White jeans should only be worn between Memorial Day and Labor Day — or so some people say.
I’d argue, wardrobe calendar aside, that which pair you choose is more important than when you wear them. You should, ideally, hold them to the same standards as your everyday blue jeans. A solid pair should fit well, feel comfortable on your skin, and withstand frequent wears and washes — the latter arguably more important with white jeans given their unforgiving nature with spills.
Luckily, writer Zoe Vanderweide has done the leg work in our guide to the best women’s jeans. The lengthy process resulted in a rigorously tested curation of jeans, each pick beating out steep competition. But even though many of our favorite blue jeans also come in white, they are slightly different from blue jeans.
Blue denim typically has two different yarns — warps (lengthwise yarns), which are typically dyed indigo, and wefts (crosswise yarns), which are typically left uncolored (or white-ish), Zoe says. In white denim, however, both the warps and wefts are white (or off-white), either because they are left undyed or have been bleached or dyed another shade of white depending on the look the designer is going for, she says.
The fabric content (for example, 100% cotton or 65% lyocell, 35% cotton) may vary between washes, both between light- and dark-blue jeans and between blue and white jeans. So if you notice a different fabric content on one wash compared with the next, rest assured, that’s normal, and it occurs between the varied washes in some of our picks, too. We haven’t tested every wash for every pair of jeans in our guide, but we stand by the brands and styles we recommend for excelling in fit, feel, and durability.
Not all of our top picks come in white, but plenty of them do. Below, you’ll find those pairs, spanning fit and price, with colors ranging from printer-paper white to elevated bone.
Cut close at the hip and roomier through the leg, this pair is made from a comfy cotton-lyocell blend, and it comes in three inseam lengths. It’s a chic, wearable take on the wide-leg jean — but the subtler shape might look more like a bootcut if you have thicker thighs.
There’s no denying that wide-leg jeans are the cut of the moment, but wide doesn’t always have to mean baggy. Consider AYR’s The Secret Sauce jeans for the best of both worlds; they have a close-fitting waist that seamlessly evolves into well-tailored but spacious legs. You get the modern feel of a wide-leg jean without the excess fabric or a saggy bum.
The white shade, creme soda, falls right in the middle of the spectrum — not too bright, but not truly off-white, either. In the guide, Zoe describes the feel of the denim as, “remarkably soft and lived-in.” Given the pair’s sophisticatedly relaxed fit, you can easily dress these up with a button-up or flowy blouse paired with an open-toed shoe. Or, you can dress them down with a simple black cotton T-shirt and sneakers for more-casual occasions.
Thanks to their ultra-high rise and floor-grazing length (they come in three inseams), these wide-leg jeans are dramatic and visually elongating. And they’re an exceptional value, too — just note that they run a bit large in the waist and will likely stretch.
Of all the Levi’s jeans available, our testing panel selected the Levi’s Premium Ribcage Wide Leg Women’s Jeans as the very best option for high-rise fanatics. Their take on a white wash is warm and borderline cream. The leg has a wider fit, which Zoe describes as “dramatic, but not over the top.” We found that the waist runs slightly large and will likely stretch, so you may need a smaller size than usual, especially if waist-gapping is an issue. The roomy waist does, however, leave space to tuck in a T-shirt, tight-fitting long sleeve, or blouse. Or, if you’re a dedicated crop-top wearer, you might appreciate the extra coverage from the ultra-high rise cut.
Yes, they’re expensive, but these beautifully constructed wide-leg, super-high-rise jeans — beloved by our straight and curvy testers alike — are made from 100% cotton denim with the perfect weight and drape. Unfortunately, they’re offered in only one inseam and waist sizes up to 32.
The white oak wash of the AMO Frida jeans may be the chicest option in this bunch. The wash is closer to bone than bleach white, creating a more relaxed look. The subtlety continues with the cutoff finishing on the hem, gentle distressing on the pockets, and a loose fit around the hips and thighs. Altogether, the details create a more lived-in appearance compared with other rigid, clean-cut constructions. Not to mention, this pair pleased both curvy and straight-hipped testers in our panel, which makes sense given the roomy cut of the jeans throughout. You really only need to get a precise waist measurement when determining your size, Zoe says.
