How to Wear White…and Look Good

Summer is just around the corner, it’s time to break out the white, right?  Right?!?!?!?  Many women want to wear white.  After all, it is such a lovely, summery color that works so well with fruity brights and prints.  However, wanting to wear white and actually wearing white are two different things.  In this post, I want to teach you some tips on how to wear white, so you can embrace this color with confidence.

White is a color where there is no running and hiding.  Unlike darker colors, that often hide a multitude of sins, white is a color that can easily showcase what you’d rather not show.  Therefore, choosing the most flattering silhouettes and fabrics, along with smart tailoring tricks, is of utmost importance. Below are some pointers, outfits and fit advice to help you.  For shopping advice on all looks, just click the photos below.

How to Wear White Shorts

White Shorts by bridgetteraes featuring bermuda shorts

There are a few tips I can give you about wearing white shorts.  First, unless you are under the age of 21, it’s probably smarter to go with a tapered Bermuda style.  Choose a slimmer pair of shorts that hit right above the knee.  In addition, if your shorts have pockets, just bring them to the tailor and ask them to be ripped out and have the pockets stitched closed.  It’s not likely you’ll want to put anything in them anyway, and nothing is worse than when the pocket bags show through white bottoms.

Another tip when you wear white bottoms, like shorts, is to think about widening your shoulder area, especially if you have narrower shoulders or carry most of your weight on the bottom half of your body.  A counterbalancing effect is created when you do this and your hips and thighs will look smaller.  A wider shoulder line can be created with wider necklines, like boat necks, or or horizontal stripes near the shoulder area.  Avoid halter tops with white bottoms if you’re pear shaped, as this type of top will only enhance the size of the bottom half of your body.

How to Wear White Skirts

White Pencil Skirt by bridgetteraes featuring yellow gold jewelryThere are plenty of white skirt options out there, but, I have found the pencil skirt to be the most universally flattering skirt shape out there.  If you’re curvy, pencil skirts work with your curves, yet, at the same time, if you’re straighter in shape, pencil skirts create the illusion of balanced curves.  When choosing a white pencil skirt, it’s important to look at the beefiness of the fabric.  Choose fabrics that are heavier in weight or have some lycra in them.  If a fabric is too thin or flimsy, it’s the equivalent of putting fat in a Ziploc bag, it’s free to jiggle and roam around.  However, imagine putting fat in a storage container, instead.  There is less jiggling and the fat has to conform to the shape of the container.  Heftier fabrics contain the body better and will help you create the shape you want.When looking for what to wear with a white pencil skirt, look for tops or jackets that emphasize the waist area, either through shape or pattern.  This will further help you create a balanced and proportioned look.

How to Wear White Pants

White Pants by bridgetteraes featuring kate spade

When women hear the words “white pants” they often freak out.  In fact, I have a client who I tried to get into white pants for three years.  Each time I threw a pair of white pants into the dressing room she threw them right back and refused to even consider them.  Well, this year, after three years of trying, she not only bought one pair, she bought two!  The secret to white pants is all in the fit.

As scary as it sounds, when choosing white pants, choosing a slimmer style will serve you well.  The best style of white pants, especially if you are bottom-heavy, is bootcut styles because the fit-and-flare leg shape will counterbalance the larger bottom half of your body and make it look proportioned.  Additionally, like shorts, remove pocket bags and sew the pockets closed.  Not only will you not see the pocket bags through the pants, but, if the pockets splay open, which will only make your hips looks wider, sewing them closed will fix that.  A contour waistband, particularly if you gain weight in your tummy, is a style that will work with your fuller tummy area, and will be less likely to show a muffin top.

How to Wear a White Blazer

White Blazer by bridgetteraes featuring a zippered tote bag

White blazers are great to have in your wardrobe if you want to embrace white for the summer but don’t want it anywhere the bottom half of your body.  With all the summer dresses and skirts for work, a white blazer can often look more professional than a cardigan.  Personally, I prefer a white blazer when it is sharp and shaped and accents the waist.  When choosing a white blazer, length is also important.  Either choose one with shape that is longer, where the hem doesn’t end at the widest part of your thighs, or one that is shorter and is no longer than a few inches below your pelvic bones.

How to Wear a White Dress

White Dress by bridgetteraes featuring silver earringsIn theory, a white dress is so fresh and summery.  However, when most women bring a white dress home they feel confused about what to do with it.  My first tip would be to avoid wearing a white dress with black shoes, which can be very stark looking, especially if you are pale.  White shoes can work, but they can also look very bridal.  Instead, a metallic, tan pair of shoes or a light blush pair (like the ones pictured above) will not only look more elegant, but they will also elongate and slim the look of your legs.  Choosing the right white dress shape will depend primarily on the shape of your body, however, defining the waist area, will often make any body shape look more proportioned.  It’s also important to take the same advice I gave about choosing the right white skirt– a beefier or more substantial fabric will probably be more flattering, or you could go with a textured fabric, like the eyelet shown above.Lastly, I want to touch on color.  Not everyone looks good in stark white, however, there are plenty of shades of white to choose from– some shades are a bit softer, like ecru, and others are much brighter.  In addition, if you don’t like white near your face, consider wearing it on the bottom half of your body.  Now that you know the fit tricks on how to wear white, you should be able to do just that.