One of the questions I get asked a lot is what colors look good with light wash denim. I’ve done a fall-specific post about what to wear with light wash jeans, but this post is all about my favorite light wash denim color pairings for summer!
My Favorite Light Wash Jeans for Summer 2024
First, let me share my favorite light wash jeans in my closet. The FRAME Le Easy Flare Jeans have a relaxed flare leg silhouette with a comfortable high rise in a lightweight stretch denim. They’re spendy, but the comfort and versatility helps to reduce the cost per wear, and the classic style is one you can wear for years.
Another splurge-worthy style I’m loving lately is the Frank & Eileen Galway Gaucho Jean. They’re a mid-rise style with a wide-leg fit and a cropped, hand-distressed raw hem. The polished trouser waistband elevates your everyday looks, and the denim fabric is buttery soft and so luxe.
For a more budget-friendly option, the KUT from the Kloth Meg Fab Ab Cuff High Waist Wide Leg Jeans have a fun cuffed hem, and they’re lightweight and comfortable to wear.
And finally, the Gap Factory Mid Rise Classic Straight Leg Jeans are exactly that — a classic straight leg style with a versatile mid rise. They’re a nice option for ladies who aren’t into the wide leg and flare silhouettes. If you want a more premium option to those, I love my MOTHER Dazzlers in Riding The Cliffside.
What to Wear with Light Wash Jeans for Summer
The most obvious colors to pair with light denim are black or white, and they are actually my favorites. I mean, black and white go with everything, of course, but think I they both look particularly good paired with light wash jeans.
Black is instantly chic and sophisticated, so it provides a nice balance to the more casual vibe of light wash jeans. Plus, the contrast of the light and dark is pleasing to the eye. This is one of my go-to outfit formulas for summer. Add a pop of color in your bag, or go with a metallic to keep the look on trend. Or you can do both with the Capital Z Soul Sister Sling Bag in Silver.
FRAME Le Easy Flare Jeans (29) // ribbed tank (S) // Birks (39) // Capital Z Soul Sister Sling Bag c/o
Black Tops to Wear with Light Wash Denim
Conversely, white and light wash denim are a low contrast pairing, which looks crisp and clean in the summer heat. This outfit is a casual way to do white with light wash blue jeans. I love this sleeveless hoodie with the exposed seams and boxy fit.
FRAME Le Easy Flare Jeans (29) // Evereve sleeveless hoodie (M) // VEJA Esplar (39) // NAGHEDI Nomad Hobo
A more elevated way to do white and light wash denim is with a classic white linen button-up and light wash cropped wide leg gaucho jeans. The raffia slides and woven bag keep the look polished and classy.
Frank & Eileen Galway Gaucho Jean c/o (29) // Frank & Eileen linen button-up c/o (M) // Sam Edelman Bambi Slides (8) // woven tote
White Tops to Wear with Light Wash Jeans
This tie dye sweater combines both black and white (and grey) and pairs nicely with my Frank & Eileen gaucho jeans.
Frank & Eileen Galway Gaucho Jean c/o (29) // Evereve James Pullover (S) // Dolce Vita Selda Slides (7.5)
Taupe is also a nice neutral to wear with light wash denim. I think this is a rather elegant combo, and this textured sweater with the rolled edges is a great way to elevate these relaxed flare jeans.
FRAME Le Easy Flare Jeans (29) // Evereve Take Sweater Top (S) // Birks (39)
When I’m not in the neutral mood, pink is one of my favorite colors to wear with light wash denim. This LNA tank with the raw edges and cut-out detail pairs perfectly with these wide leg cuffed jeans. I added metallic leather flip-flops for a super casual, laidback summer look.
KUT from the Kloth Meg Fab Ab Cuff High Waist Wide Leg Jeans (6) // LNA Fallon V Cotton Tank (M) // beek Sunbeam Flip Flops (8) // NAGHEDI Nomad Hobo
Shop Pinks Tops to Wear with Light Wash Denim
And shades of blue are another great option. Along with the light wash jeans, this creates an easy monochromatic outfit. The rugby stripes on this navy boatneck top are a classic look that leans sporty, so I kept it casual with Birkenstock slides.
