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The Independent UK

Lifestyle

Prudence Wade

White jeans are the ultimate summer staple. Here are seven ways to style them

Primark River Island

As summer approaches, the traditional dark denim often gives way to a lighter, more versatile wardrobe staple: white jeans.

These garments are poised to become one of the most hardworking items in your collection, according to Monica Wahla, head fashion buyer at JD Williams.

“White is very versatile – when you look at what you can style it with, it goes with every single colour,” Wahla explains.

“It’s something that pairs back with whatever you’ve got in your wardrobe.”

Award-winning high-street personal stylist Susie Hasler, known as @styled.by.susie on Instagram, champions white jeans for those who “don’t particularly like having their legs out in shorts”, adding that “they never date”.

Hasler also addresses common misconceptions about body type.

“People assume you have to be a certain body type to wear white jeans, but to be honest, it’s not so much the colour that’s important – it’s the cut of them,” she advises.

For those new to white denim, she suggests avoiding skinny styles in favour of “something a bit straighter, like a barrel-cut jean, or even a wide-leg jean”.

Singer Dua Lipa and American businesswoman Martha Stewart have embraced the trend, proving their suitability for all ages and styles.

Here’s how to wear white jeans this summer.

1. Tonal looks

For an effortless way to wear white jeans, Hasler recommends a “tonal look with head-to-toe white”.

This might look like pairing your denim with “a nice floaty white linen shirt”, along with espadrilles or trainers.

Hasler adds: “If you want to break up the tonal look, just add a few tan accessories – so you could do a tan-coloured belt, a matching bag, tortoiseshell sunglasses – that’s a really classic tonal look.”

2. Keeping it classic

“White jeans have that really classic feel about them – that Kate Middleton sort of style,” says Hasler.

That’s why she recommends timeless styling to go with them: such as “a navy and white Breton stripe, and a simple pair of white trainers”.

3. Boho chic

One of Wahla’s favourite ways to style white jeans is leaning into a boho vibe.

This could mean wearing them with a “white boho blouse, a cool white T-shirt, or a lace-trim top” – and you could continue the theme in your accessories.

Wahla says wearing “scarves as belts around jeans” helps give them “a slightly different, more boho edge”.

4. Dressed up

While white denim is perfect for day-to-day summer dressing, they can equally be dressed up for more formal events.

Hasler’s suggestion? “If you wanted to dress them up for the evening, maybe put a waistcoat with them, and then you could wear nice sandals or a wedge, or something like that.”

5. Double denim

Double denim might be a bit controversial, but you only look like you’re going to a rodeo if you’re wearing all blue.

Instead, Hasler suggests that white jeans “work quite well with other denim”, continuing: “So you could pair white jeans with a light blue denim shirt – that’s really nice, mixing those textures together.”

6. Pops of colour

Wearing white trousers doesn’t mean you have to go all-in on a neutral look. Instead, Wahla likes bringing a “colour pop” to white jeans.

“It works really well with a bright colour pop,” she notes, “So you see a lot of red accessories and things coming through.”

7. Finding the edge

While white denim is a classic and timeless look, it’s still absolutely possible to wear them in a more unique way.

“You could add a bit of an edgier look with some leopard print, maybe a band T-shirt or graphic T-shirt,” says Hasler. Top off the look with some of the season’s coolest shoes: “A clog or a mule.”