But don’t be fooled by their casual vibe. “The Frida jeans are the most meticulously made pair in this guide — and for $300, they should be,” Zoe says in the jeans guide. Unfortunately, these only come in one inseam, which we found to be a nice floor-skimming length for people around 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-9. But shorter testers noted they would need to hem these jeans, and one 6-foot panelist found them to be too short.
Similar to the AYR Secret Sauce jeans, these are a balance of elevated and casual, ripe for plenty of styling opportunities from errands to dinner and beyond.
An American classic, these jeans have a long, slim-straight shape that never gets old. Plus, they’re sturdy and comfy, and they come in lots of sizes — though finding the right fit can take some trial and error.
The Levi’s Premium 501 Original Fit Women’s Jeans have a reputation for being classic, dependable jeans — and our panel found that reputation to be well earned. The 501 jeans tested exceptionally well, making converts out of multiple panelists, Zoe says.
Their white wash is as crisp and bright as a fresh sheet of printer paper accompanied by the iconic brown-and-red Levi’s tags on the back. The snug ankle makes these perfectly fit for an open-toed ballet flat or sandal pairing, ensuring your shoes never get drowned out by fabric — a common problem with floor-length, wide-leg jeans.
Made from a soft, airy blend of 70% lyocell and 30% cotton, these slouchy, trouser-inspired wide-leg jeans are wonderfully lightweight, comfy, and cool (in all senses of the word). The thin material isn’t as durable as sturdier cotton denim, but it drapes beautifully.
If sweatpant jeans entice you, consider microdosing the concept with these comfortable (but not quite pajama-level comfy) Citizens of Humanity Annina High Rise Wide Leg jeans. The fit is drapey with a thin material, but not shapeless. The brand describes the fit as “trouser-inspired,” with solid structure that keeps them elegant and modern.
The white wash is dubbed as a soft white, and I’d have to agree; it’s less blaring than pure white but definitely not cream. The fabric is slightly thinner than other, more rigid jeans, so the white wash is slightly see-through. If you wear skin-colored undergarments it isn’t noticeable, but brighter or darker undergarments can peak through, in my experience.
My favorite way to style these is with a solid black top and black accessories — the contrast between the white and black makes them look even brighter and more crisp.
These jeans have a long, lean ’90s cut, and they come in three inseams. They’re not as high quality as our other picks — but they’re priced right, and they go on sale often.
The Gap High Rise ’90s Straight Jeans were the closest match to a true ’90s look our panel could find. As for the white washes, there’s something for everyone: optic white (crisp and bright), new off white (a slightly less bright but still true white), and, arguably not white at all but in the same family, sand beige (much warmer, bordering on tan). If you want to really embrace the ’90s style, pair these with a classic flat flip-flop or ballet flat and a close-fitting cotton t-shirt or simple, striped long sleeve.
These fashionable rigid denim jeans have a high cinched waist and a relaxed leg — and despite their lack of stretch, they feel soft. But they come in only one inseam length, and if you have curvier hips, you might wish they had more give.
If some straight-leg jeans border on skinny, the Agolde 90’s Pinch Waist High Rise Straight jeans border on slouchy. Agolde’s white wash is called marshmellow, a hue that is clean and crisp but not blinding. The feel of the pants is more stiff than some of the drapey picks we recommend, but they still feel soft on the skin. “The fabric has a satisfying heft — with not a hint of stretch — but it still feels broken-in from day one,” Zoe says. These have a wider circumference at the ankle than slimmer straight legs, so you could style them with a snug boot or a flat sneaker.
No matter which wash or cut you choose, just know, this isn’t just any old curation of jeans — it’s a list that’s been tested by a diverse selection of people with different body shapes, sizes, and varying preferences. We consider them great, not just good. And a great pair of white jeans will be so hard to pack away after Labor Day, you may just break the unofficial fashion law.
This article was edited by Hannah Rimm and Maxine Builder.
