Miranda Priestly may have had a bee in her bonnet when it came to florals for spring, but we’d argue that white jeans can feel similarly predictable. Of course, that doesn’t stop us reaching for them weekly the moment warmer weather starts to creep in, but it does tempt us to think slightly more outside the box when it comes to our lighter denim. And, in the same way it works so perfectly for that transitional period between spring and summer, we stand firm in the belief that white jeans can be just as reliable as we transition out of summer and towards autumn.

Essentially, if you also feel like suddenly switching your swimwear for scarves feels a bit like jumping off a cliff, white jeans are your parachute. But as they guide us through this cooler weather towards the puffer-coat-peak of winter, how are we styling our white denim in a way that feels seasonally appropriate?

Keep scrolling to soak up the 8 ways that some of our favourite fashion people make their white jeans work for autumn and shop our edit of the coolest combinations.

8 Editor-Approved White Jeans Style Formulas for Autumn

1. Plaid Shirts and Headscarves

Style notes: Plaid shirts have long been an autumn staple, but to make them feel fresh this season we’re forecasting a lot of clever layering. Whether worn open atop a long-sleeve tee, visible from beneath the collar of your favourite crew-neck knit or tied around your waist and peeking out from below your favourite transitional jacket, there are so many ways to wear your checks this season that isn’t just buttoning up. Paired with summer’s favourite headscarf, the bandana (which has also had a seasonal update via cosy cashmeres), this might just be our favourite transitional outfit formula.

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2. Brown Leather and Fringing

Style notes: Rich brown hues are to autumn what pastels are to spring, but so often we pair them with similarly dark shades; whether that be blacks, deep indigo denim or complimenting browns. In favour of shunning the obvious right now, however, we’re very into the concept of pairing our browns (particularly our bulky brown leathers and seasonal fringing) with contrasting light, bright pieces. White denim and white t-shirts are our first port of call, and with so many great fringed jackets around right now we reckon we could make this look work for just about any occasion.

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3. Waist Scarves and Loafers

Style notes: ICYMIl this summer, one of the biggest accessory trends was the versatile silk scarf, often wrapped around some very well-dressed waists. From swimwear cover-up to zhuzhing a simple midi dress, there’s no doubt that it has been the go-to styling hack for most of our favourite fashion people, but what do we do when the weather forces us to swap our bikinis for blazers and our jorts for jeans? Well. apparently we do the exact same thing, and tie a scarf around things. Paired with your favourite loafers, it’s autumnal dressing with the joy of summer.

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4. Matching Jackets and Textural Bags

Style notes: Who doesn’t love a Canadian tuxedo? While Justin and Britney may have championed the blue denim iteration, right now some of our favourite fashion people are leaning into white denim for a more impactful take. A great way to stretch your white jeans from summer into autumn, we recommend pairing the look with a heavier-duty, textural bag as opposed to anything delicate or pastel that could see things lean into fair-weather territory. It’ll help to ground the look for the new season.

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5. Neutral Layers and Contrasting Textures

Style notes: When we think of wardrobe neutrals, it can be all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking tonally. But why should a biscuit base mean beige everything else? Dressing neutrally is all about avoiding anything too garish or stand-out, but it certainly needn’t be boring. Mixing your biscuits with soft greys, charcoals, whites, blacks and navies—even adding texture via a muted plaid or cosy cashmere—is a great way to add interest and depth to a neutral look without sacrificing that chic simplicity.