Wearing Black with White Jeans
And a Fit Guide on women sizes 26 - 31.
It’s peak summer so let’s address white jeans. Specifically, wearing white jeans with black tops, belts, and shoes. I love navy, but not with white jeans (too nautical and preppy for me). But black? Black with white jeans is strong. Grown-up. It can go to Paris or a party by the pool and be just fine. Easiest look ever.
I did a couple of things for this letter. First, I bought some straight-leg styles that polish-up B&W beautifully. Then – and this is something I have been wanting to do for a long time – I brought in women sizes 26 - 31 to wear the Georgia jean in Salt. I hope you’ll find this clinical fit content helpful. The Georgia works so well on so many body types (way beyond my petite 24, which is all you’ve seen, I realize). Scroll down and see for yourself.
I’ve said it before and it’s worth repeating now that my goal with this newsletter is 1. To teach you how to look at jeans with a more discerning eye, and 2. To help make buying jeans online a better and more successful experience. I do this by purchasing and sometimes returning current styles from shops and e-comm sites. (Though I stand behind every pair of jeans I review, no one needs as many pairs as I’ve featured, and not all of the jeans are my style, personally. Clocking trends, offering options, and answering your questions all factor into my edit. I can’t keep everything!) In general, styling is less important than fit. Than fabric. My formula – try, wear-test, shoot in my studio – is simple and truthful, though not representative of all body types. Maybe when my budget and staff doubles I’ll photograph all the jeans I cover on women of different sizes. Wouldn’t that be amazing.
AGOLDE: Harper Cropped Mid-Rise Wide-Leg
The name of the wash is Sour Cream, which is kind of gross, but everything else about this AGoldE jean is gorgeous. The top block is very square and good for straight-hipped bodies. It has some stretch (2%) and a soft, matte finish. I like how absolutely sleek this jean is – primed to pair with dressed-up black. With the pleated, string-strapped Jacquemus camisole I bought on sale, it’s as body-conscious as I get. Let me tell you, the hold-you-in stretch fabric works.
If you like the fit, but would prefer a darker color, The Harper Crop also comes in blue and black. Longer legs, try the Harper Straight, since the Crop is cropped from the start on me (I’m 5’4”). The Straight style has a bit less stretch (only 1%), and the new Fix wash is nice and vintage-y.
FEEL STUDIO: The White Genuine Jean
I picked FEEL Studio’s Genuine for this letter because no other jean gets as close to the look of so many of my mood board images. Designed by stylist and photographer Stevie Dance, it’s just classic (and I never use that word because it so overused and often doesn’t mean anything about clothes).
A reader in Australia recently asked me for sizing advice, and because it had been a minute since I’d felt a pair of FEELS (the brand launched in 2018, it’d been that long), I decided to investigate. FEEL’s thoughtful, interactive Fit Guide instructed me to get a size 25 Regular – “Please be aware this will be snug in the waist and requires some wearing in of the jeans,” it warned – or a 28 Regular, “for an oversize & trouser like fit.” I bought the 25.
As predicted, the 25 was tight. Zero stretch. I wore them for 2 days before shooting them for this newsletter and they are still tight. But don’t they look…classic? Their tag suggested I wear them in the shower, then dry and do stuff like squats and “knee up movements” until they start to surrender. I haven’t done that, yet, but I don’t need to to know they’ll give. And I’ll take them.
Introducing: THE SIZE GUIDE
The Georgia is my signature relaxed fit made of extremely soft, light, non-stretch Italian denim. Salt, a non-optic white, is exclusive for summer. If you’ve been reading for a while, you’ve probably seen the Georgia on me (size 24). Today, I am so excited to show you how it fits women sizes 26 - 31. (Sizes 24 and 25 are sold out and since I won’t be restocking them in Salt, I’ve excluded them from this letter. If you are a size 24 or 25, you can still get the Georgia in Vintage Blue; it’s the same great fit.)
No adjustments have been made to the inseams or waists here, and lengths vary. On some, the hems puddle and on others, like N’Dia who is 5’11”, they hit at the ankles; both ways are right. Most women are wearing the size they typically wear in other denim brands. More detailed measurements are in the captions. In keeping with the letter’s theme, all women are wearing their own black pieces with the Georgia. See? Easy.
MAYA: Size 26
THERESE – Size 27
COURTNEY – Size 28
ZOEY – Size 29
N’DIA – Size 30
GENVIEVE – Size 31
You know I love answering fit questions, so leave a comment if you want a more specific measurement on any of Georgia’s sizes. Is this helpful? If so, is there a way to make it better? I love honest feedback, especially in the name of good jeans. Thank you for reading. Denim forever.
Jane
More to read…
Looking for summery styles? Have a look at these Drawstring Jeans.
This is the story behind the Georgia jean.
My Guide to Great Fixers for Jeans lists all the best denim tailors. It’s updated with new resources regularly.
ALL of these women look so great! This post is a reminder that your denim- or clothing size truly does not matter. Thank you!
I'm absolutely in love with your GEORGIA JEAN and have been wearing the Salt endlessly. I've never been a fan of optic white for jeans and Salt is perfect. I don't consider them just a summer jean, and will be wearing them into winter too with sweaters and boots. Love seeing them on the various sizes and bodies. I'm curious though, besides black, what looks good with optic weight jeans? I've yet to figure that out.