KUT from the Kloth Meg Fab Ab Cuff High Waist Wide Leg Jeans (6) // Faherty Rugby Stripe Boatneck Top (S) // Birks (39)
I paired a peacock blue short sleeve cashmere sweater with the light wash Frank & Eileen gaucho jeans on a cool, rainy day earlier this spring, and I wore white leather sneakers to keep my feet dry. I also like the juxtaposition of the luxe leather and the sporty sneakers.
Frank & Eileen Galway Gaucho Jean c/o (29) // old Vince sweater // Paul Green Hadley Platform Sneakers (8)
Shop Blue Tops to Wear with Light Wash Denim
Other nice color pairings with light wash denim are coral, yellow, lavender, as well as neutrals like oatmeal and shades of grey.
I hope this helps as you style your light wash jeans this summer!
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19 Responses
Have fun in Nashville! Hope to see a photo of you in your cowboy boots! HA!!! In your widgets for pink tops you listed a Splendid top for $13 when it’s supposed to $138! I bet everyone is checking out that $13 top! My favorite color to wear with light denim is navy blue, but I love all your options! Great ideas
Yikes. Thats a glitch in the system. I may be able to manually fix it.
It looks like you fixed it! YAY!!! I don’t think anyone really thought it was a $13 top! 🙂
Great post! How do the Frame jeans compare to the Mother Weekenders? Are they the same? Which one do you prefer? Thanks so much for the great tips. Enjoy Nashville.
Ana
I love them both and wear them pretty much interchangeably. My MOTHER weekenders have a raw hem so I feel like they lean a little more casual than the FRAME le easy flare and they are more of a mid wash, which is why I didn’t include them in this post.
I love the white/light denim combo but white shirts are really not the best color for me based on my skin tone and I tend to look for a cream/off white option yet have difficulty finding much of it these days. Do you have any recommendations for casual, short sleeve or even 3/4 sleeve tops that aren’t STARK white? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
The white sleeveless hoodie is more of a softer white. I will have to look around, I don’t know of any others off the top of my head.
Hi Sandy, I’m not JLS obvi but if you like stripes check out Kule (Kule.com). Many of their tees come in cream and are very creamy (the website looks pretty white, but in person, they are not anywhere near optic white)! Also, any natural linen tops will probably be a lovely off-white. As an aside, it’s been pointed out to me that with light wash denim, some will fade to optic white, and others, most likely with a “vintage wash” may fade to a creamier tone and now I can’t unsee it when I look at my denim!! 🙂
Going to Nashville next weekend. Any good recommendations for music venues or restaurants? Thanks
I actually wrote a post about that! https://jolynneshane.com/things-to-see-and-do-and-where-to-stay-in-nashville.html
Hi! The Female Frame t-shirt in Navy is listed at $11 and I certainly clicked the link …. welp $98. Great post!
Enjoy the time in Nashville! It seems like we can wear just about any color with light denim, making them very versatile.
Not a fan of pink, but peach and oranges are great with blue too!
FYI I’m having trouble accessing links to Nordstrom because they are trying to take me to the app (which I don’t have) instead of the website.
They’re supposed to be fixing that. I’m sorry. So annoying.
Have fun in Nashville. I bet Paul loved his Father’s Day there. I have never been and I keep telling my husband we should someday. We live clear across the United States, so would take some planning. Neither of us love to fly.
Hi Jo-Lynne– I have a question about the sizing on the Eileen white linen button-up. I want to order that shirt and I noticed that the size you have on this post is a small. Then I looked back at your “Quiet Luxury” post featuring Frank & Eileen and there it says your linen shirt is a size medium. Did you exchange the medium for a small? I track about exactly with your sizing so that will be very helpful!
Also similar to “quiet luxury”, I am a “quiet follower”! (wink!) I really appreciate your style and blog and have followed you for several years. Thank you very much!
I’m so sorry! I got confused because I sometimes wear a small in that brand. I just double checked my order, and it is a medium. I’ll fix this post. 🙂
Thank you so much, Jo-Lynne! We love Nashville too…great music and lots of history too! Close by is Franklin where we toured some of the Civil War historical sites as well as Andrew Jackson’s home. So interesting!