Now that we’ve moved into the warmer months, it’s time to think about updating your white denim – you’ll find some of the best white jeans for women below to add to your closet.
A pair of white jeans can be the perfect way to add some extra style and a feeling of freshness to your outfits during the summer.
How to wear white jeans
While denim trends may change, white jeans are a style staple every summer. But I’d also consider wearing them in colder seasons too to give your outfit a point of difference.
Before I look at the best white jeans to choose this season, first here are a few tips on wearing white jeans.
1. Check they aren’t see-through
Okay, I know this is an obvious one. But, sometimes when we are looking in the mirror at home or the store changing room, we concentrate on our front view.
Make sure that your underwear isn’t showing through from behind. You may have to invest in some thong style or short style white or nude underwear to make sure you can’t see it.
Ashley (above) opts for a classic white, red and blue outfit, and wears her white jeans with a longer shirt.
Recreate her outfit with this similar shirt, jeans and mules.
2. White jeans are for any season
The old saying used to be that you shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day.
But, this “style rule” has fallen by the wayside. There’s no reason you can’t rock a pair of white jeans during winter.
Nagore (above) shows how you could style a pair of white jeans for colder weather. You would simply need to swap the sandals for booties if your feet may get chilly.
Check out this similar long sleeve top, coat, jeans, sandals, handbag and sunglasses.
3. Make sure the fit is perfect
White, more so than black denim, for example, does tend to emphasize if the fit of your jeans isn’t quite right.
So, try on as many pairs as you need to make sure yours are the right ones for you, whether you choose skinnies or a wider fit.
Bev (above) chooses wide fit jeans and accessorizes with leopard print.
Steal her look with this similar blouse, wide leg jeans, pumps, tote, earrings, sunglasses.
Want to see how to wear white pants in general? Check our extensive guide on how to wear white pants and see lots of examples!
Below are the some of the best white jeans available in stores right now
Just as with blue denim, or any color denim for that matter, there are so many different styles of white jeans to choose from, that you are sure to find the perfect match for you to fit and flatter your figure.
Skinny jeans
White skinny jeans are a style staple which will look great tucked into boots for transitional dressing. If you have great legs, but feel self conscious about your tummy area, you can always wear with a tunic.
NYDJ is one of my favorite denim brands. The pull on skinny jeans promise to flatten your tummy with the brand’s lift-tuck technology.
Straight leg
A straight leg pair of jeans will never go out of style. They were last bang-on-trend during the 90s and are definitely making a comeback this season. Straight leg jeans tend to look more flattering worn with a heel rather than sneakers.
NYDJ relaxed straight leg jeans
White cropped jeans
A pair of white cropped jeans can be an incredibly stylish option for spring and summer.
It’s unlikely you will go from wearing long jeans and boots straight to shorts and sandals. Showing off a little bit of ankle is a great way to start to reveal a little bit of skin as the weather warms up.
Plus, for many women, the ankle can be the slimmest part of the body, so it can be really flattering to show it off.
You can try on a few pairs to see which one is most flattering. This will generally be if the crop ends at the slimmest part of your leg.
My favorite style is a cropped, flared jean like this pair of crop slim jeans from 7 For All Mankind (below).
7 For All Mankind crop slim jeans
Bootcut jeans
While bootcut fell out of favor for a few years as skinny jeans seemed to be the only style on trend, they are definitely making a comeback, and can be a very flattering shape.
Bootcuts are great for so many different body shapes. They can add balance to your figure if you are a pear shape, for example, or create curves if you are a rectangle.
When worn with a bit of a heel, they can be very lengthening if you want to create the illusion of having longer legs.
JEN7 by 7 For All Mankind slim bootcut jeans
Boyfriend jeans
A style staple of Jennifer Aniston, who wears her boyfriend jeans all the time, you can add a blazer if you would like to add a more refined look to your outfit.
PAIGE slim fit boyfriend jeans
Lace-up
Every season, you will find white jeans which feature different detailing to the season before. This time around, look out for uneven hems, lace and cut-out detailing, and embroidery.
