Should I dye my white jeans? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Dressing

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Should I dye my white jeans?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I own the Kut Diana skinnies recommended by Angie. I find them very comfy.

But much as I love the LOOK of white trousers, I found I really didn't wear them that much. When it is warm enough for white here, it's really too warm for denim pants. So I only wore them about 7 times this season.

If I dyed them, I'm thinking dark red.

Advantages of keeping them white: I have some white jeans for next spring! I truly do love the look, and as the seasons change it can be great to use a lighter coloured bottom to lighten up. Maybe I'd find a way to wear them more next year. And eventually, I could cut them off for clams, which I'm pretty sure I'd wear much more often.

Advantages of dying them:

I'd wear them this season, and probably get much more wear from them overall.
I would have a coloured denim bottom. I don't currently own any coloured denim bottoms except my new reversible legging jeans. They are a sort of eggplant.

If I did dye them, what kind of dye is best?

Dye them: Yay
Don't dye - save them as my white pants: Nay

Thank you!

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Dressing

32 replies

Latest reply was from

jayne

Veteran

what about spring? now that I finally dove into white and have two pairs they are so going to be my spring workhorses before I switch to skirts for real summer....and i plan to do the winter white...do you dare to join? I would give them another season since well fitting white bottoms are hard to find.

Anonymous

I am always about the return on your investment. If you think you will wear them more if they are dyed, then most definitely dye them. Don't look back.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Oooohhh...that's a tough one! I think the white jeans look amazing on you but I understand if you're not wearing them enough. Do you think you'd wear white jeans in later fall? I'm leaning toward leaving them white because I think finding great fitting white jeans is not an easy task.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm voting against the dye job. Affordable fab white jeans are hard to find. Wear them in Spring, Suz. White makes everything look better in Spring and Summer in my world

I am STILL wearing my white jeans, and will until at least the beginning of Oct.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I hear you on the white jeans, Suz. That's why I don't own any. It's just too darn hot! But I do have some light blush jeans that I just fell in love with, and I pull those out as soon as possible when spring hits. Down here, that's the beginning of March. I'm thinking you can wear them (weather permitting) at least from mid-March through May or June (until it gets too hot).

nancylee

Veteran

I vote to keep them white. (Then again, I'm biased because my white jeans are a staple of my spring/summer wardrobe!) Like Angie said, perfect white jeans are hard to find, so I'd be very hesitant to sacrifice a good pair.

If you really want some dark red jeans for fall there are tons of options out there right now....

save the white denim!

Claudia

Veteran

Another keep 'em white vote.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I don't think you should dye them. Just buy red jeans lol! I wear my white jeans any and every month of the year. I don't think there should be some 'rule' as to when to wear a color, just how you feel seasonally. Pair them with taupe or charcoal grey in cooler months, maybe, and coral and turquoise in warmer seasons.

MsMary

Veteran

Keep 'em white! You will wear them happily for many springs!

sarah

Veteran

Keep them white - white jeans are SUPER hard to find. They either show too much, or aren't the right white, or accentuate what doesn't need accentuating. If you have some that fit KEEP them white. Colored jeans may come and go, but white jeans will be around for a long time, I predict. This summer was unusually hot (well, for now, anyway), and depending on the spring, you could get a lot more use out of them next year.

Isabel

Veteran

Hmmm, if you like them but just feel you need the opportunity more, then I agree with the others to keep them white and make the opportunity. I agree to wear them in the Spring and through the end of September. But if from now til the end of Sept. you simply don't wear them because of the color, then I vote dye.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you, all! These are all excellent points. I think on balance, since I can afford it, I will keep them white and wear them again next spring.

harmonica

Veteran

Late here, but just wanted to say that I'm happy you'll keep them white

crutcher

Veteran

Definitely keep them white...I am going to wear my white jeans this year, as long into fall as I am comfortable...Living in a four season climate, I would really like to drag this little experiment into winter if possible...I have visions of my white jeans, a black sweater and black boots...

celia

Veteran

Suz, glad to know that you are keeping them white.
My dilemma about white jeans (and i have 2 pairs of those) is exactly the same, but on the 2,3 days that I want to wear white jeans is good to find out that they are there.

Joy

Veteran

I've got the same problem with not getting as much wear as I'd like from white jeans because of the heat, but vote to keep them white. The colored jeans seem to be getting less and less expensive. The white ones will still be in style long after the colored jean fad has passed.

Anonymous

I vote keep as is. You can never guarantee a DIY dyeing job. It's ok to experiment but I'd try to do it with things I don't care for anyway. These are really nice! It's too risky! Save them for Spring. They will look really nice with some taupe or cognac boots!

Gaylene

Veteran

I think your decision to wait until next summer is probably smart, but I have to admit that I took the scissors to my white jeans this summer and turned them into crops. I had the same issues as you. When it gets warm enough to put on white pants, it's too warm for anything but shorts or a skirt. And wearing white pants in Canada in the early spring, fall, or winter makes me feel like I should be giving life support or selling ice cream.

