Philadelphia - No item is as quintessentially "summer" as white pants.
This summer, the clean yet notoriously hard-to-wear bottoms are even more important because key trends - nautical navy blue and banana yellow, red and white polka dots, and bold Kelly green and black prints - need to be matched with a smooth-fitting blank canvas.
The Ann Taylor chain has featured at least a half-dozen styles of white pants, ranging from slim-fitting to a tailored, wide-legged version.
"The white pant is so versatile," explained Michael Smaldone, senior vice president of design for Ann Taylor. "You can pair them with a white jacket and have an entire suit thing happening. They are so much more of a staple than they used to be."
Spiegel Brands is urging women to create their own signature style, showing women in white linen drawstring pants with matching button-down top with silver belts and shoes.
Banana Republic went super-trendy with their white, pairing stovepipes with snug jackets (like an updated version of the white suit that Angelina Jolie once wore to the Academy Awards). J.Jill, Elie Tahari, Michael Kors, plus-size retailer The Avenue and White House Black Market promote the pants as a wardrobe addition for all women.
And then there are those who are a little more experimental, keeping white pants edgy with zippers, tassels and cargo pockets.
White is all the rage within the limited edition designer collections selling at trendy discount stores. Target has white shorts from L.A.-based designer Patrick Robinson. And Gap kicks off its designer series this month with looks from Doo.Ri, Rodarte and Thakoon. The key to the collection is mod style: architecturally structured white shirts, skinny black pants and white Bermuda shorts.
Nothing, it seems, can be too crisp this summer.
White-pants dos, don'ts
Yes, white pants may be on trend. But after skinny jeans and candy-apple-red dresses, white pants are among the hardest ensembles to wear. Here are some tips to help smooth the look:
1. Avoid elastic tops. They should be forbidden for all pants, but on white pants, they conjure up visions of schoolmarms and nurses - not fashionable.
2. Avoid cropped styles unless they have a knicker bottom; otherwise, that look screams old fogey, too.
3. Go up one size. Clingy black pants are sexy, but cellulite isn't - be careful yours can't be seen through ill-fitting white pants.
4. Wear nude underwear with white bottoms. White - or worse, flowered prints - is a no-no.
5. Nix side pockets. They accentuate your width.
6. If your stomach bulges, avoid sailor buttons that form a square along the tummy.
7. Ultimately, fabric is the most important factor in a white-pants purchase. Heavier cottons with 3 percent or 4 percent lycra are most friendly to curves.
8. White always looks better with a tan. But we suggest you spray it on, rather than bake it in. （實習編輯：顧萍）