White Jean Refresh

Details: Susan B. at une femme d'un certain age shares her white jeans picks

It’s Time For An Update…

My white jeans are now 3 years old and looking a bit dingy. Plus, I’m weary of the skinny leg silhouette. I’ve been searching for a replacement pair for months, and it’s not been an easy task! I’ve tried a lot of different styles but really wanted something with a more relaxed fit and lightweight fabric, but not too sheer or distressed. I finally tried these straight-leg jeans from J Brand, and mission accomplished! They’re a good fit (though I did need to get them hemmed) and very comfortable.

More White Jeans Options…

This cropped style with a raw hem (currently on sale) from AG was a close runner-up.

Do you wear white jeans? What are your criteria for fit and fabric?

Stay in touch

Sign up to be notified of new posts and updates from une femme d’un certain âge.

Affiliate links in posts may generate commissions for unefemme.net. See my complete disclosure policy here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

38 Comments

  1. I love white jeans because they avoid that problem of seeing one’s underwear, which seems to happen with other fabrics.
    To whiten your old jeans, try soaking them in Oxyclean.

  2. I was just on this same mission! Bought the Jag Peri jean but even though it was supposed to be a “straight leg,” it was a bit too skinny. Found the “so slimming girl friend” cropped jean at Chico’s and it was perfect. One advantage to being short…I was able to unroll the cuff and “voila” I had ankle length jeans!

  3. I live in white jeans from May – Sept. in hot, humid Annapolis. I have found most of the winners at Old Navy and Nordstrom (Kut from the Cloth) and NYDJ. The more cotton in them the better, and a little bit of stretch helps. “Carbona” stain remover (yellow bottle, blue label) has gotten out a full glass of red wine stain. I probably have 6 pair in heavy rotation. I have one pair of white “slacks/pants” for dressiest occasions, but I rarely wear them anymore.

  4. I love the fit of the Style & Co. slim leg tummy control bright white jeans from Macy’s. They come in Regular and Petite sizes, plus you have the option of a regular or a short inseam in each! The fabric is substantial enough that there’s no underwear show-through and, at $49 a pair, a bargain!

    1. I have several pairs of pants from that line and I like them. I go to the store and look them over and then if they don’t have my size/length combination I go home and order them. They are a bargain and mine have preformed very well.

    2. I bought several pairs of the Alfani ones for the same reasons! They go on sale and there’s always the coupons. 🙂

  5. Here in Massachusetts, white jeans are au courant between Memorial Day and Labor Day (!) and I have always LOVED wearing them. However, at age 68, I now cope with the challenges of a body that no longer resembles the one I had when I was 30… This year, my full-length mirror encourages me to consider carefully whether or not white jeans are flattering. I am 5′ 2″ and wear a size 12… but I a prominent bum and heavy legs and I just don’t seem to look great in white jeans (anymore). I usually wear NYDJ’s “Marilyn” cut, but after trying several pair in a few different cuts, I am left searching for a reasonable alternative. HELP!!

    1. I’m 5′ 3″, an English size 12 – 14 and heavyish around bum, thighs, tummy and have never been able to find a pair of white jeans that are flattering! They always seem to show up every lump and bump!

    2. I feel your pain!! I’m the same height and have exact same issues- the bum and the tums lol. I found a great Lucky brand with a lot of stretch two years ago. With a small heel nude sandals – it looks great. If you love to wear white jeans, I think you should keep wearing them. Good luck, I hope you find something that makes you happy.

      1. I found a well-fitting (not low-rise) pair of white Levi crop jeans at Target, just when I had given up on the idea of wearing anything denim in my size, thinking they wouldn’t be comfortable enough. They fit great, are comfortable, and have a nice little roll at the hem.

    3. Judith, My daughter has heavier legs and has tried every pair of white jeans on the planet it seems. She finally found a great pair at Talbots. They also carry petites and have several different styles. She loves hers!

