Maybe K/R? White jeans x2 and Manlows!

Amidst all the decluttering posts, I am going through the opposite. I'm finally finding elusive pieces in waves! I plan to remove other items from my wardrobe so that I can still attempt to stay along the minimizing path.

I've been casually looking for white jeans for a year. I've tried on so many pairs only to be disappointed by the see-through factor that plagues white denim. This week, I found not only one pair, but two! The first was an optic white boyfriend that is definitely too short to be worn unrolled. They also need to be pinned before rolling. Can I tell you what a relief it is to put these on rather than paint them on?? But... can I make peace with the looseness? I haven't really done the boyfriend thing before. Even the boyfriend-ish jeans I have are really more like slim straights.

Then, I decided to try Ann Taylor and found these cream-colored skinnies. They're snug on the thigh but not annoyingly so. This style is what I'm used to and know how to wear; ankle boots, driving mocs, flats, tall boots, etc. I love the shade. This is the color I had initially intended to look for because I prefer it to the bright white.

Now... do I have room for both of these in my wardrobe? I plan to wear them through the fall/winter. Not so much in the summer; it's too hot. Though there is a chance I'd wear the boyfriends on a cooler summer day. Not a chance on the skinnies! I really don't like the BF with tall boots, but maybe my eye just needs to adjust to that look.

Optic white BF is on the left in each photo.
Cream/sandy skinnies on the right.

Are they too similar? If I have to pick one, I'm really torn. I love the comfort of the BF, but I love the color and familiarity of the skinnies. They both fit me well (I think), and are not see through. Price-wise, they were both inexpensive, so that's not an obstacle at all.

I also found these Manlow boots at Stuart Weitzman when I bought my Caeser gladiators. I left them behind that day, but kept thinking about them and reading positive reviews. Also, NAS got me into the fall mood. The gladiators went on sale so when I went in for a price adjustment, I picked up the Manlows. I don't think they have the flower pot effect on me. They're a bit taller than I would normally want for an ankle boot, but I was searching for a black moto boot all of last year and I think these can fill that hole for me. Last pic shows the Manlow boots with shorts, though I don't think I'd ever wear that combo. New top from AT and new NAS Kut from the Kloth jacket.

This post has 5 photos. 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.

11 years ago

unfrumped

Veteran

Good finds!
I really like the boots on you. I tried the Manlow's and found them just not quite right for my feet and calves, but they were gorgeous--just a bit edgy but very versatile and with a comfortable heel height. I had to make myself remember the "picky and patient" thing and keep looking, because they were very tempting. I think you will love them!

JenA

You look fantastic in these outfits. I really love how you styled the pants and the boots.

I feel like I can't stop gushing over the pants. I really couldn't decide between the two and I think they both look fantastic! I know I'm no help but it seems to me that if you've been looking for a while for white pants and since they are very different styles, then perhaps your wardrobe has room for both especially since you can wear them for 3 seasons with the way you've styled them.

Enjoy!
Jen

viva

I agree with JenA. Can you keep both? I think they are different enough and I love them both on you.

I am envious of those boots! I fell for the Manlows last season. They're gorgeous!

rabbit

You look good in both pairs of white jeans (and I know how hard the search can be). I'd personally lean towards the skinnies if you plan to wear them in fall/winter rather than the summer, simply because the longer length and closer fit seems like it could work better with most boots and booties. The boyfriends seem like in most cases they'd work best with sandals or sockless fashion sneakers and I'm less sure about the wider shorter look of white pants with dark booties. I also found that cream skinnies worked better with a lot of patterned shirt color pairings -- it kind of depends on what outfits you want to make.

texstyle

(website)

I love the BFs but I understand the need to tuck the skinnies. It's a tough call. I think the BFs are actually just slightly more flattering if that helps. The boots look great!

carambola

I vote keep both! They are different silhouettes and both look great on you.

Anonymous

Hmmm, I'm always trying to find out if I can get by with just one of an item.

