Spring and Summer are the seasons for white denim, although I personally wear white jeans throughout the year. When I say white denim, I’m referring to jeans, denim jackets and denim skirts. The whites vary from bright optical white and off-white to a greyish bone and warm cream. Take your pick.
I am a HUGE advocate of white denim and white jeans in particular, and here’s why.
1. Dressy
When white denim isn’t torn, ripped, and distressed, it looks dressier than blue denim. White jeans are a great option when you don’t feel like wearing formal trousers or a skirt, but blue denim and casual pants are too casual. Many of my business casual clients aren’t allowed to wear blue jeans to work, but a polished pair of white jeans or a white denim skirt is acceptable. They can also get away with wearing a pristine white denim jacket in a dressier way. I find that white jeans are the ideal level of dressiness for many settings, making them a versatile workhorse for my style.
2. Crisp, Graphic and Fresh
There is something about adding white denim to an outfit that makes it look extra crisp and fresh. It also looks more graphic than blue, grey or black denim. White jeans look fabulously modern to my eye, especially when you wear them in the Autumn and Winter.
3. Bright and Neutral
White is the brightest neutral, and a fab way to change things when you prefer a neutral style. Instead of brights, white can be your bright. Combine white jeans with a neutral top, footwear and bag, and the visual effect of your outfit is bold and bright but 100% neutral.
4. Works with Pastels and Muddy Mid-Tones
Pastel tops and footwear look especially good with white bottoms. Match pastel tops and footwear with black and grey bottoms and the effect isn’t as punchy and crisp (unless you throw in white shoes and bag). White bottoms bring out light blue, blush, mint and lilac. Furthermore, white denim is smashing with black and grey tops, providing a more Summery way to wear black and grey. White denim works equally well with muddy mid-tones, thereby cleaning them up in a way blue and black denim can’t achieve.
5. More Unique than Blue
Most people wear blue and black jeans, skirts and jackets across a range of washes, but far fewer wear white denim because it’s harder to keep clean, looks a little stark, and can be too bold. Some find white jeans widening, and prefer the streamlined effect of wearing dark colours on the bottom. White denim jackets are excellent over dresses and skirts, look awfully Summery, and can work with all sorts of blue denim and non-denim bottoms. So if you want to look more unique, wearing white denim is one way to go.
6. Works with Platinum Blonde and Grey Hair
White denim can bookend and complement very blonde hair, salt & pepper hair, silver grey hair, and white hair because it picks up the lightest neutrals in heads of hair these colours. Of course, white denim can work with any complexion and head of hair when the support act is complementary.
For my style, white jeans are a wardrobe essential, and one of my very favourite things. I’d love to find a fabulous white denim jacket but don’t want one with silver buttons. I have several pairs of white jeans, and am open to adding a pair of wide crops.
Here is my current white denim collection. I wear the three pairs of cropped straights all the time, the pair of boyfriends once in a while, and the flares less frequently because they require a two inch heel which I don’t wear. I think I’ll have them hemmed to wear with white sneakers.
Most of my clients, across all body types, sizes and ages, wear white jeans. I say it every year: We can all wear white jeans. You don’t need to be slim in the leg, waist and thigh, or wear a small size. My US size 14 and 18 clients look as good wearing white jeans as those who wear smaller sizes. It’s a question of getting the fit and fabric right. Here are 12 tips for feeling fab in white bottoms.
Over to you. Do you wear white denim? If so, why do you like wearing it?