    4. I used to wear the NYDJ jeans in the Marilyn cut too. I am currently wearing DG2 jeggings from HSN. The last time I was in Eddie Bauer, they had some really nice jeans so I might try those on in the future. I read the Eddie Bauer was bought by Jos A. Banks several years ago. This could be why I am seeing so many new products there.

  6. I love white jeans but only wear the true denim fabrication in the chilly spring. The heat and humidity here in Ohio would drop me like a rock during summer. Evenings are still too warm for denim in the summer. So I wear cropped white ankle pants from Chicos instead of jeans. Of course the slim cut means a longer top so tunic length tanks work great with them. Still gives me that fresh look but without the weight. Today I have on a white linen jersey tunic tank with a blue sailor stripe over my white crops.
    And thanks for the tip on the straight leg white jeans, they are more flattering for my build and I will look into that brand!

  7. I don’t wear white jeans here in Florida! Just too hot and humid! I do however, have some nice white shorts that hit at the knee. they are Calvin Klein made of cotton, rayon. Very comfortable!

  8. I love white jeans and have at least a dozen pairs in varying fits and styles to suit my mood on the day or whatever shoes I am going to wear.
    It’s winter here in Melbourne but I wear them all year round. This time of the year I especially like to wear them with khaki, tan, navy or grey. I am planning to wear my NYDJ straight legs with my new olive/khaki wool loose jacket.

  9. I live in Massachusetts too. I don’t wear white jeans at all. I avoid black jeans too. (A habit from years of kids and dogs.) I will wear a lighter shade of denim in the summer. I have been a big fan of NYDJ in petite sizes for the last 10 years or so but my weight is shifting slightly so I have been looking at other brands. I tried the DG2 line from HSN and was pleased to discover that the “Diane Gilman SuperStretch Denim 5-Pocket Boot-Cut Jegging” actually fits me now. (I tried the jegging with the comfort waist and it was not a bad fit but the comfort waist tends to slide down on me a little bit during the day.) They do come in white and petite and are available in skinny and bootcut. I wear the petite bootcut and they look great on me now. (Go by the hip size since the waist stretches so much.) This fabric/style is a few years old so they are on clearance but she is always coming out with similar products in updated fabrics.
    I love not having a zipper dig into me in the front!

    I always order two sizes and lengths of pants and use the HSN flexpay option. After I get the pants and try them on, I send the ones that didn’t fit back.

    As to the white pants that look dingy, I suppose there are products to make them white again. I remember using white shoe polish to some fabric sneakers white years ago. I did see a new product in the latest issue of “Do It Yourself” by Better Homes & Gardens – Tulip Color Shot Instant Fabric Color spray paint. It does come in white or you could dye or spray the white jeans a different color. I always wanted to stencil my jeans but hate to try it on my good jeans.

    Susan, you could always stencil or embellish your white jeans to go under your new navy coat or dye them black, or donate them to a thrift store for someone else to enjoy.

    Maggie

    1. I, too, am a fan of Diane Gilman’s jeans and capris. If you have tummy bulge, the stretchy waist is a winner.

  10. I love white jeans, and wear them all year round. I wear a lot of Black and White all year long. I just love that two color combo together.

    My favorite brand the last few years have been White House/Black Market jeans. I get the boot cut though. I think I’m too “hippy” for straight leg, and flare at the bottom balances out my figure.

    I’m on the hunt for a pair of white jean capri pants. I haven’t worn shorts in 2 decades.

    For a dressier look I have a pair of white cotton sailor pants that are lined which are nice. I haven’t worn those since last summer. I hope I can still get in them! 🙂

    1. It appears that both links go to the same item, just fyi. Because white jeans never seem to last more than a couple of seasons, I always look for an inexpensive pair, including my current pair from J. Crew Factory. I admit to being not up with the latest trends, but are cuffs now “out”? Maybe because jeans with a slight flare or bootcut leg are back “in.”

