, in thought if not in action. If you say white pants can be my friend, then we shall see. Stranger things have happened.

  3. White jeans are a summer staple in my books. And like Anna, above, I don’t like that white trousers are so see-through.

  4. I am too messy for white jeans, unless they are worn just for dressing up, and pants that need to be washed after one wearing are not part of my relaxed, retirement life. They also have limited use in my 4 season environment. perhaps if I liven in a warmer climate and could justify owning several pairs….

  5. White jeans are also a staple in my summer wardrobe, and yes with a lot of black tops, and b&w striped tops. I like to add color with accessories.

  6. White trousers not only have transparency risks (unless they’re lined, but in summer, who wants that?), but they also carry the potential of turning one into Mrs. Thurston Howell, saved from Gilligan’s Island and on her way to bingo (though it’s true she usually wore dresses, but you get the image). No elastic. No polyester. I bet even Kate Middleton would look bad in those pants, and she is adorable in everything.
    White linen with a drawstring waist could work.
    Re jeans, I like cropped versions for summer. That little bit of ankle keeps them from looking suffocatingly hot.

  7. White Jeans, a yes for me , however I have to pick my days based on the weather. 87 Degrees and humid ? No, but a cooler low 70s day and I can get on board with it. I like wearing them with bright happy colors, Greens, oranges. Hot pink. Or just a simple navy and white striped top. Also, I wear them ankle length so the cute jeweled sandals show. Most important, I like a cotton blend in the fabric, which is a lighter weight than just 100% cotton denim. I love that cotton rayon poly with a touch of lycra.

  8. In the last year, I’ve been paring down my wardrobe and sticking with solid basics, which makes dressing for almost any occasion a breeze. My “discards” have included white pants and trousers, in exchange for white jeans. I have them in several lengths, from cropped to skinny long jeans which I roll up at the bottom. They all look good, and best of all, I feel comfortable in them; I put them on and forget I’m wearing them! Ditto on the black and white with pops of color from a scarf, shoes, handbag, etc.

  9. I LOVE my white jeans. I have a few pair of skinny whites but my all time favorite pair is from Uniqlo. The fit is spectacular and they are comfy as all get-out.
    During winter, I’ll wear the whites with knee-high boots and a sweater or a tee and a blazer. I love the look of white jeans with a navy blazer.
    During summer I like the Jackie-O look. White jeans. Flat sandals and a black tee. It’s all good.
    I took my white jeans with me on vacation, but the weather was just so hot on the Cote d’Azur that I stuck to dresses and bathing suits!

  10. I too, like to pair my white jeans with black but living in a hot and humid climate, I am up for a change… I’m opting for shades of blue and gray. Like a soft navy gauze to denim sleeveless tank to a pale chambray with gray stripe linen T. I harvested your idea of the silvery or Pewter Taos sneaker. Lovely looks. I’ll be heading to the south of France this summer and also picked up a casual full leg linen pant in white. We shall see.

  11. I bought white NYDJ and also have a pair of cropped linen pants with little flare at the bottom and button details by CMC and they have been the core pieces in my summer wardrobe. Love white jeans for fall too…happy shopping!
    Your travel pictures are so lovely!

  12. I love my white jeans and especially like to wear them in the fall with with boots, heavy sweaters and jackets! They look so fresh and fun. I don’t wear them the winter or early spring because our weather in Chicago gets messy and they are easily stained with mud and yuck.

  13. Does anyone have the problem that I do with white jeans?
    My less than smooth legs..ok…cellulite…show through the fabric. I tried to pull on a great pair of Mavi jeans the other day, my cut and size and on sale and got one leg over my thigh, (that carries me and my backpack countless miles), and immediately pulled them off.
    Should this be a concern? Am I the only one who sees this? Do I want to share my bumply bum and legs with society? (Oh no…not this issue again!!).
    I agree that white jeans look fantastic. Just haven’t been able to take the plunge yet.

    1. Kathryn, I’ve found that two factors make white jeans accentuate the “bits” we may not want highlighted: thinner fabric and a too-snug fit. It’s really trial and error to find a pair that is just thin enough and just fitted enough. Keep trying and when you do find it, buy multiples! 😉

      1. I find that some white pants that fit snug through the thighs require wearing a bike short type undergarment to smooth things out. With alot of these recent styles, if I size up, then the waist area is gaping too much, so I settle for the regular size and adapt. Usually a flowy linen type white trouser is better for my shape, and cooler as well.

  14. White jeans are tough. I want a pair that fits well and is not too tight or transparent. Once you go to the heavier fabrics they feel heavy and binding in our Texas heat. I have the white Eileen Fisher ankle jeans which look good on my ample behind and legs but feel a bit warm. I went to a white cropped pant in a lighter weight cotton from Land’s End which work well with tunics and other tops. Your trip looks fab!!

  15. I think white jeans are a must have for summer. They are fresh, and such a welcome shift from blue, and black jeans. Paired with bright colored tops or denim or white tops– they just feel especially good for summer date night!

  16. Love white jeans and wear them winter and summer – often with black but also with grey, or a denim shirt or more white …

  17. I wear my white (skinny jeans) with a white silk/linen tee and an ecru linen long line loose jacket or a blue/white striped seersucker jacket. Or, on a cooler day grey long sleeve tees. I like white with neutrals. Must admit, I have never been a huge fan of white jeans with black tops as the stark contrast in colours cuts me in half.

  18. White jeans have been a staple for me in my wardrobe for years. A well fitting pair can actually be surprisingly slimming, IMO. J brand and Rag and Bone are current favorites. I love wearing black and white and also pair them with summery tunic tops.

  19. Ah yes…white…they do show all the bumps and “ruffles” if they are not the right fabric and fit. Very few women who are not thin can wear skinny whites. Note all the models are stick thin. I have found that I no longer like zippers and buttons as they make a bump under tops. My go to white pants are called Slimsation and Travelsmith carries them. The fabric is cool but substantial and the fit is close enough to be fun and flattering but not to show “ruffles”! I have off white pants from Chico’s. I have tried EF who I adore…but no go. White denim is certainly less revealing but too heavy for me most of the time. Black top…sure…but anything goes!