I struggle with white trousers.
Not in a “they might get mucky” way but in a “what is the image of myself I’m projecting with this garment” way. They just don’t quite fit. Or haven’t up ‘til now.
White bottoms just always seem to play into a current aesthetic all too easily- Coastal Grandma, Quiet Luxury, Cottagecore, French Riviera, they nod to all the above somehow and, truth be told, I’m not interested in projecting any current aesthetic. I just want to feel like me. Or perhaps what I actually mean is, rather than channelling any current aesthetic, how do I slot white bottoms into my own aesthetic?
White jeans specifically, have eluded me my whole life. I think I gave-in to a pair in sixth form (they were part of the “cool-girl’s-uniform”, matched with a crew neck cardi and pearls.) They didn’t look quite the same with my beaten up cowboy boots and vintage shirt. I’ve never seriously considered white bottoms since. Until now.
Two things of late have opened my mind to the idea again:
Milkshake Dungas. What is it about this style, particularly in our latest, creamy-white corduroy iteration?? Right now, between the Milkshake Dungas and Jasmine Cami Dress, my daily outfits have been repetitive at best! Every morning all I want to to do is pull them on- never before have I worn anything so close to white bottoms on such a regular basis… it got the cogs whirring.
Then I remembered… my mum got a pair of Stalf white linen wide legs last summer. She modified a pair that were returned by a customer- technically two sizes too large for her- we put in a new elastic to fit her waist and there’s just something great about the volume when she wears them that has been niggling at me ever since. I pulled on a pair of ancient double cloth Stalf pj bottoms the other day (the cut is very similar to our current wide trousers) and it was decided. White bottoms have a place in my wardrobe.
I was pretty set on a double gauze pair (this would still be an excellent alternative to the lightweight linen that I actually ended up going for IMO) but then we had some white lightweight linen left over from a custom order for a customer and it seemed too fortuitous to ignore. If you’re keen for a pair of Wide Trousers in white lightweight linen (or any of our styles in the same, for that matter) send me an email to customerservice@stalf.co.uk and I’ll hook you up, we still have the best part of a roll left.
Here is said pair on…
Things to note…
I sized up two sizes here (I am 6ft, perhaps two sizes might feel like too much if you’re smaller than me?? Personal preference, I guess.) It’s worth noting that this isn’t a fitted style in the first place. All the styling ideas in this article will look just as good if you take your usual size in these trousers. (For reference, my usual size is a medium +2” leg and they fit just fine, not at all tight, I was just going for something particular here.)
I added +2 on the length (this pair also hang longer since they’re roomier than usual on me.
I kept the elastic the same as my waist size for the pair featured in this article.
Whilst I don’t feel this fabric is particularly sheer (it’s 185gsm for anyone in the know) I am also not at all bothered by my underwear showing through. Having said that, when you opt a pair of pants close to your skin tone, you really cannot see them at all underneath. This isn’t a flimsy linen, but it is white.
You can ask any questions you might have below, or send me an email (as above) and I’ll be able to help with your enquiries.
…
A fresh pair of white linen wide trousers landed on my desk on Tuesday and I’m thrilled…
…but curious about the best ways to style.
I’m nervous that I don’t want even a whiff of Coastal Gma about my looks… rather something more dark or if not that, then perhaps grunge or conversely, bold? Can you make white linen trousers gothic? Or faintly Dickensian?
Here’s my moodboard…
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