Even before you get to the question of red wine and barbecue sauce, white jeans can be a treacherous proposition. If the denim is too thin, it’s bound to be see-through. If it’s too thick, it’s going to be relegated to the back of your drawer once the warm weather hits (which, odds are, is exactly when you’ll want to be wearing them).
But given how many pairs of white jeans we start seeing on Instagram come Memorial Day every year, there must be a Goldilocks-style solution to finding a pair that’s just right. And while you could go out and try on a few dozen pairs under unforgiving dressing room fluorescents, we’re partial to the alternative: going off the wisdom and experience of shoppers who have already taken them for a test drive.
In the interest of tracking down the best crisp white jeans to pair with your striped shirts and go-to denim jacket, we trawled the reviews of retailers such as Everlane, Nordstrom , and Shopbop to find the best white jeans. Read on to shop them all.
“These are the best color, a really soft white. The rise is really high, which is good for me as my waistline sits higher up on my torso. They’re so soft and comfortable. Definitely softer than my other Slvrlake jeans. I’m obsessed with these! I ordered a 25 (5’8″ 120lbs), and they fit like a glove.” — Shopbop reviewer
“It is a soft and stretchy denim, so I sized down from my normal size, and they are perfect. They look great on, the quality is great, and the white is the perfect white. Madewell jeans never disappoint. Love them!” — Madewell reviewer
“I can’t express enough how much I love these jeans. I really hate stretchy jeans, and these are the first rigid pair I found that fit perfectly. I’m just sorry they don’t come in more color options because I would buy all of them!” — Everlane reviewer
“I love this one. It’s too comfortable. I’m a little curvy in my bottom and it makes me slimmer than I really am. It fits well with a loose feel. I’m 5’3″ tall, and I need to cut it a little for ankle length, but the fit wasn’t damaged at all. I like them because it feels loose and chic for daily, especially perfect for resort wear as well.” — Shopbop reviewer
“I absolutely love these jeans in tile white. The fit is great, and the white is so flattering. I was worried the wide fit would look strange, but these were my favorite jeans of all that I ordered. The material is thick enough not to be see-through, which is a first for white denim!” — Nordstrom reviewer
“Love love love these. Great amount of stretch but true to size. The color is perfect. Not a bright white but an ecru which can be difficult to find!” — Nordstrom reviewer
“I own two other washes in this style and I absolutely love them! they are the perfect length and you can dress them easily up or down! Ten stars if that was a thing!” — Favorite Daughter reviewer
“It’s so hard to find quality white skinny jeans that aren’t see-through, but these hit the mark. They are comfortable and fit true to size, and I like the slightly short length for summer outfits.” — Good American reviewer
“Great quality. These are such great jeans. I am 5’7 and they were a good bit too long. I loved the high waist on these and the overall cut. They were fitted in waist and thighs and had a nice flare at the bottom. Fabric is amazing. Not see thru and loved the color. They were just too long on me and I wanted a touch more room in the thigh. For the price I wanted a little more perfect fit so I returned them. But they are a great quality. I may try another fit/style.” — Nordstrom reviewer
“This pair is my third purchase of the ‘Zuma’ style skinny jeans, the only stretch denim product I’ve found that does not stretch out with wear. They still fit like the day I bought them! Fit is true to size and similar to other products that size down, such as NYDJ. These pants are cut a little wide in the waist (28″ for a size 2).” — Nordstrom reviewer
“I tried other recommended ones, but these were the clear winner for me. Great cut, soft fabric (not a stiff denim), and very true to size. A bit pricey compared to the others but these make me feel terrific. Will get lots of wear!” — Shopbop reviewer
“Comfortable, stylish, look and fit great. Nordstrom service never disappoints.” — Nordstrom reviewer
“Everyone needs these jeans. They’re the ONLY white jeans that are actually flattering!” — Shopbop reviewer
I’m obsessed with these.
“These pants exceeded my expectations, everyone should have a pair! So unbelievably comfortable with the perfect amount of stretch. They do slightly get stretched out through the day, but they still maintain their shape. Super high rise and the length is right at my ankle (I’m 5’5”). Will be wearing these year round!” — Nordstrom reviewer
“These are more putty-colored than ivory, but I love them. Nice amount of stretch. I’m 5’2″, so they hit me right at the ankle, which is fine. Good weight for spring and summer.” — Nordstrom reviewer
“I’ve been desperately looking for years for a lower rise comfortable jean and finally find one. The Bella Crop has a 8.5″ rise which is perfect for me because anything higher accentuates my belly. This jean is also stretchy enough that I can button them without the waist band digging into my skin. I’m ordering two more pair because it’s the perfect rise and the perfect mix of materials that stretch where you need it to, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to find them.” — Nordstrom reviewer
“These jeans fit great. I love the straight leg and raw hem. They have a good amount of stretch and are not see-through.” — Nordstrom reviewer
“My absolute favorite pair of white jeans!” — Nordstrom reviewer
This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.