It’s always hard for me to pick a favorite item of clothing — but right now, I’m trending toward white pants.
I’ve been wearing my pair of AG white jeans every week since last summer (seen here), and a few months ago, I decided the up the ante with an all-silk, wide-legged version by The Row, which I’m showcasing today:
The brilliant thing about white pants? They are truly season-less. They go with everything. They can travel to any destination or occasion. And as long as you aren’t clumsy around the coffee pot, there’s no reason why a well-tended pair can’t last for years.
My inspiration for this particular outfit was Caroline de Maigret, one of those French “It Girls” with a lot of non-sequiturs in her job description. (The Coveteur dubs her an “idea creator” and a “model” with zero sense of irony.)
Here’s Caroline’s version, which she wore to a Chanel party:
Caroline de Maigret paired her white pants with basics — the black shirt, the open-toed sandals, the noir clutch — and spiced it all up with the lush tribal jacket that vaguely me of Michelle Obama’s recent turn in a Dries Van Noten coat during a recent trip to Japan.
It’s always so reassuring to know that f you have the wardrobe basics covered, you can pull off this type of unfussy elegance with zero exertion, which is the ultimate French way to dress.
My stab at this textured jacket (a modified moto with frayed embroidery) was a clearance find at Lord & Taylor ages ago. (I often see similar Free People versions — usually in floral prints — floating around.)
When I purchased the white Row trousers, sight unseen, it was the investment to end all investments — and because they were consignment, the price was sweet. But the other shoe quickly dropped once they arrived. The pants were two sizes larger than their listed price, complete with balloon pockets and transparent thighs.
It quickly became apparent why they had been consigned. (I was so horrified by the faulty craftsmanship, part of me wonders if these trousers are from a counterfeit operation.) Since then, I’ve gotten them tailored and the pocket linings removed and sewn shut. Finally, they were ready for a public debut.