JEN7 by 7 For All Mankind lace-up hem crop bootcut jeans
Off-white jeans
If white is, well, too white, either because of the reason I talk about below when looking at winter white jeans, or because you feel an ivory suits your skin tone better than a bright white, you can always look for a pair of off-white jeans which are more of a cream, or which have pink, beige or gray undertones.
Mavi Jeans crop wide leg jeans
Winter white jeans
What’s the difference between a summer white, and the kind of winter white it’s deemed okay to wear after Labor Day?
Well, really, the only difference is fabric. You won’t want to be wearing a thin pair of linen pants when the weather turns cold. That’s why white jeans can be worn all year round – because the fabric is pretty thick and should keep you fairly warm.
The only time I’d avoid white jeans is when you are worried about your jeans getting splashed as you walk because it is particularly rainy, or if what was nice crisp white snow has now turned to brown slush as it melts.
You could opt for a more nuanced white than the whites of summer. Something with a subtle touch of gray or beige to create an outfit which is more at home on an overcast day.
Check out this article for more ideas on how to dress the pear shape.
High rise jeans
A high rise is not only on trend right now, but it can help you if you want to tuck in your tummy a little, or disguise a muffin top.
I definitely prefer a high rise rather than the kind of low rise jeans worn by Brittany Spears in the 90s!
If you are an hourglass or a pear shape, or example, it can be tricky to find jeans which fit at both the hips and the waist. This is because if you find the right fit for curvy hips, they can gape at the waist.
7 For All Mankind paperbag wide leg jeans
White wide legged jeans
Wide-legged pants are definitely back in style for 2020, after what seemed like season-upon-season of skinny jeans.
This is great news if you are looking to create the illusion of longer legs. If you tuck your top in to your jeans and wear a pair of heels underneath, you can make your legs look like they go on for miles.
They can also be great for balancing out your figure, or for giving yourself more shape. If you are a rectangle body shape, they can create the illusion of curves. While, if you are an inverted triangle, you can wear a wider pair of pants in a light color to balance out your wider shoulders.
White shorts
If you’re enjoying some warmer weather, or you’re lucky enough to be heading away on a staycation or vacation, a pair of white denim shorts could be perfect to add to your summer wardrobe.
The Wit & Wisdom pair (below) are a good mid-length option.
Wit & Wisdom white denim shorts
Also take a look at the most flattering shorts for women over 40 for more inspiration.
What to wear with white jeans
Really, it might be easier to answer what not to wear with white jeans, because there are so many different ways you can wear them.
They look beautiful worn with taupes and metallics for spring and summer, but you can also wear with black booties for winter – although I’d balance this out with a darker top. You could wear your white skinnies with tan or gray knee-length or over the knee boots.
You can tuck in your casual tee shirts, you can wear with tunics or you can opt for a more formal top and heels for an evening out.
They are particularly great for summer vacation wear. But, I also love to wear white jeans during winter as this adds an unexpected element to your outfit.
The possibilities for white jeans are endless. They really are one of the hardest working pieces in your closet.
Prefer blue jeans? Check out article on the best fitting jeans.
Tops to wear with your jeans
You can wear any color at all with your white jeans, but you’ll see that I’ve stuck to a color palette of red, monochrome and neutrals for the white jeans capsule below.
Monika (above) looks super stylish in her white jeans worn with blue denim and an asymmetrical-strap pair of sandals.
Check out these peplum top from Isaac Mizrahi, and wear it this similar pair of jeans, sandals and necklace.
Halogen square neck flutter sleeve top – Vince silk boxy top – Lafayette 148 silk blouse – LARACE flare tunic top
Coats & cardigans
Dimitie (above) mixes and matches her denim with white jeans and a dark blue denim jacket.
Check out this similar blouse, denim jacket, white jeans and sandals.
AG denim jacket – Vigoss faux leather moto jacket – Halogen tie waist cardigan – Barefoot Dreams cardigan
Shoes to go with your white jeans
Choose another neutral, such as black or metallics, add a pop of color, or add a print to your outfit.
