fashion

Still avoiding white jeans? These size-inclusive styles will change your mind.

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I know what you're thinking: white jeans are a hard sell.

For one, there's the fear of spills and stains. Coffee, red wine, pasta, a child in close proximity with sticky hands… all valid concerns.

Then there's their reputation as one of the trickier styles to "pull off". Maybe because the white jeans we once knew came in precisely one cut: skinny.

They were tight, they were bright, and they were low — with a high probability of the dreaded Visible Panty Line.

Watch: We try the Style Maths approach. Post continues below.


Video Via: Mamamia

But as of now, white jeans have had an upgrade. The new styles are wider, higher and so much more wearable than their past iterations.

They also happen to be everywhere this season, in chic shades like cream and ivory, providing the perfect compliment to on-trend chocolate brown and navy tones.

So if you still think you can't do bleached denim, allow me to guide you towards the light. We can even hold hands.

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My journey into the world of white jeans happened gradually. I started off by embracing loungewear pants in woven fabrics and lighter shades than I was used to.

When the weather cooled off, I realised I was seeking a similar cut — only with some sturdiness.

The answer was right in front of me: denim. But could I do white denim? As a petite woman with a curvier bum and thighs, I almost ruled this option out immediately.

A key reason many of us avoid light-coloured jeans is the antiquated messaging we've internalised about them being "unflattering". But it's high time we challenge that.

When I took the plunge and tried on some newer styles, I was pleasantly surprised.

Image: Tamara Holland wearing Feather & Noise's Lola barrel jeans.

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Pale denim doesn't have to be restrictive. It's so much easier to wear when it's loosely tailored and skims over your body, and it looks fresher, too.

Sydney stylist Fifi Milne agrees, calling white jeans "the core of everyday style."


"So many women think they can't wear white jeans. Shut the front door, it's time to start,"
she shared in a recent Instagram post dedicated to the style," she said.

"They actually look good on any size or shape… I wear every style and cut, from straight leg to baggy and barrel to wide leg."

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I've been living in barrel leg jeans since I embraced this silhouette — they're cut to sit away from the leg and give a more directional shape.

As Fifi says, a new silhouette not only updates the look of your whole outfit; it gives you a confidence boost.

Stylist Emelia Morris wears ecru jeans with chocolate brown tones.Stylist Emelia Morris wears ivory eans with chocolate brown tones. Image: Instagram/@emeliamorrisstylist

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Some of us are after more coverage on a practical or physical level, and there's nothing wrong with that. You can layer a chunky knit, oversized tee or boxy jacket on top and still get the styling benefit of the crisp white denim coming through on your lower half.

You've got so many options, and I've tracked down the best ones for every body below.

Shop white jeans.

Big W Women's Cropped Barrel jeans, $30.

Image: Supplied.

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Commonry Barrel Denim Jean, $149.95.

Image: Supplied.

Abrand 95 Barrel Crop Jeans, $129.95.

Image: Supplied.

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Feather & Noise Lola Barrel Jean, $149.95.

Image: Supplied.

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Kireina Freya Jean, $189.

Kireina Freya Jean.Image: Supplied.

Halara Low Rise Wide Leg Casual Jeans, now $69.90.

Image: Supplied.

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Blue Bungalow Orwell White Wide Leg Jeans, $129.95.

Blue Bungalow Wide Leg Jeans.Image: Supplied.

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Kmart Cuffed Hem Jeans, $15.

Kmart Cuffed Hem Jeans.Image: Supplied.

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Calli Eve Straight Leg Jeans, $99.95.

Calli Eve Straight Leg Jeans.Image: Supplied.

Feature image: Instagram/@emeliamorrisstylist; @monikh; @_tamaradavis_.

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