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Got the denim blues? Switch to white jeans

Don’t be afraid to lighten up your wardrobe this spring. Charla Krupp of Shop Etc. magazine reveals the top five white pants.
/ Source: TODAY

This spring, fashion is all about the crisp, cool, confident look of white pants. When you find your perfect pair, you’ll live in them — days, nights, weekends. But many women won’t even consider wearing white pants, afraid that they’ll make them look fat. No wonder so many of us skip white pants altogether and continue to sweat it out in black pants and dark jeans. Charla Krupp, executive editor of Shop Etc. magazine, says white pants can actually be slimming. She was was invited to appear on “Today” to tell us how to find the perfect fit, and she reveals the winners of the magazine’s first White Pants Awards.

It's true: The wrong pair of white pants can make you look fatter. But the right ones can be flattering. To find the right pair for you, you have to be a smart shopper. Follow these tips:

  • Go up a size in white pants. You don’t want your whites to be too tight or you’ll get bottom cleavage — the stuff that hangs out in back!
  • Avoid wrinkles by choosing fairly thick white cotton pants with just a 2 percent to 3 percent stretch to make you comfy. Be careful. Too much stretch spotlights every bump and can result in a stretched-out seat. Choose fabrics that stand away from the body, rather than hug it.
  • For your slimmest look, go for a longer-leg look that covers part of your high heel. If you’re not as leggy as Giselle, stay clear of the cropped white pant (or jean), as it will make your leg look shorter.
  • Speaking of shoes, you can’t wear flat sandals and heels with the same pants. They will be too long with flats and too short with heels. Pick your shoe, and stick with it.
  • Watch your VPL. To prevent visible panty lines, wear nude undies. Some thin pants without lining have show-through. Try a thong. Or we love boy shorts from Barely There for full derriere coverage. Avoid another kind of VPL — visible pocket lines. You don’t want to see the pocket lining through your pants, as it will ruin your look. Fashion insiders have their tailors remove them.
  • Keep the pants simple — no wide belt loops or decoration. If there are side pockets, make sure they sit flat against your body. If not, they add width to your hip.

Here are Shop Etc.'s White Pants Award Winners:

Most FlatteringRalph Lauren’s Black Label White Denim Pants, $325 (sizes 24-34)
The perfect jean that has everything you’re looking for — and more. The boot-cut style has just the right amount of stretch. These are a collector’s item. You’ll wear them summer after summer until they are all worn out!Ralph Lauren: 888-475-7674 for select stores, or polo.com.

Best Weekend White
J.C.Penney’s Worthington Linen-Style Pants, $36 (sizes 4-18)
With a palazzo cut, these pants are roomy and flattering to real women who have real hips and bottoms. Flat-front pockets are slimming because they lay flat against the body and don’t stick out.J.C. Penney: 877-346-3527 for stores.

Best Work Pants
Ports 1961 Flat-Front Trousers, $395 (sizes 2-12)
Very polished pants that you can easily wear to a business meeting. They have a tab front closure, a straight-leg silhouette, and are made of high-quality, lined 100% cotton.Ports 196: 212-414-1050 for stores, or ports1961.com.

Best Slim Pants
Express "Editor" Pants in white stripe, $79.50 (sizes 2-12)White-on-white stripes keeps your eyes going vertical, so these pants are slimming. Plus, the white stripes gives these menswear-inspired pants a dressy look. They also offer a lot of comfy stretch.Express: 877-415-4551 for stores.

Best Everyday Pants
Dockers "Jillian" Boot-Cut Pants, $40 (sizes 4-16)
They are great for women — like moms — who do a lot of running around town.Dockers: 800-362-5377, or dockers.com.