I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty warm right now. As I type, I’m hiding away from the heatwave and trying to remain cool with all the curtains shut and windows open. Of course, as a fashion editor, I’ve spent a lot of time considering the ideal kind of outfit to wear in hot weather that doesn’t just consist of sitting around in my pants. I might still be working from home, but I do have standards. While dresses are great and all that, and absolutely should be kept in your heatwave-dressing arsenal, I think there’s one item that you don’t want to overlook when it’s warm: linen trousers and, in particular, wide-leg linen trousers. This garment is great for keeping you cool thanks to the breathable material, but the loose style also helps to circulate air (goodbye, thigh-chafing). Interestingly enough, linen has been worn for thousands of years, dating back to Ancient Egyptian times.
While we probably won’t be drawing style inspiration from thousands of years ago, look to a more recent time, and you’ll see that the wide-leg linen-trouser style hasn’t changed much. Plenty of people have worn the trousers over the years—both men and women—and they remain consistently chic. There are nearly always some kind of white or cream linen trousers available from designers or the high street every spring, but fast-forward to 2021, and there are a few details that have brought these trousers well up to date.
Wide-leg linen trousers from the Jacquemus S/S 21 runway show. My first port of call when getting styling inspiration for these trousers is the Jacquemus S/S 21 collection. The designer has been working with linen for several seasons now, and his take on the material treads the ideal line between chic and sassy. Where dresses are cut out and hemlines are often short, his linen trousers are on the oversized side and are seriously high-waisted. This trend has been spotted over on influencers as well. Abi Omole, owner of Studio Arva, previously featured on Best Wardrobes in Britain, paired her cream trousers with a peach vest and a pistachio cardi. Lorna of Symphony of Silk has gone for an on-trend padded vest paired with her white linen trousers, Prada bag and Converse. Finally, perhaps the most appealing of the outfits right now, Jessica Skye has opted for a one-shoulder vest with linen trousers, sandals and a beach-ready raffia bag. All three influencers might have gone for pale-coloured wide-leg linen trousers, but there are plenty of other options around, including Gucci’s multicoloured versions, gingham from Tory Burch and pink from Mint Velvet. You should also know that it’s not just designers with plenty of linen-trouser options this season. There are also lots of high-street stores offering great chic versions. Keep scrolling to see how to style your linen trousers, and then find our edit of the best wide-leg linen trousers.
Style Notes: Jessica Skye adds a one-shoulder black top, a pair of flip-flops and a raffia bag to complete this perfect summer look.
Style Notes: Laid-back but still super cool, Lorna of Symphony of Silk knows how to make her linen trousers look fresh and chic.
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