Things worth wearing... white jeans

Readers, white jeans are not for the risk-averse. The reward for those brave enough, however, is substantial. Unfazed by their close proximity to potential disaster in daily life – coffee drips, ketchup splashes, city grime – wearers of white jeans radiate main-character energy and have undeniable swagger. Henrik Lischke, senior fashion features editor at Grazia, is a long-term fan. “I tend to go head-to-toe in white, which some find alarming,” he says. “I’ve heard the boy band comparison, but I prefer to think of it as a clinical sharpness, like a chic doctor.” Jack Moss, fashion and beauty features director at Wallpaper* magazine, agrees. “There’s something innately chic about white jeans,” he says. “I’d argue they’re more versatile than a pair of classic blue jeans. They look great with neutrals, bright colours, or contrasted against a navy or black sweater.”

For white denim newbies, the cheat code is to start with a warmer, cream-leaning shade. Think of it like a Farrow & Ball paint chart: Polo Ralph Lauren calls theirs “ceramic white”, Levi’s prefer “ecru greige”. Finding the right pair, Lischke says, requires time and investment. “The fabric needs substance and the colour should lean off-white, not stark. Too thin and everything shows. Too flimsy and the shape collapses into something unflattering.”

The on-trend shape is a straight or wider cut. Studio Nicholson’s barrel jean in parchment is a masterclass in effortless chic when paired with a high-shine black loafer, belt and a simple washed-out black shirt and black worker jacket. Carhartt WIP jeans get Lischke’s approval, which are “built with a kind of utilitarian stubbornness and cut with just enough slouch.” Moss agrees, recommending their double-knee carpenter jeans as well as Spanish brand Gimaguas. He ends on a cautionary note. “Sadly, the latter pair were recently retired after a run-in with a glass of red wine.”

White knights: (pictured, from left) street style at Pitti Uomo Fall 2026; Jacob Elordi in Chanel; Paolo denim pant in parchment, £250, Studio Nicholson; straight leg jeans, £69.99, Aaron Levine x Zara; double knee pant, £120, Carhartt; 568 loose straight carpenter jeans, £90, Levi’s