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How To Wear White When You Have Pasty Vampire Skin

How To Wear White When You Have Pasty Vampire Skin
Carly Jacobs
I

struggle a little bit with wearing white. I love it as a clean, crisp and monochrome alternative to black and grey but I’m a bit of a grub and I also have very pale skin which sometimes doesn’t look that crash hot in pure white. I’ve been leaning further and further away from black as I’m getting older (Shhhh!!!! Don’t tell Melbourne!) and white is becoming a firm wardrobe favourite of mine.

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Dress from the Styling You shop

Shoes from Freya and Sabine

Coin necklace from my grandfather

Rings and earrings from Thailand, Bali and Byron Bay

Here are my tips for wearing white.

Keep it loose

White can be quite unforgiving if you have a substantial figure like mine so I like to keep light colours looser.

Warm it up

If I wore this dress with silver sandals it would cool down the white. By pairing it with these coppery little sandals I’ve given the illusion that my skin is more olive than it actually is. It’s like visual manipulation. Mwah ha ha!

Be careful

I’m the biggest scum bucket on the planet and I end up wearing about 60% of the food I eat. When I wear white, I try to be more careful. I won’t sit on the ground or on park benches and I’ll always tuck a napkin down the neckline of my white dress to save any spills.

This outfit was worn for a beautiful sunny day in Canberra. I worked at the National Library all day, then I spent the afternoon friend hopping and visiting lots of incredibly adorable babies. I don’t get back to Canberra that often these days so when I’m here I like to make sure I see as many people as I can. The evening was spent watching Judge Judy on the couch with my parents. Brilliant.

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Do you wear white? Or are you far too grubby like me?

 

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18 Comments

  1. I’m almost forgetting you’re from Melbourne, you wear so much white now! You are the queen of the Little White Dress.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I totally am! I don’t even know how it happened – I so rarely wear all black now as well. Melbourne is going to disown me.

  2. Anna Buckley 8 years ago

    You look fabulous Carly…there is a famous Malevich painting called ‘White on White’… you could be this artists muse.
    I wear white in the tropics but come home to Melbourne and it feels so wrong…like the gold sandals and turquoise starfish T shirt!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Melbourne summers have been brutal in the past few years so white is feeling less wrong in Melbourne that ever before. I can’t quite pick why the white thing is happening but I like it!

  3. Jess Carey 8 years ago

    I’m a fellow food-wearer due to overenthusiastic dining habits, and also as pale as a porcelain doll, but I too have been experimenting with white… I’ve found the looser fits absolutely essential too, and am loving pairing up a delicate lacy white top with denim bottoms! As for not looking as pale, I’m an auburn haired, freckle faced ghost, so I’ve given up on that part lol
    Absolutely LOVE that dress you’re wearing though, needing that for my summer wardrobe!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I’m totally the same. I’m enthusiastic about everything and my eating is not different. I don’t think there is anything more fresh and clean looking than white with denim. This dress from Styling Yous shop – I literally stole it from her and bought her another one!

  4. Alix 8 years ago

    I don’t have an issue with white skin but my laundry skills are minimal and while everything white looks fab the first time, it goes downhill from there. Needless to say, my ironing skills are equally lacking so that may also have something to do with it. There are literally some places that I refuse to go for lunch if I’m wearing white – cos I know I’ll end up wearing it.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I’m a fiend for Nappy San. I love the shit out of that stuff. My mother is quite superior at clothes maintenance so I picked up a few of her tricks over the years. Although if I’m really stuck I just take my stuff to her!

  5. The LWD is totes the new LBD – particularly this summer! You look absolutely gorgeous in that frock. Love your tip about wearing a warmer toned shoe to make your skin look more olive. I’m quite partial to a white dress, but I’m also quite partial to a faux glow… so I’ve had to master the art of the soak and wash (and the products to use) to keep my white clothing nice and bright! x

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I cannot faux glow. I just always look orange! I think if you start from snow white, you really don’t have anywhere else to go with it. I love the soak and wash! I’m all about the nappy san – perfect for sheets. And Mr Smags has become a real white linen shirt guy recently (which is the sexiest thing in the world!) so I’m totally down with the white shirt business.

  6. Kathryn 8 years ago

    If I wear white, I will spill coffee on myself. Guaranteed.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I wore white to an event on the weekend and I just ended up leaning forward and eating at a right degree angle. Not the hottest thing in the world but super effective.

  7. I love white, but struggle to keep it so as well. I really need to find the ultimate soaker!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I’m definitely a soaker! Try napisan its the best – I’ve been using it for years and I love it. I also love sards soap for scrubbing.

  8. Nikki @ Styling You 8 years ago

    I’m a big fan of white despite being a clutso with food etc – my laundry skills are superior! Love you in that dress and thanks for sharing my shop x

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Thanks lovely! I’ve worn it to death already and I get so many compliments on it! 🙂

  9. Averil 8 years ago

    I wear a lot of white- and am also quite pasty, but I love Dove summer glow gradual tanner for skin. It gives a really natural slight tan.
    Napisan is key x

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I can’t wear any fake tanners at all because the smell makes me feel sick. It’s weird I’m fine with everything else like paint, petrol and nail polish but for some reason the smell of fake tan makes me nauseous.

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