In most non-denim white pants (and even some denim) the pockets show through the fabric so need to be removed and sewn shut for a polished look.
My other concern with the chinos is that they may not fit snuggly against the body like clam diggers, creating a very different look. If they are too wide at the knee, it tends to break the line of your leg and make the legs look shorter. Try each style on and see what you think. Clam diggers are like skinny jeans cut off at the knee. The ones I see in my Eddie Bauer catalog are more of a capri pant, but I don't see them in white, so it may be something else.

Joy - you're right.

I tried them on again just now and they don't look good. When I roll them up it looks bad from the back - not snug on the leg, as you say. There's too much fabric. It doesn't fall right.

I thought, since I don't have slim legs, these might be better for me, but now I think it's sort of the same thing for me as wearing a jacket - I need the structure the denim would provide.

The search continues!

Tarzy, your post is timely because earlier today I realized that two pair of jeans in the "give away" bag (that was actually already in the car and I had to go out and bring it in) fit me great in the waist, hip and thighs, (one was boot cut and one was a flare, neither of which I wanted any more) I could cut and roll to be clamdiggers. Both are jeans I got at the trendy thrift store I go to, so I didn't pay much for them, but never wore as full length jeans...one very dark, Gap and one a pair of white 7's. But now, they are great shorts! That may not help your search at all, sorry, but I was so excited! :) Have you ever tried David Kahn's? I posted about them on the other thread Brianna started about the perfect pair of jeans. Lots of curvier women really like them.

I like the look of dark-wash denim clam diggers, and I think you're right about the fit of the Chinos Tara.
Maybe you could try 'dressier' clams/cropped pants as an alternative, I quite like the look.
Here also, you'l have to make sure they hit you at the right spot of your leg, and are fitted in the thighs (not always easy-(

http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=635281002

http://www.express.com/catalog.....goryId=298

This is a tough one - I've got the same situation with two pairs of cargo capris that survived the "cargo capri closet purge of '09." None of my Eddie Bauer cargoes made it :( But I had a pair from JCrew and a pair from Ann Taylor, both petite length that hit just below the knee, and were narrower in the thigh, so I am going to try to work them in to my wardrobe.

It was helpful that I had just received the Boden clams so I could compare each pair of capris to them, in terms of length and narrowness of the cut.

Maybe try JCrew or Ann Taylor for something sleeker and shorter, but still casual?

Or maybe the answer is to go with Bermuda shorts instead ...