More than long nights and seemingly unlimited Aperol spritzes, summer is the best season for one thing and one thing only: linen pants. The breezy, lightweight item has been supplying the European fashion set for ages—offering a sleek, breathable staple for summer. Now since the weather is finally warm enough, I’ve busted out my pairs—all 12 of them (a girl’s gotta have options!).
Even though linen pants might feel quite timeless, I’m sometimes itching to bring them to the present moment by incorporating celebrity and runway trends that have been taking over my brain and #FYP. Thankfully, I’ve nailed-down ten easy, affordable items to pair linen pants with to make them feel so cool. You can thank me later!
Take it from the princess of summer style herself: the best way to take a linen pant from basic to a beaut is to fold-in ultra-trendy elements into your look. While 3Ds have been all the rage since the start of the year, there’s nothing quite pairing the It girl item with a crisp, white pair of tailored pants.
Linen vests and pants just go so well together. Not only is this timeless outfit combination a no-brainer when you’re picking out your outfit every morning, but the elevated, chic look feels squarely on-theme within the rich girl renaissance we’re seeing as of late given the rise of the quiet luxury trend.
Long gone are the days of too-low scoop-neck tank tops. Cool girls have decided to embrace higher neck, sophisticated styles this summer—and who can say no to an emerging trend when paired with a breezy linen pant?
While linen pants are the sudden rich auntie pant of choice, at the end of the day, they’re still one of the most comfy options. If you’re heading to the beach, you can wear a pair over a classic black one-piece swimsuit. For those who aren’t heading to a beach anytime soon, a sleek, black body suit works just as well.
There’s no time quite like summer than to break out a slinky, sexy pair of sandals or mules. Since linen pants veer on the casual side, opt for the on-trend shoe silhouette to maximize your impact and make any pair bar-appropriate.
Just like linen pants are most Europeans’ summer hero, so are teenie retro sunglasses straight from the ’80s and ’90s. If you don’t have any sickeningly chic hand-me-downs, Le Spec’s elevated Outta Love shades are a fan favorite among celebs like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner (and, nearly all of our editors!).
French girls, your uniform is calling. Pair your linen pants with a simple striped classic courtesy of the Parisian fashion set. You’ll look straight out of Le Marais—the neighborhood of choice for the cool scene in the city.
There’s never been a pair of thong sandals I haven’t liked. If you’re planning on packing your pair of linen pants on vacation, opt to wear them outside of the poolside cabanas by pairing them with flatform flip-flops. The edgy style, made popular by The Row’s chunky Ginza sandals, is my go-to look in the summer. Plus, there’s pairs on the internet for less than $50. Score.
A baggy blazer never goes out of style—even in the summer. Instead of the traditional boxy black style, opt for a light, linen-blend option to keep the cool girl vibes going all summer long with a pair of your favorite linen-blend trousers.
No joke— a sleek tube top belt has been my go-to accessory for transforming nearly every pair of trousers I have into something that feels incredibly current.
