As temperatures begin to rise, it’s time to start thinking about getting your spring-summer wardrobe dialled in. Starting from the bottom, your pants are one of the first elements you’ll need to tweak to remain cool, comfortable and seasonally relevant. So ditch the raw denim, hang up the heavyweight sweatpants and embrace some lighter, breezier options to help keep you looking and feeling your best.
Having the right pants at your disposal will make it much easier to dress for the warmer weather. Wearing shorts is great, but it isn’t always appropriate if you’re heading to the office or going on a date. Your winter legwear might also start to feel too cumbersome, restrictive and hot as the mercury creeps skyward.
Thankfully, there are plenty of trouser styles suitable for summer wear. Those that are light, comfortable and easy to pair with other warm-weather staples like short-sleeve shirts, sandals or low-profile sneakers.
So, keep scrolling to learn more about the key shapes and designs that are trending for spring/summer 2024.
The Wide Leg
When the temperature is high, a little bit of airflow downstairs can go a long way. That’s why a wider leg is always a good option in the warmer months. Wide-leg pants have been in for a minute, and while there has been speculation about slimmer styles coming back into fashion, we’re yet to see any tangible evidence. This season, it’s safe to assume loose legs are here to stay, so enjoy the draft while you can.
These pants come in many different varieties, so there’s plenty of scope to find something that works for you and your personal style. One of the most important things to consider is length and cut. These aspects play a big part in determining how the pants will look on your body and sit within your outfit.
If you’re going cropped, we’d recommend choosing a style with a slight taper from knee to ankle. If you want full-length pants that stack on top of your shoes, make sure said footwear is chunky enough that it doesn’t find itself lost among the folds of fabric.
The Pleated Pant
Putting summer outfits together can be tricky when you’ve spent several months with the luxury of layering. With fewer elements to work with, creating interesting looks can feel like a challenge, but an easy fix is to just upgrade the basics. One such tweak you can make is ditching plain old chinos for a pair of pleated pants.
With stealth wealth and old-money aesthetics still trending, pleats will help instantly elevate your look, turning even a simple outfit into something that feels stylish and considered.
We’d suggest going for a pair with a fairly wide, cropped leg and a slight taper. Then, combine them with a nice understated summer shoe like a loafer and a fitted white tee tucked in at the waist. Throw a knitted short-sleeve over the top and you’ve got a luxury take on a classic warm-weather look.
Light Wash
Denim is trending again this season, but if you’re going to wear jeans in spring and summer, you need to ditch the heavyweight, unwashed indigo and opt for something lighter instead. Take a bit of time off from working on those fades and treat your legs to something a little less heavy-duty.
Light-wash jeans are perfect for warmer weather. They’re better at reflecting the sun thanks to the lighter colour, and they tend to be softer and more comfortable to wear thanks to the factory washing process.
For maximum versatility, go for a classic straight leg such as a Levi’s 501, cuff the legs and wear them with anything and everything all season long.Â
The Contemporary Linen Pant
There’s a reason linen has been the go-to clothing fabric in the hottest corners of the world for thousands of years. It’s light, extremely breathable, quick-drying, great at wicking moisture, and looks great. For these reasons, linen pants should be on every guy’s spring/summer legwear shopping list.
Linen pants are a great alternative to shorts for very hot days when you need to look like you’ve made an effort. They’re smart but comfortable, too, making them a great option for everything from evenings out on vacation to high summer weddings.
For spring/summer 2024, the linen trousers have been given a modern makeover, coming in a range of on-trend colourways like green, sky blue and camel, as well as a variety of more progressive shapes, such as relaxed fits and with drawstring waists. These aren’t the pants your dad vacations in – and that’s a good thing.
Drawstring Waists
As far as we’re concerned, drawstring pants are a menswear cheat code. They blend the comfort of a sweatpant with the looks of a chino, which means you can look put together and feel relaxed at the same time.
The laid-back nature of drawstring pants makes them perfect for spring and summer when you want something comfortable, easy to wear and stylish. For bonus points, go for a lightweight fabric and dress them up or down depending on the setting – knitted polo and loafers for smart-casual or a T-shirt and sneakers for off-duty.
The White Chino (Or Near Enough)
White and off-white legwear back again for %%ear%%, and it’s easy to see why this is a perennial trend. After all, white reflects the heat and instantly gives your warm-weather outfits a dose of Riviera cool. Plus, with less red wine consumed in the summer, the risk factor of wearing something so easily stained drops significantly, so now’s your chance to get on board.
The key to pulling light legwear like this off is creating contrast in your outfit. Don’t wear too much white and cream or you risk looking like a billionaire cult leader. Instead, mix in some darker pieces to create a sense of balance and contrast throughout.
