Wearing white trousers after 40: do you dare?

I'll admit it honestly.

I love a pair of white trousers. I always feel just a little bit better in them. Fresher. Neater. As if I made an effort for myself.

And yet, every time I put them on, that one thought flashes through my mind: "Are people going to think I'm showing off? That I'm being a snob?"

Maybe it's odd for a man with a few more years on the clock to think that. But I really do.

Why do many women no longer dare to wear white?

For years I ran a hospitality business. It was all about making people feel at home and having an eye for detail. That eye for detail has stayed with me.

Fashion has been my passion my whole life. Even before hospitality. Over the past months that passion has found a home on U&Fashion. Not as a shop — I don't sell anything myself — but as a place where I look every day at what really hangs well and what doesn't, and gladly share that with you.

But precisely because I love clothing so much, I knew that hesitation with white trousers. White stands out. You can't hide white.

And then I realised: that is exactly what many women tell me too, without saying it directly. "Can I still pull this off? Isn't it too young?"

We're afraid of being looked at. Not because the trousers aren't beautiful, but because we think we're saying something by wearing them.

And you know what I say to myself about that these days? People are going to look anyway. Whether you wear black joggers or white trousers. So then wear something YOU feel good in.

So how do you pick a pair of white trousers you actually feel confident in?

As an enthusiast, I always look at three very practical things when I spot beautiful white trousers to show you. No complicated fashion theory — just things you can see for yourself, even when the brand doesn't spell everything out.

1. Fabric weight — against sheerness.

This is the biggest fear, and brands almost never write anything about it. What you can do: look carefully at the photo.

Do you see the inner pockets showing through clearly? Or the seams as a shadow through the fabric? Then it's probably too sheer.

Do you see a nice, even, matte white colour without shadows? That's usually a good sign that the fabric is thick enough.

My golden tip: check the reviews at the brand itself. Scroll down to where other women give a star rating. Does it say "hangs beautifully, doesn't show through" or "lovely thick fabric"? Then you know enough. Nothing there? Then better keep looking.

2. The stretch — for wearing comfort.

You'll rarely find that percentage either. So look at how the trousers hang on the model.

Does the fabric pull at the hips, or do you see stress lines at the knees when the model sits? Then there's probably too little give and they will tighten.

Do they hang smoothly, even when the model walks or sits? Then they move with the body without going baggy. Words like "comfort stretch" are usually a safe middle ground.

3. Combinability — against the "dressed up" feeling.

You can test this in your head immediately.

Can you already combine these white trousers with three things you have in your wardrobe right now? A light-blue denim blouse, a beige T-shirt, your white sneakers? Yes? Then you'll actually wear them.

Do you first need a whole new smart outfit to make them work? Then they'll probably stay in the wardrobe.

My tip as an enthusiast before you click through

Go stand in front of the mirror in the trousers you currently feel most confident in. Which trousers are those? Why do they feel good? Is it the medium-high waist, the straight leg, the softness?

Remember that feeling.

Then look on U&Fashion for a pair of white trousers with that same fit. Only click through to the brand when you think: "yes, those could give me that same good feeling".

That way you don't buy to try — you already try in your head before you buy.

That good feeling — that's what I do it for.

See the white trousers I'm spotting at our partners right now →

My favourite of the week

These wide trousers from Next are a good example of what I mean: straight leg, matte fabric that doesn't show through. On the site they're shown with a blazer, but they're just as beautiful with a simple black T-shirt or your white sneakers for a less dressy feel.

See similar wide-leg trousers at Next →

Marc

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Want to know more about fits and combinations? Also read: White trousers for women 35+ — which fit really works and how to combine them →