When can you begin wearing white pants?

White jeans before memorial day.

I think that it is officially time to pack the heavy sweaters away until October. And at the moment, I’m not sad about it. However, it isn’t quite summer yet. And now the heavy sweaters are all packed up. So we get stuck in this weirdo time period of what to put on TODAY.  Like it’s a Tuesday and it’s 60 degrees outside.  It’s not 80 degrees yet, so I’m not ready for dresses and sandals, and it’s no longer 30 degrees so I don’t need to be all bundled and stuff. So what do I wear? How about I dare say white jeans before Memorial Day. 

Yes, I know what you are thinking. “BUT, I can’t wear my white jeans because it’s not Memorial Day yet”.  Wrong, and a total myth. When this weirdo weather hits all we want to do is feel refreshed and pull out our new pieces, but it just isn’t totally time yet. So, one way to reinvent the old before mixing in the new is to pull out your white jeans. Ya know those things that have been collecting cobwebs since Labor Day. (Oh, and these same rules apply for Labor Day, too.)

As long as there’s no snow on the ground or oodles of rain puddles, you can wear your white jeans, and wear them proudly. But there are rules to doing this so you don’t look too summery, or too wintry. There’s a real fine line to this transitional weather stage and making your white jeans work.

The 3 rules for wearing white jeans before Memorial Day:

  1. Wear earth tone colors on top in a lightweight wool or lightweight cashmere blends.

    Yes, neon and citrus colors are in for this spring and summer, (if you want to wear them now, wear them with your blue jeans but save them with your whites for summer). Heavy wool and cashmere is too heavy and doesn’t give the white bottom the transitional look you’re going for.

  2. Opt for a neutral color bootie or closed toe shoe.

    An open toe sandal screams summer, and an UGG boot is just too wintry.

  3. Try layering them up.

    A striped long sleeve T-shirt and a neutral color or camel color topper and pair of booties totally can work to transition your white bottoms. You can even wear a white blouse as I did in the top photo, just make sure there’s some texture, stripe or graphic on the top to help calm down the white.

Our Favorite White Jeans

Our Favorite Earthtone Toppers

Our Favorite Neutral Booties

And when the weather FINALLY warms up you can pair your white jeans with a floss heel and a tie-neck blouse to be summertime chic.

When can you begin wearing white pants?

... Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

For decades – if not longer – the fashion ‘rule’ was that white garments were to be reserved for the days between Easter and Labor Day. However, this is no longer the case. Although some people still prefer to pack their whites away after Labor Day, it is perfectly acceptable to keep wearing your white jeans year-round.

Explore this article

1 Warm Weather Whites

White jeans are perfect for the spring and summer months. They offer a bright, clean backdrop against which to wear a wide range of warm-weather blouses and tops and can be worn with virtually anything in your closet. Wear your white jeans with a navy blue silk tank and some oversize gold jewelry for a classic summertime look or choose a simple white T-shirt for a completely colorless look. Add a brightly colored bib necklace for a stand-out pop of color against a white canvas.

2 Winter Whites

Dare to wear your white jeans in the wintertime, as well, but keep the rest of your outfit seasonally appropriate to avoid looking like you didn’t realize the summer had already come and gone. Pair your white jeans with plush fabrics in classic hues, like a chunky oxblood-colored sweater with some camel suede booties. If you aren’t comfortable wearing your bright white jeans in the winter, look for a winter white pair instead. Winter white is a slightly darker, creamier shade of white and is entirely appropriate for post-Labor Day dressing.

About the Author

Katherine Mitt has been contributing to online publications since 2009, focusing primarily on fashion and style topics. She holds a B.A. in English from a small liberal arts school.

S. Cathey/Demand Media

The age-old debate of when you can wear white pants rages on seemingly perpetually. In the 1960s, it was a major faux pas to wear white pants past Labor Day. Since then, fashion designers have presented winter and spring lines that both included white pants. Designers also debate on which shade of white is acceptable. Winter-white pants, the color of which leans more toward the cream family, has been accepted on the runway any time of year. Stark-white pants are generally seen more during the end of spring and throughout the summer.

Wearing White Pants in the Tropics

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Wear bright white pants or shorts in the tropics any time of year. The warm sun and summer-like year-round conditions make the environment ripe for summer wear even during the winter. If you are planning a beach getaway or are going on a cruise in January, there’s no reason why you can break out the white pants, shorts or skirt.

Fabric Matters

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Linen is one type of fabric that is acceptable only between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Unless you are taking your white linen pants with you on a cruise or on a trip to the Bahamas, leave them at home after Labor Day.

White jeans tend to be acceptable any time of year, says fashion expert and writer Najwa Moses. White jeans come in a variety of designs that include rhinestones on the pockets and low-riders.

For a fall or winter look, pair warm winter-white wool pants with dark boots and a dark-colored jacket.

How to Wear White Pants

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Adhere to a few undergarment and fitting rules when wearing white pants. White pants are somewhat see-through no matter how thick the material is. Never wear dark or brightly colored underwear underneath white pants, because the color will show through. Choose white or flesh-colored undies when you break out the white pants.

Look for a perfect fit. White cotton, wool and linen pants should drape well on the body. Avoid tight-fitting dress pants because they accentuate the bubbles and bumps in the hips and thighs.

References

Writer Bio

Gina Ragusa has made a career out of writing for the past 15 years, with an emphasis on financial institution writing. Ragusa has written for Consumer Lending News, Deposit and Loan Growth Strategies and Community Bank President. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Michigan State University.

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