Helen (above) teams her white jeans with leopard print and a pair of black sandals.
Recreate her outfit with this similar blouse, blazer, wide leg jeans and ankle strap sandals.
Seychelles slide sandal – André Assous espadrille wedge sandal – 27 Edit loafer – Naturalizer open toe bootie
Accessories to wear with your jeans
Sandra (above) teams her white jeans with green shoes and a pair of matching earrings
Check out these tunic top options from Amazon and Free People, and wear with this similar pair of skinny jeans, sandals, sunglasses and earrings.
COACH shoulder bag – Sole Society circle shoulder bag – GERINLY print scarf – SWAROVSKI necklace – GreenTail statement necklace – Bony Levy oval link drop earrings
A capsule wardrobe featuring white jeans
Below you can see how you can put your white jeans capsule together in a palette of red, neutrals, black and leopard print. All of the looks below feature the same 7 For All Mandkind crop jeans.
More white jeans inspiration for you
Take a look at a past season white jeans capsule for more inspiration. This time, featuring pastel shades, silver and some pops of pink.
Read our ultimate guide to creating a capsule wardrobe that works best for you.
What do you think are the best white jeans for women? What are your favorite brands? how do you style your white jeans?
Continue reading:
- How To Wear Jeans Over 40 – Guidelines And Lots Of Ideas
- The Best Fitting Jeans For Women: Choose The Best Jeans For Your Body Type
- How To Wear Capris And Cropped Pants – An Extensive Guide!
Like this article on the best white jeans for women over 40? Share it on Pinterest!
Feature image by Sandra
Want to get more articles from 40+style in your inbox, subscribe here.
You can also connect with 40+style on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.
Support 40+style by using the links in our articles to shop. As an associate for Amazon and many other brands, we receive a small commission (at no cost to you) on qualifying purchases which enables us to keep creating amazing free content for you. Thanks!
Greetings, I am petite, 4’ 10”, and pear shape. I have been looking for a nice pair of white boot cut jeans. Because of my shape I don’t want to fit to be too tight. Any recommendation?
The rule was no white SHOES before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. People always wore white all year around. Think of white shirts, wedding gowns, etc. etc. I remember white wool pants when I was a trendy teen, and I’m waaaay over 40.
Sylvia it’s so difficult for me to find white jeans ugh I am a rectangle body type and the Curvy NYDJ are too baggy, I love high rise to tuck in the menopause belly haha but in all honesty I have tried many brands and I have yet to find a pair.. 🙁
I’m a rectangle and I’ve had a lot of success with Paige Jeans. Have you tried those? https://rstyle.me/+b5ycG3mC86pSOCY3fYVHWA
I struggle with white jeans. Every year I try though! My issue is that I have bigger/athletic thighs. At 51, they are not as smooth as they used to be, and it’s really tricky to find a white jean to look Flattering and not accentuate this flaw (dimples) Maybe a wider leg? thicker fabric? Any suggestions? I love this blog! Thanks Sylvia!
It’s best to go for models that skim the skin rather than hug it. Yes a thick enough fabric will help with this too. It will take some effort finding them but the perfect white pants are out there for you Christine!
Hi there,
I love getting your newsletter- so full of ideas and well put together. Thank you so much for this.
I notice most of the models you use have lovely flat tummies. The reality though for most of us over 40 is that we don’t have flat tummies anymore and I think we need to be more ok with this! It would be great to see some models with rounded tummies to see how you dress to camouflage that (or ignore that!), and well, just to make the ideas more relatable to those of use who are more rounded in this area and help make it ok to look like this.
Thanks
Leanne
I would like that too but this why we are limited with that. Read more on that at https://40plusstyle.com/fabulous-40-plus-women/ We do feature women that use the #40plusstyle tag on instagram though and I encourage all women of all shapes, colors and size to use it so we can feature a variety of women over 40 here.
Hi,
The best white jeans I have found are Old Navy High Rise Secret Slim Pockets White Rockstar jeans. They are light weight fir summer and fit like a dream. They have built-in tummy control too. They come in a lot of colors.
Thanks for the feedback Cathy!