Dressing for summer can be tricky, especially when it comes to finding lightweight summer pants. So many of our clients find themselves confused about the best choices for the season.
How do you find breathable pants that aren’t so casual that they look like pajamas, but also aren’t stuffy? (Visually and literally!)
Don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve worked one-on-one with women of all sizes, professions, and styles. In this post, we’re sharing our top picks of the best women’s lightweight summer pants. We’ll show you what products we love and tell you how to style them as well.
Let’s dive into the perfect summer wardrobe solutions tailored just for you.
Table of Contents
Building the Basics: 3 Essential Summer Pants
At Next Level Wardrobe, we’re firm believers in starting with the basics. If you build your wardrobe on a strong foundation, it’s much easier to get dressed every day.
So what defines a strong foundation when it comes to lightweight pants for summer?
The Next Level Wardrobe Style System.
This style system works by streamlining your clothing options without feeling boring. The principles are:
- Prioritize Fit.
If something doesn’t fit well, you’re not going to feel good about it and you’re never going to wear it. It’s just taking up closet space. Fit should be top of mind always. - Quality Over Quantity.
You don’t need 20 pairs of summer pants. You just need a few well-made pairs that you’ll love and that’ll last.
- Lean into Core Colors.
Black, white, navy blue, and gray are what we call core colors. These neutral tones mix and match with everything. When shopping for basics, reach for core colors. That way, you’re picking versatile pieces you can wear on the daily.
When you implement the NLW Style System, you have fewer clothes cluttering your closet but more outfits. You’ll have pieces for every event on your calendar. And, you get rid of the stress of having too many pieces and not enough full outfits.
The three essential summer pants you should have are a light pair, a dark pair, and an earth-tone option.
Keep reading for what specific products we recommend and how to wear them.
1. A Navy Summer Pant
Navy is an amazing color to incorporate into your year-round wardrobe. Why?
Well, you already know it’s a core color. The neutral tone means it goes with everything. But the biggest reason we love navy blue for a summer pant is because it’s the perfect middle ground.
Black can often look too harsh and serious for summertime. But on the other hand, you might feel too casual for certain dressier events in white or grey.
Enter, navy blue. Perfectly polished and ready to go for any dress code.
Product by Ba&sh, shop here.
For dark, lightweight summer pants for summer, try out these wide-legs from Ba&sh. They fit true to size, sitting comfortably above the hips for a universally flattering high-rise.
The wide leg makes them extra breathable and breezy. We also like the side pocket detail for a touch of modern, casual coolness.
Partner these with a tucked-in blouse and block heels or ballet flats for work. When the weekend rolls around, opt for a cotton tank instead and slide into sandals or wedges.
2. White Summer Pant
Ready to lighten and brighten up your wardrobe? Then make sure you have a pair of lightweight pants in white.
Summer is the time to pack up your moody winter hues and step into the daylight.
White pants look fresh and sophisticated for just about any event. All it takes is finding a well-made pair.
Why do we mention that specifically with white pants? While it’s important to always prioritize quality, almost every woman knows the danger you can run into with white pants: the see-through factor.
There’s nothing professional about wearing pants so thin that you can see your underwear. When trying on your white trousers, do the squat test and see how they look in different lighting.
Product by French Connection, shop here.
A trouser that passes both style and practicality tests is this one from French Connection. This suiting separate feels crisp and polished, yet chic. The pleated details at the front make for a modern silhouette too.
Want to make a statement this season? Go for a monochromatic look that can easily transition from work to weekends!
Wear these pants with a matching white top and amp up your accessories. Rock a bold lip or a playfully patterned purse.
No matter what handbag you choose, just make sure you pack a Tide pen in there!
3. An Olive Summer Pant
To round out our trifecta of must-have lightweight women’s pants for summer, we have olive summer pants. This is our pick for the earth tone category.
So why did we include earth tones? For one, they’re a fresh alternative to typical neutrals like black and grey. They add more visual interest to your ensembles and they’re right on trend without feeling “trendy”.
We also love olive and other earth tones for ladies who want to step out of their comfort zone. They’re something other than core colors but not as full throttle as bold colors and prints.
Product by Aqua, shop here.
Since earth tones are on trend, you’ll find plenty of options online and in stores. On the one hand, this is great: more options! On the other, this can feel overwhelming.
Luckily, we’ve shopped ahead and found these fantastic twill wide-legs from Aqua x Liat Baruch.
One of the first things you’ll notice about these pants is the slightly thicker material. These are made out of 100% cotton. This is a must for a summer capsule wardrobe because even though they’re sturdier, they’re still breathable.
These pants fit any dress code. Have a casual Friday? Throw on a white T and sneakers. Want to step it up? Grab a patterned or accent-colored blouse for an exciting yet professional ensemble.
Adding Some Spice: 2 “Nice to Have” Lightweight Summer Pants
We covered the staples of lightweight pants for summer. Those are the only pieces you need as a professional woman. However, if you wear pants a lot, you’ll want to expand your collection.
That’s because it makes financial (and stylistic) sense to invest in what you wear the most. You’ll want more options in your wardrobe to avoid outfit fatigue, and so you have enough options for the season.
This is the time to diversify your pant assortment. This is not the time to buy even more pants in the same colors and styles you already have.
We see this all the time when we’re cleaning out clients’ closets. They overbuy the same item because they found something that works and aren’t sure how to build on that.
(I’m looking at you who have ten pairs of the same black pants.)
For a more versatile and updated wardrobe, break free from that cycle. Here are our top picks for pants that’ll spice up your selection.
1. A Loose-Fitting Summer Pant
Once more for the people in the back: breathability is key during the warmer months!
When the temperature skyrockets, the last thing you want to do is squeeze into a pair of tight pants.
This is the time to kiss your skinny pants goodbye and embrace a looser fit. Not only will it feel better, it’ll also look more modern.
Product by Splendid, shop here.
There’s nothing worse than pants that fit you when you put them on, but feel too tight the minute you eat. For our clients, we make sure that they feel comfortable in their clothing any time of the day.
These drawstring pants will not only be comfortable but allow air to flow through. They’re ideal for a casual office dress code, or the weekends.
You can wear them with a lightweight linen button-down, or a tucked-in tank for an effortless effect.
2. A Natural Fiber Pant for Warm Weather
Last but not least on our list of the best lightweight summer pants (women’s edition) is a pair of natural fiber pants.
Recently, NLW founder Cassandra Sethi went to India. While there, she couldn’t even think of wearing synthetics. With the scorching heat and busy locations, it was essential to lean into all things breathable.
(There’s our favorite word again.)
That meant wearing garments that were 100% natural. Materials like cotton, silk, and linen are natural, lightweight, and airy.
On top of being comfortable to wear, these fabrics all have a cool summer look as well.
Product by Proenza, shop here.
These cotton belted pants from Proenza balance modern, trend-aware details with versatility. The brown earth tone makes these easy to wear with any other items in your closet.
We also love how the belt, pleats, and ultra high-rise instantly make an outfit anything but dull. They’re modern without falling into fads.
Try these with loafers and a cotton button-down blouse. Or play with textures and add a ribbed sleeveless mock neck and pointed-toe flats.
Start transforming the rest of your closet
Did you find your perfect pair of lightweight summer pants? Transform the rest of your closet with the help of Next Level Wardrobe.
Apply for our Women’s Styling Services to work with our team of fashion experts. We’ll elevate your style by identifying your personal brand, cleaning out your closet, and transforming your shopping experience forever.
