No wonder Sienna Miller and Katie Holmes love them, white trousers are the ideal summer staple
It’s fair to say that the weather hasn’t really delivered this summer. It feels particularly difficult to get dressed in such circumstances, with spaghetti-strap dresses and shorts gathering dust at the back of our wardrobes. Even worse, the tried-and-tested formula of jeans and a T-shirt is starting to feel boring.
The switch to make? Just add white trousers. Katie Holmes and Sienna Miller know it – both have been photographed rocking chic new outfits in recent weeks. A long-time champion of the pared-back look, Holmes was photographed in Manhattan wearing a wide-leg pair teamed with a cream vest and black ballet flats, in a look that could have worked just as well in the French Riviera as the city. Meanwhile, Miller wore her high-waisted pair during a trip to Los Angeles, pairing it with a beige tank top, conker leather belt and a straw bag.
While the style can make some people nervous – with the risk of spillages, staining and visible knicker lines – the summer staple is ideal for this time of year, when the weather can’t quite make its mind up. “Not everyone wants to slip into a dress during summer, particularly on the cooler days we’re currently experiencing,” shares Alexandra Fullerton, stylist and founder of My 3 Words. “White trousers feel appropriate for the season, because of their bright, light colour, but still offer a level of warmth that dresses don’t, along with more opportunities to style up to reflect one’s own personal style. With a dress, your outfit is pretty much set but, as with all separates, white trousers allow you to play with an array of tops, jackets and layers to suit your look.”
Lace up detail trousers, ￡49.50, Marks & Spencer
The key to making the look feel modern and flattering is to avoid spray-on styles and instead opt for something wide-legged and 1970s in feel. “The silhouette you choose depends on your preference and what suits your body shape, but wide leg, high waist, floor-skimming styles look perpetually chic, and white twill or white jeans will suit so many bodies, if they are in a tapered boyfriend cut,” Fullerton explains. “Look to Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot, who are iconic when it comes to wearing white trousers in a relaxed, European manner, and are ideal inspiration for summer holiday dressing.”
As well as the silhouette, the fabrication is also important. Cotton and linen are mainstays of our summer wardrobes for a reason, as they are breezier and cooler to wear, as well as supremely comfortable. Yet there are downsides, too – not least the wrinkly nature of linen, as well as the risk of a visible knicker line. If you are taking yours abroad to guaranteed sunnier climes, then linen is still best, as it is slightly more breathable than cotton, but it would be smart to pack a travel steamer or utilise the hotel iron, as creasing is inevitable in transit.
Smart details such as wide turn-up or front pleat will add sophistication to your look, while surprising finishes, like a lace-up, cut-out or print, are good if you don’t want to look too “done”. A great example comes from Sienna Miller’s high street collection for M&S, which features a pair of white wide-leg trousers inspired by a pair she found in a vintage shop, with a playful lace-up at the back.
Cropped crepe trousers, ￡370, Toteme
The beauty of white trousers is that they can be worn day and night, and styled up or down to suit the occasion. “For daytime, keep accompanying textures crumpled and finishes matte,” says Fullerton. “Perhaps try a white racer-style vest with a mannish linen shirt thrown over it. Tan accessories play down the sharpness of the white trousers, as do woven raffia baskets.”
Meanwhile, for the evening, Fullerton advises playing up the contrast by wearing white trousers with a black silky cami and silver accessories – “Gold jewellery and white trousers can look a little flashy,” she advises. “A sequinned shell top in silver or blush pink would also work beautifully if you’re going out somewhere fancy.”
White trousers also work well for occasionwear. Just look to the recent Cartier Queen’s Cup polo tournament, where a handful of guests opted for white trousers over dresses, including Lady Amelia Spencer. The key here is to elevate them via 1970s-style wedge or block heels, while a vest or bodysuit tucked in will give the illusion of a jumpsuit. Adding a blazer on top is a good idea, not least for its smartness, but also due to the unreliability of the weather.
The very real danger of embarrassing staining – whether that’s via a glass of red wine, or a sticky-fingered toddler – means that white trousers sit in the same sartorial category as mega heels, micro handbags and no-tights. They are inherently “quiet luxury”. If you want to lean into this look, à la Gwyneth Paltrow, then it’s best to go for a monochromatic colour palette or Breton stripes, with a cashmere cardigan thrown over the shoulders being particularly chic.
Wide-leg cotton trousers, ￡65, COS
