Charlotte Hawkins' flattering alternative to white jeans will add plenty of polish to your summer wardrobe
This smart ensemble can go from day to evening with ease
Charlotte Hawkins is someone I always keep my eye on for excellent styling ideas, and one of her latest Instagram looks delivered the ultimate, polished yet comfortable warm-weather inspiration.
While white jeans outfits can work for smart casual moments, denim by its very nature adds a more relaxed spin to any ensemble. And while at first glance I thought Charlotte was embracing the latest flared denim trend of 2026, on closer inspection, the presenter has picked the perfect alternative when you're looking for a more elevated finish.
Posing for a snap in a pair of Sosandar ivory kick flare trousers and coral trophy jacket, Charlotte styled the duo perfectly, keeping her top matching to her trousers for a long, slimming panel under her summery bold jacket. Finishing off her outfit with a pair of simple white and gold sandals added a further touch of luxury to the polished outfit that could work from day to evening and for special occasions with ease.
Sizes are selling fast on this sleek pair of flattering flared trousers, so I've popped some alternatives below. The key takeaway is how much more polished this style is than jeans, but it gives a fairly similar look and feel. So if you love denim but want a little more shape and style, a figure-balancing flared leg is the style to grab now.
I absolutely love a trophy jacket. They deliver the same elegant, tailored feel as a blazer but with a little more personality and femininity. The collarless design, statement gold buttons and boucle-inspired fabric add a very French, contemporary finish, while the bold coral hue is gorgeous contrasted with white, but would work with a host of other neutrals too.
Flares are having quite the resurgence, and it's easy to see why. The wider hemline, but slimmer leg helps to balance waists, hips, thighs and busts, helping to create an hourglass silhouette. Cropping at the ankle actually elongates your legs, especially if you're going all out and adding some heels. White tailored trousers can be dressed up for a host of special occasions.
This pinky-coral boucle jacket will work from the summer, well into the autumn. While in warmer months it looks sensational over white, come the winter, use it to add a pop of colour to all black or navy ensembles to keep up that dopamine dressing aesthetic that will guarantee to help you feel more cheery in cold weather gloom.
Nadine Merabi is a celebrity favourite for good reason. With an eye for wearable, feminine tailoring, you could indulge in the matching blazer for this design; they're just as wearable with bolder jackets, knits or summer-bright t-shirts for a more contemporary, less formal feel. The flat frontage is ideal for teaming with fitted tops.
Charlotte Hawkins' trousers do pool slightly around her feet, suggesting she might actually be wearing sandals in-between takes. However, a flared trouser with a flat summer sandal most definitely works, just think about where your hemline is set to end. Look for added details such as gold stud work or embellishment to lean into that dressy feel.
A smart, polished look, there are actually many very clever takeaways from Charlotte Hawkins' white trouser ensemble. Opting for a kick flare offers a subtle way of balancing your shape and creating hourglass curves. Pairing the wide hem length with a waisted, bright jacket further emphasises and narrows her middle too, adding inches to her pins in the process.
Adding a burst of colour draws the eye up her silhouette, but keeping things tonal underneath, with a matching top and trousers, also creates a lengthening illusion panel down the centre front, again creating that hourglass shape.
Of course, we do love white jeans, and when it comes to a summer capsule wardrobe, this denim style has endless ways to style in a warmer month, but swapping out white denim for a pair of tailored trousers gives you more flexibility for special moments. Whether it's the office, out to lunch, a Christening, or with a bright jacket, potentially a wedding too, smart white trousers feel far more polished than jeans but are just as easy to style.