  11. Even when I was a Slim Young Thing I never wore white jeans. If there is any dirt to be gotten into, it ends up on me, so I learned early to avoid white and pale colors. I’ll admire them on you all from here!

  12. Even though I’m in Florida, I love white jeans in the summer. I’ve been limping by with a pair of Ralph Lauren that are a few years old. Lately, I’ve been buying my jeans from LL Bean – I tried them on a whim and the fit is perfect for me.

  13. I have a pair of cropped white Lucky Brand jeans in my closet that I just keep looking at but not wearing. A concern is that they are bright, unlike my standard blue jeans, and will make me look bigger. Another concern is length. Do they age me? Are they age appropriate for 55? Even my teenage daughter was not sure when I modeled them for her. Hoping your posts will provide ideas. Thanks

    1. Go for it, Robin! (56 y.o. here) Interestingly, I think white crop jeans/slacks on any size looks light and airy in the summer and, at the same time, darker jeans in the summer don’t have the same effect. Enjoy your white jeans! Long, flowy tops are universally flattering, imho. 🙂

  14. I love white jeans and wear them even in winter with a black cashmere turtleneck (as long as it’s not raining). My brands are Current/Elliott Straight Leg Crop in Sugar, AG Prima Straight Leg in White, and an old pair of EF Straight legs that I turned into raw hem trend by careful measuring and scissoring after seeing TNMA do the same with an old pair of Gap Flares!

  15. I have a pair of NYDJ bootleg white jeans that are about 4 years old. I am thinking fo altering them but am unsure as to what length to go. Any thoughts???

    1. Hi Cynthia, I think it’s a matter of personal preference, proportions, and what shoes you’ll want to wear them with. For summer I’m really liking the hem to hit just at the top of the ankle bone.

  16. A timely post for me, as I am searching for some new ones… nothing looks crisper than white jeans in the summer. I look for mostly cotton with some stretch, and prefer to avoid a zipper if I can — who needs the extra bulk at the waist? So far NYDJ Alina has worked best for me — trim but not too tight.

  17. I love the length of the white jeans here. They look so fresh and contemporary! Even though I am heavier than I’d like and swore off denim for that reason, I find that I can wear a pair of white denim capris. I wear white denim shorts, too. It’s summer. White is a must. 🙂

  18. I have a pair of white skinny jeans from Wal-Mart…I love them..they are heavy enough that there is no underwear show through. But, they are not an investment (cost $3.00 on clearance)! At 61 years old I wear them year round in Wyoming, USA.

  19. I LOVE AG jeans!!!! I have the raw hemmed ones – I hemmed them because every time I washed them, they got shorter.

  20. I must be the only woman in California who doesn’t like jeans! I will wear them on occasion in the winter, but the idea of white denim in any warm climate is puzzling to me. Too hot! I have various EF white trousers…capri length from many moons ago in her white rayon crepe fabric is great with a long tunic for summer evenings. Then I have a linen pair from Bryn Walker that I only wear when I’m feeling artsy as they are a bit voluminous. The main thing is that I think you need to have slim legs to wear white jeans as the fabric shows every lump and bump. I, alas, have stout legs.

  21. I’ve given up wearing white jeans unless I have a tunic that covers my bum. I do however wear white loose fit chinos that I found at Anthropologie. Much more light weight than jeans and seem to be much more forgiving. I usually wear them with a white button down shirt from Madewell and “do” the JCrew cuff to my elbow.

  22. I was just looking for white or light colored jeans today, and today is also the day I am starting to catch up with blogs. Interestingly enough the cropped AG jean you link to was my best fit if I had gone with a white jean but they were simply too short. They ended about 2″ above my ankle (they are 26″), and I think I prefer either the top of the ankle bone, or up to an inch above, but 2 just looked awkward to me.

    I ended up with a pair of very pale blue ankle length chinos that work for me, perhaps even better in the summer humidity here. I’m still considering the white though, and might check out the J Brand pair you mention. That brand usually fits me well, and I could shorten them to skim the top of the ankle, or they might even work as is.