Why I'm Always Wearing White Pants
A style habit I can swear by
I get asked A LOT on Instagram where my white pants are from (spending time living in Europe, they’re now both pants and trousers to me). The answer isn’t so simple. Different cuts, different brands, different occasions, and most importantly different materials. I’ll run through the repeat offenders below…
1. The Pleated linen - For Summer Evenings
Perhaps the pair I gravitate towards most in the summer, at least when the temperature rises to anything above 20o. The pleated style is always my go-to for the evening. Whilst pleats are a minor visual detail, they create a much greater impact on the tone of outfit than you may think, adding a touch of formality to any situation - for evening-wear a pleat will always be appropriate. Linen makes this pair from Boglioli ideal for warmer climates, and with a shirt (ideally linen for continuity) or polo. Whilst I wear this pair with pretty much anything, my preference is always for a collar, and without fail, lace-less shoes such as loafers or espadrilles - as I said, these are for warmer climates and sneakers are usually never my footwear of choice for an evening requiring pleats.
2. The Pleated Chino - For Every Season
The all-rounders are my pleated chinos. These are the Whitman model from Ralph Lauren, and by far the most requested from followers and friends - I’ve never thought the style was anything uncommon, but apparently so. I wear these with anything and everything, from t-shirts to collared shirts and double-breasted blazers. The beauty of these are their versatility, and they adapt seamlessly to formalwear and casual looks alike.
The cotton blend makes the Whitman perfect for 8 months of the year, bridging Winter to Summer and Summer to Winter with ease and comfort. Only in substantial spells of heat and freezing cold do these struggle with being either too heavy or not thick enough. But thankfully my white pants arsenal has all bases covered.
Nevertheless, the straight-leg cut makes the Whitman ideal for the formal dinners, the long flights and just about everything else in between. However with any pleated chino - especially these with a high waistline - I’d strongly advise tucking the choice of shirt/t-shirt into the pants for the smart-casual or smart look. This breaks the line between the pants (which are already a straight-leg) and the upper body, thus giving a visual and distinct taper above the waist, allowing for a more chiseled silhouette.
3. The Pleated Corduroy - For Chic Winter
There’s not too much to say regarding a pleated corduroy. Similar in style and cut to my chinos above, except from the warmer material and in my opinion therefore providing a smarter texture. As you might’ve noticed with all of my ‘white’ pants, they’re in fact a shade of off-white, or ecru. Always go for an off-white shade, this provides a warmer undertone which is more versatile than stark white, and conceals stains or marks far better. Ecru corduroy is the perfect choice for winter, offset against the snow but in-keeping with a hotel lounge or dinner in the Stübli, I’d recommend pairing these with a heavy knit or cardigan to adopt the full alpine chic look.
For the casual travel and outings, I usually wear a pair of canvas slim fit pants - again in off-white. I have one pair from Alexander Kraft Monte Carlo, and another from Morris Stockholm. For the very casual summer-wear, I’d recommend straight leg drawstring linen pants; you can find these just about everywhere. The beauty of the white pants is versatility; appropriate in formal settings symbolic, of sharp Navy dress; summer outfits with just about any colour, but especially navy or dark upper-wear; casual outings but style providing an elevated look in a sea of denim jeans.
As a veteran of the white pants game, I can bust a few myths right here and now for the doubters reading this. Firstly, they don’t get nearly as dirty as one may first think. Opting for off-white instead of white will help mitigate against obvious marks, and will allow your pants to look fresher for longer, although some light marks are inevitable over the years. What I will say, is stay well clear of luggage wheels when maneuvering suitcases. As you’ll notice from any rolling luggage, over time these wheels become caked in dirt from the countless kilometers they’re pulled, creating some nasty black substance which can be very difficult to remove from cotton. Another concern for many is sitting on public seating, benches, or transport. Wearing white pants just about anywhere and everywhere, I can assure you, sitting on any form of public seating rarely brings any issues, and I’ve almost never experienced any suspect looking stains on my behind.
Happy styling, and enjoy a summer in the Mediterranean!
Azzam