Although I love the look of white jeans and know that they are indispensable for many people, I am slowly coming to realize that my essentials need to fit my lifestyle and my situation. And, if I only wear something once or twice in a year, and only after making myself do it, the item is probably not an essential for me. On the other hand, my "new" white crops have been in the wash almost constantly since I whacked off the lower legs-- making them an essential part of my summer wardrobe.

merwoman

Veteran

Late to the poll as well. Notice that you are wearing booties with the jeans. What about rolling the legs to make them more a capri length - and wear with sandals? Would that get you more wear - and be a cooler (temp and style) option?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thanks again, all!

Merwoman, that's a good idea, but I fear it wouldn't work for me with these. The denim's substantial. For me, for south-eastern Ontario, it's just too hot, even rolled. (I don't have air conditioning). If I lived in the mountains or on the wet coast I could definitely see doing this.

Gaylene, laughing to myself about your comments re: selling ice cream or offering life support. That's exactly it! There are just so few days when white jeans are appropriate in our climate. This isn't about feeling there are *rules* preventing me from wearing white. It is a comfort and practicality issue. If it's warm enough here, it's too hot. If it's cooler, it is wet, muddy, and dirty! I know Angie wears hers in wet Seattle. But when I do that I end up with spots across the back of my calves from walking and flicking up mud. NOT a fab look!

BUT, I think if I don't wear these a lot next spring, I'll hack them off as clams or bermudas. And I suspect THEN we'll be talking.

ETA: I promise I will try a few fall outfits tucked into my Timberland brandy-coloured boots.

cheryle (Dianthus)

(website)

Veteran

I think you should keep them white too. Next year you will have them at the ready and get them in the rotation as soon as the weather permits allowing many more wears than this year. They would also be great for those summer indoor occasions when the A/C is cranked up too high for many summer outfits.

They look great on you!!

goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

I vote keep the white and get another pair in red! I have Dianas in red and white. They're both really useful. White jeans are my spring and summer workhorse and I even plan to wear them in fall/winter.

DonnaF

Veteran

Glad you are keeping them white! I bought white jeans (two pair!!!) for the first time in my life this year. I think I didn't wear them more b/c 1) last spring I was hoping to find a cheaper pair and didn't want to cut the tags; and 2) I just wasn't in the habit and for some reason wanted to *save* them. If you were to dye yours red, you would always have to wash them separately, and if it were me, I would at some point down the line get careless/distracted/space out, and wash it with other things and end up with a ton of pink clothing! Not sure that DH would want to embrace the pink for the t-shirts he wears to the gym. . .

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Wear them this winter with a white or black cozy sweater and booties. Think ski lodge...

qfbrenda

Veteran

I vote keep them white and buy a pair of red jeans if you want some. I've loving my maroon jeans.

Someone can jump in and correct me if they know better... but lots of clothes are sewn with polyester thread that doesn't take dye. It's possible that those pants would end up red with white thread which seems odd to me.

jen

I love the white jeans on you, and I do love white jeans on others, but for some reason I can't wear white on the bottom, it makes me always feel like I'm upside down!

Makrame

Veteran

This is so interesting! I am on the other side of the lake from you (US side) and wear my white jeans every week. But I work in an air-conditioned office that is too cold for short-sleeved tops much of the summer. Isn't amazing how we are influenced by our everyday environment, in addition to the weather itself? I find that I am most most comfortable in the office while wearing things that are too warm for our outdoors climate (white jeans, long-sleeved silk shirts etc.).

Your jeans are great so I hope you get to wear them more, at least in the spring.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

Keep them white, and wear them through Canadian Thanksgiving.

I know what you mean about the heat ...full-length jeans have not been "on" for me during this past summer's heat waves either, but I like what Angie's suggesting, in that these aren't just for May-July. I know it sounds weird, but what if white jeans turned out to be a fab 'fall' item? This means getting away from assuming that white jeans are always going to be paired with brights or tropical-ish looking colours. How about white jeans, white shirt, navy or grey sweater and some taupe booties and faded denim jacket?

I think it might be fun to get away from the idea that white jeans are only for summer (especially when it's way too hot to wear full-length denim jeans in the height of summer anyway) - and try looking at white jeans as a neutral/almost earthy sort of colour. The colour of snow, the colour of the whitecaps on the ocean/lake, the colour of clouds in the sky. Does that make sense Suz?

Don't dye these! The white is just fab, and there's no reason you can't wear these until mid-end of October.

Have you tried your white jeans with the Report Marks booties and a faded denim-ish shirt?

krishnidoux

Veteran

Keep them white, wear them this fall with booties, belt and sweaters.
We had a particularly hot summer this year; but don't forget this "new" season climate change has been bringing about in our corner of the world: a long Indian Summer! And this is the season to wear heavier denim. White is fresh, unexpected and classy.
I can so imagine them with Angie's Sam Eldleman red booties!
http://www.zappos.com/sam-edel.....ed?zlfid=2

12