Considering putting together an outfit with white pants? Here’s everything you need to know.
To many, outfits with white pants for men (especially for men) is a bold choice. Not me though. And this isn’t because I’m a bold dresser myself. Quite the contrary.
See, my mother worked for Chanel before she became a full-time wife and mother. She cared about fashion but also cared about seasonal dress and dress codes. I grew up in a world of dress codes.
White pants were common during summer parties, especially if on a boat or near any body of water. So, I know my way around this often intimidating garment. And believe it or not, they aren’t just for the hot months.
White Pants for Men
Let’s start with some of your options.
White Jeans
White jeans are made with the same denim as blue jeans. They’re just dyed a different color. They’re a good option for spring when it isn’t too hot.
I recommend going for modern options with stretch, like the kind Mugsy or The Perfect Jean makes.
I understand that with blue jeans or even black jeans, many of you prefer a true selvedge denim.
It lasts a long time, it’s strong timeless, and it patinates, which adds character. White jeans, however, don’t patinate.
You want them to stay stark white, and you tend to wear them during warmer seasons, so comfort and stretch are key.
White Chinos
White chinos are often slightly slimmer than white jeans, but the stark color sometimes makes it hard to tell the difference between the two. As such, you can style them pretty similarly.
However, white chinos, and light-colored chinos in general, often come in a range of constructions. For example, Brooks Brothers makes one with a canvas poplin construction. This range is due to the fact that these brands expect you to wear lighter-colored pants in warmer contexts.
Slimmer, lighter chinos can wear like dressier pants or summer linen pants.
White Slacks and Linen Summer Pants
Slacks are like looser dress pants that aren’t made to pair with a jacket separately. They still drape cleanly and are a classy and elegant option for the weekend or even while on holiday.
That being the case, they lend themselves to lighter colors, including white. Cream or beige might be less jarring, and they’re certainly more common.
However, white slacks have a resort-chic, downright cosmopolitan vibe to them.
Dress Pants
There’s a time and a place for a full white suit. It’s certainly not an everyday outfit. Again, on boats, at white parties, and at other theme parties are good examples. But they aren’t something that would ever be in anyone’s heavy rotation.
The pants they come with, however, can prove to be quite versatile.
How To Wear White Pants
Here are some of the most effective approaches when it comes to how to wear white pants.
Wear Them Seasonally
Wearing white pants seasonally is the most obvious and easiest approach.
As mentioned, white jeans are a great option for spring. They’re substantial enough for cooler or windy days or evenings, but white can also deflect the sun. Even more, they pair well with spring colors, like pastels and floral tones.
White slacks and chinos are also summer staples. In fact, it’s the one time in the year that most people wouldn’t consider them too bold of a choice. And on more formal summer evening events, white dress pants can be paired with a darker suit jacket.
Here’s something people don’t realize, though. Did you know that you can wear white pants in the winter too? If you’re following sartorial conventions, I’d avoid them in the fall. No white after Labor Day, after all.
There is, however, such a thing as winter white. So, how do you pull it off? Well, you can go full contrast and pair it with a black shirt, black coat, and deep-colored scarf. Or, you can wear your white pants as part of a subtle contrast.
Wear Them as Part of a Subtle Contrast
A subtle contrast is one in which your top and bottom are two contrasting colors. However, they’re the same shade. In other words, they’re the same level of darkness or lightness. So, while the colors are different, the volume of the colors isn’t.
Lighter earthy tones are good options. White pants with a light tan cashmere sweater is a good example. Or, you can go for white pants and a light, cloud gray duffle coat.
Subtle contrasting is an effective way to wear white pants in a more understated way, in general. Incorporating it with winter outfits allows the white to go from a warm-weather color to a winter hue.
To a Theme Party
If you’re going to a white party, of course, you’ll wear white pants. If the event is nautical or on a boat, a breton stripe shirt wears naturally with white jeans.
Christmas parties are another time when white pants would be welcome. A Christmas sweater with white jeans or slacks or even a Christmas-themed broken suit would work.
Think white pants, a white dress shirt, a red tie, and an olive green suit jacket.
Wear Them on Holiday
White and colors in the white family, like beige and ecru, are the unofficial colors of being on vacation. They symbolize a sense of being carefree and an air of not worrying.
This is partly because most vacations take place in warmer climates. However, white pants are also good during winter mountain getaways. There are plenty of white skiing pants out there.
If you’ve always wanted to try white trousers but are insecure, try them while on vacation. It’s an appropriate context that most wouldn’t judge.
What To Wear With White Pants for Men
To create an outfit for white pants, consider the following combinations.
For a spring suit look, wear your white pants with a light-colored suit jacket, a tonal dress shirt, and a bright-colored tie.
You might go for a light olive suit jacket, a mint dress shirt, and a blue knit tie. Or, you could go for a light slate blue jacket, a pastel blue shirt, and a maroon tie.
For a casual spring outfit, you can just wear your white jeans with a pastel t-shirt. Or, for more structure, try a knit polo.
Moving on to summer, pairing white slacks with a blue blazer is a classic combination. To make it more relaxed, go for a striped shirt or polo underneath. Finish it off with boat shoes or driving mocs.
For a more formal look, go for a white dress shirt and dress shoes.
White pants also go well with a chambray shirt. It’s a summery take on workwear because chambray looks like a lighter, breezier denim.
And again, subtle contrasts are an effective way to wear white pants in winter. Just make sure you’re mixing textures in there, too. Think cashmere, fair isle, cable-knit, and tweed.
Outfits With White Pants for Men: Some Examples
Here are some examples of white outfits with white pants for men!
FAQ
Still have questions? No problem. Here are answers to some common ones.
Should guys wear white pants?
Guys can absolutely wear white pants, especially during warm seasons and on holiday. Moreover, they can also be worn as a winter white.
Are white pants preppy?
White pants are a preppy staple simply because preppy culture is big on dress codes and nautical themes. However, they aren’t preppy as a rule. White pants can be incorporated into most personal styles.
Are there rules for wearing white pants?
There aren’t hard-and-fast rules, but you’d mostly wear them in warmer weather. If you’re a dress code follower, you’ll also want to avoid wearing white after Labor Day.
Conclusion: White Pants Outfit Men
It does seem that there’s a type of guy who wears white trousers.
But now you’ve seen a range of outfits with white pants for men. I hope your takeaway is that there’s also a range of the types of guys who can wear them.
And maybe you’re one of them! Or maybe not, but you never know unless you try.
Do you like white pants? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments!