I have tried looser, BF-esque white jeans and even though they were initially so comfortable, over time they bagged out and made me feel sloppy and double wide. If this is your first foray into BF jeans, a darker (blue) pair might be easier. Footwear can also be a little tricky with BFs; I agree with what rabbit has to say on the subject. If you plan to wear these jeans in F/W, make sure they'll work with the footwear you would usually be wearing at that time of year. All that said, they flatter your hips really well.

For the cream skinnies, I want them! Cream is hard to find, and I like the way cream blends in my wardrobe much better than optic white, which stands out as much as colored jeans would. But that is entirely personal preference. The skinnies are a silhouette you know and love, and your footwear won't be an issue, because they go with everything. You can always roll them to get a BF look. The second pair flatters you legs really well (and probably your rear, but you didn't indulge us with that view).

ETA I know nothing about boots; that's why I didn't mention them.

Suz

Okay, I LOVE the jeans, both pairs. Keep if you can make room...BUT....in our climate (and yours is similar to mine) the BF are harder to wear. That's just all there is to it. Unless you can wear them full length, they won't get as much play. They will be a (cool day) summer, a fall, and maybe a late spring item. My BF jeans are blue (2 pairs) and even though they can be worn full length, I wear them a lot less in winter than in summer. Because of the inevitable need to tuck. You know? So...there it is.

On the other hand, I almost never wear my skinnies (any of them) for three months during the summer. So I guess it's a trade off. I do wear my white skinnies in summer now and again...on cooler evenings...rolled up BF style. And that's it.

The boots are absolutely stunning. I have serious boot envy.

pastrygirl

Thanks! I'm leaning heavily toward keeping them both. It helps that these were both inexpensive AND just right in terms of fit/color/opacity. I'm not compromising on anything, except being able to wear both year-round.

Suz, one of your points is something I was thinking about. If I have non-summer clothing like skinnies, why not have non-dead-of-winter clothing like BFs, too?

rabbit, I agree that the BFs look better with non-boot options, and I'm find with that limitation.

clearlyclaire, you are in my thoughts! Would Claire keep TWO pairs of white jeans??? What if they were perfect, and ended a year-long search? LOL. I do wonder about the bagginess throughout the day. Even during that photo session, I noticed them getting baggier and did take pics of the backside when they were droopy (deleted, but I thought it looked fine, since BFs can be droopy by nature). I think for the price I'm willing to try it out. FWIW, I never, ever found a true BF that I liked on my body. These are the first!

viva, I think I'm going to love the Manlows! We have no A/C right now so it's been a challenge trying to get them on and off. Otherwise, I'd be trying them on throughout the day! Can't wait for the A/C to be fixed......

I think I'm going to pack the BFs for my upcoming vacation, actually. There are years when it's only in the 60s there and I wish I had more jeans with me! (One year I had to go shopping for the cold weather because I hadn't packed anything warm for me or my then 1-year-old.)

BethL

I hope you keep both! If you can only keep one, though, I vote for the cream skinnies, but only because I think you'd probably wear them more. And can I just tell you how fantastic you/they look with the tee, black cardigan, and black boots in pic #3? I really like the Manlow boots, too.

Tags are off and they're both in the wash now. I'm so glad you all thought they were different enough to keep both! I think I'm going to LOVE having white jeans.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Well, I'm late, but I was going to say keep both jeans, too. The boyfriends for warmer weather, the skinnies for cooler weather. I'm with you on preferring an off-white color, too--though I couldn't see a big difference on my screen.
The boots are to die for on you. I like them with your bare legs, too, so they could potentially go with dresses and tights.
And the jacket is super cool on you, too. Love it with that top.
Great finds all around!

P.S. Having just been through my own white-jeans-buying-conundrum, I came to the conclusion that the color alone does not fill a wardrobe hole. The silhouette matters a lot--boyfriends go with certain things, and skinnies go with certain things, and they are not always the same things.

Firecracker, that makes a lot of sense! I kept thinking about how with blue jeans, I like having a skinny, a straight, and a bootcut around, sometimes in different washes. Yet with the white, I was so focused on only being able to have ONE. I was trying to figure out why it's "OK" with blue jeans but not with white (at least in my head). I came to the conclusion that it IS OK!

Yay! So happy for you.

Category