What to Look for in Summer Trousers
Shapes, styles and fabrics to wear in the warmer months.
This post is in partnership with Beyond Nine.
If you’ve been around here for a while, you’ll know I love a great pair of trousers — and that love doesn’t wane when summer turns up. I’ve embraced shorts more over the past couple of years, and I’ve got a lot of time for a slip dress or a sarong that will double as a skirt when I’m not at the beach.
But it’s when I slip into a pair of trousers that I feel most “me”. There are so many shapes, styles, fabrics and volumes in the trouser world, so it’s where I have the most fun with a piece of clothing. I love how different a big barrel leg looks to a straight style, or how a cropped trouser can create a completely different silhouette to one that has a long, wide leg.
It’s not always easy in the heat of summer, though. When the temperatures call for fewer items of clothing, exposed limbs and fabric that doesn’t stifle, trousers aren’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind.
So with a little help from Beyond Nine and their excellent trousers (I’m talking comfort and styles that regularly have strangers stopping me on the street), here’s my guide to what to look for in a good pair of summer trousers. (Side note: Beyond Nine launched its summer sale this week, and it is very good.)
For reference, I’m 5’4” and a UK size 8. I wear size 2XS in Beyond Nine.
Cool fabric
It probably goes without saying, but in the warmer months, it’s best to avoid thick and heavy fabrics like wool and corduroy (I’ll make an exception for denim, because a loose pair of jeans can work wonders on a cool summer evening). Instead, look for 100% cotton or linen, which will help keep you cool.
Comfy waistbands
I don’t know many people who want to feel restricted and “hemmed in” in summer. Comfortable fits go a long way in helping you feel good and effortless in the heat, and a stiff, inflexible waistband won’t help you do that.
So, look for elasticated or drawstring waistbands instead. Comfort aside, elasticated waistbands are also good if you have a larger hip or bum-to-waist ratio than is typically catered to in trousers. They’re adaptable and flexible, so they’ll fit around the waist without being too baggy — you can also wear them at different parts of the waist to find a better fit.
Volume and shape
You can play around with shapes a lot with trousers, and that, for me, is what makes them so good to wear. In summer, I like to go for loose styles that’ll keep me cool (and comfortable). Here are my go-tos…
Straight: Straight (but not skinny) all the way through the leg. I find the styles that finish at the ankle look best. This is probably one of the most ‘classic’ of trouser styles, so it’s worth having a good pair.
Wide leg: Wide-leg trousers are exactly that: they have a wide leg. This is another style I love because I’m a huge fan of an oversized silhouette, and depending on the style of trousers, they can work for every occasion.
Barrel leg: This style has an exaggerated, curved, barrel-like shape and tapers at the ankle. They’re the type of trousers that instantly lift an outfit, purely thanks to that unusual shape, and give a considered finish to an overall look.
Tapered leg: Looser at the top, and gradually narrows to the ankle. I like to think of these as a happy medium between straight and barrel legs. A good option if you don't like a lot of volume but don't want super slim fitting either.
Colour
Black, navy and chocolate brown are classics. (Yes, you can wear black in summer.) But this is also a good time to lean into lighter colours and bolder prints, should the mood take you.
Here’s all that in action…
Look 1
The trousers: Beyond Nine’s ‘Huxley’ in chocolate linen.
They have an elasticated waistband, a dart seam detail in the front of the leg and a tapered silhouette, similar to carrot-shaped trousers. They have two large pockets at the front and two at the back, and they’re made in the UK with 100% OEKO-TEX® linen.
These are the kinds of trousers that have a good bit of shape, but less volume than a wide or barrel-leg. I love the deep chocolate brown, which works especially well with cream and off-white, like the dress I’ve paired them with here. I’ll be wearing this outfit on those occasions when I want to feel smart, but not too dressy.
These trousers are currently on sale.
Look 2
The trousers: Beyond Nine’s ‘Lexi’ in coconut stripe linen.
They have an elasticated, drawstring waistband and loose wide leg. These are Beyond Nine’s longest trousers, so they’re great if you’re tall and struggle finding styles that are long enough. They have two side seam pockets and two back pockets, and they’re made in the UK with 100% OEKO-TEX® lightweight linen.
