When it comes to how to wear white jeans it’s all about the color pairings and footwear. This is true regardless of the time of year you’re wearing your white jeans. These are the biggest pitfalls for all white jean owners. I often see people wearing textures, colors, and shoes that are disconnected from the fresh lightness of a white jean. Wearing the wrong colors and shoes is also what gives white jeans the reputation of adding weight. When you wear the wrong shoe or have too much color contrast, the disruption of hues and volume proportion adds weight.
Since we are on the topic, another reason white jeans have the myth of adding weight is the visibility that a light color brings. White doesn’t add weight, it simply outlines your body, which is new and can be scary since most people wear dark bottoms, which hide the body. A dark pant basically makes your body disappear, which feels slimming because if you’re not there, you can’t be chubby, but if you’re not there, you can’t be slim either. Don’t let the comfort of hiding detour you from white jeans. With the right opaque pair of white jeans paired with the right items you can create a slim look.
For my favorite flattering white jeans check out my post on The Best White Jeans.
How To Wear White Jeans: The Complementary Colors
The same colors work with white jeans year-round, you’ll just be wearing them in the form of a lightweight blouse, tee or tank come summer, and in sweater form come winter.
If you’re wearing an optic white jean, here are the colors to pair with it:
- Bright colors like indigo, royal blue, yellow, orange, and hot pink
- Pastels like baby blue, lavender, and bubble gum pink
If you went with off-white jeans (my preferred color), go for a less bright and crisp palette. Here are the colors to wear with off-white jeans:
- Soft greens like sage
- Muted/earthier pastels
If you went edgy and got more of a cream or beige jean, dive into those earth tones!
- Medium greens
- Washed out black
- Muted mauve
- Orange/tan
- Soft browns
- Soft burgundy
How To Wear White Jeans: The Colors To Skip
You want to avoid too much contrast with white jeans, so you will want to skip colors like saturated black and dark navy. You also want to skip more traditionally winter colors because they will look macabre next to a white jean. Here are all the colors you should skip with white jeans:
- Dark colors like black, and deep navy
- Traditional winter colors like espresso brown, dark charcoal, and deep burgundy
- The wrong color white (Make sure if there is white in the top you are pairing with your white jean, it’s the same white as your jean.)
How To Wear White Jeans: The Shoes To Wear
White jeans are inherently casual and laid-back, so your shoes should encompass that vibe as well. In the summer, opt for:
- Sandals
- Wedges
- Black Heels
- Slides
- Lighter colored flats
- Slim sneakers
For what shoes to wear with white jeans in the winter, check out my post How To Wear White Jeans In Winter.
How To Wear White Jeans: Shoes To Skip
- Stilettos
- Any patent leather shoe
- Dark-colored flats or boots
- Round toe boots
When Can You Wear White Jeans?
There are a lot of rumors about white jeans. I already talked about the myth regarding white jeans adding weight, so let’s talk about when you can wear your white stems. Please ignore the “no-white-after-Labor-Day” rule. I always say dress for the weather not for the season. Yes, pure white, aka optic jeans, are best worn in summer, but off-white jeans can — and should! — be worn year-round. I always get so many questions about wearing white jeans in winter that I dedicated a whole blog post on How To Wear White Jeans In Winter that dives into the nitty gritty. Check that out for more specific tips on styling your white jeans in colder weather.
Photos by Dayley Photography
One Response
Love this look! How fun! Fun hair too 🙂