Oscar Isaac just made a case for white jeans – here's our pick of the best ones

White jeans are risky on paper but strong in practice – and Oscar Isaac is all the proof you need

By Peter Bevan

Published: Apr 21, 2026

WHITE JEANS are tricky – mainly because they can quickly veer into noughties Kanye cosplay or badly-dressed-Love-Islander territory (sorry, Kem and Chris). And then there’s the real reason most men avoid them: fear. Scroll any Reddit thread and you’ll find stain paranoia in full effect – “stay away from pasta sauce”, “white foods only”, “the Alfredo is your Alfriendo” etc etc.

If you get them right, though, they’re one of menswear’s cleanest moves – and Oscar Isaac is the guy proving the point in 2026. Recently spotted outside NBC in New York, the Frankenstein actor wore a pair of very good white jeans – wide, pleated, with a slight break – and he wore them like a true menswear pro.

Up top, he wore a tonal white tee – a safe menswear bet, even where white jeans are concerned. Everything else? Easy but considered. A slouchy dark brown leather jacket, matching belt, loafers. The kind of low-ley accoutrements that let the jeans do the talking. Very old money, very nonchalant (and very confident nothing he’s wearing will ever come into contact with a park bench).

There’s a few rules here. First, let the jeans be the main character – everything else you wear should quietly fall in line. Next, you want the look to read laid back and expensive – like you just threw it on as you were rushing out of your suite at The Carlyle. Think JFK Jr. and you’re on the right track (give American Love Story a watch to catch the vibe). And, finally, always go for a relaxed fit – wider cuts for tall guys, straight-leg for short kings.

To dial things up for summer, follow Nicholas Hoult’s lead. Last year, he became a permanent internet boyfriend when he stepped out in a pair of white jeans which he wore with a plain ribbed tank top – finished with a brown knit tied across his front. Same rules, different vibe.