I was immediately drawn to this set when I first saw it, which is slightly unusual for me because it’s not often I go for a bold head-to-toe stripe. But then, it’s not that bold. It makes a statement, yes, and it feels fun to wear. But the chocolate brown base with coconut cream-coloured stripes suits my more minimalist tendencies. The shapes are easy, comfortable, and unrestrictive, and when worn with simple flat sandals, it’s really just a no-brainer two-piece.
The top and trousers are both currently on sale.
Look 3
The trousers: Beyond Nine’s ‘Mabel’ in khaki linen.
They have an elasticated waistband and a classic loose barrel leg shape created by a curved outer seam and front seam detailing. They have two deep side seam pockets, and they’re made in the UK with 100% OEKO-TEX® linen.
These are probably my most-worn trousers from Beyond Nine. They have the kind of colour that goes with everything, but it’s different enough from the usual black or navy. And in winter, they work just as well with a pair of leggings underneath. Here, I’ve paired them with a navy vest from last summer, breaking up the two colours with a silk scarf (my go-to for accessorising on hot days).
Look 4
The trousers: Beyond Nine’s ‘Callie’ in ink twill.
They have an elasticated waistband, relaxed straight leg, and a twisted outer seam and seam detailing behind the knee. There are two large pockets at the front and two at the back, and they’re made from slouchy twill cotton (99% organic cotton, 1% elastane).
The twill is slightly thicker than the linen styles featured in this piece, so they’re a good option for cooler days and nights (which, let’s face it, are more regular in UK summers than we would like…). Here, I’ve paired the trousers with a long, white linen waistcoat, which would look good layered under a short light jacket on breezier days.
These trousers are currently on sale.
Look 5
The trousers: Beyond Nine’s ‘Mabel’ in navy linen.
This is the same shape as the khaki trousers listed above (I’m a firm believer that there’s nothing wrong with buying a piece you love in a few different colours). They have an elasticated waistband and a classic loose barrel leg shape created by a curved outer seam and front seam detailing. They have two deep side seam pockets, and they’re made in the UK with 100% OEKO-TEX® linen.
Navy is a classic colour, so it’s a great piece to have in your summer (and year-round) wardrobe, especially if you want a softer alternative to black. I’ve paired these trousers with a simple linen vest that skims the top of the waistband and trusty fisherman sandals; a look I’ll be wearing a lot this summer.
These trousers are currently on sale.
Look 6
The trousers: Beyond Nine’s ‘Lexi’ in black linen.
These are the same style as the trousers in look two, only in classic black rather than a stripe. They have an elasticated drawstring waistband and loose wide leg. These are Beyond Nine’s longest trousers, so they’re great if you’re tall and struggle to find styles that are long enough. They have two side seam pockets and two back pockets, and they’re made in the UK with 100% OEKO-TEX® lightweight linen.
I love an all-black look in summer, so I’ve leaned into that by pairing the trousers with a black embroidered vest — with a touch of colour peeking through in the red flip-flops. Good for those warm evenings when you want to feel a bit more dressed up.
Look 7
The trousers: Beyond Nine’s ‘Bobbi’ in honey pinstripe linen (now sold out, but there are other colourways available).
They have an elasticated waistband with pleats at the front, and a cropped wide leg (when worn high on the waist, mine finish just at the ankle). There are contrasting stripes on the hem and large back pockets. They also have two side seam pockets, and they’re made in the UK with 100% OEKO-TEX® linen.
I love the light honey colour too; a shade that nods to summer without being too bright or bold (music to this minimalist’s ears). Worn with the matching top, they make an easy, don’t-need-to-think-about-it co-ord.
The top is on sale, but the trousers in this colourway have sold out.
Trouser fans, there’s no need to pack them away just yet. And if you’d love to wear more trousers but struggle with fit/length/comfort/knowing what shoes to wear with what, take a look at my big guide here.
Any items marked with * have been gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.
This post contains some affiliate links. If you buy something through those links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Obsessed with look 6 and the vest wow
Here for ALL the elastic waist trousers!!!