17 Best Summer Pants for Women

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No shirt, no shoes, no problem. But pants? You need.

Before you even start, I know what you’re thinking. “Pants...in the summer?” You’ve waited all year to break out those mini skirts and biker shorts. Believe me, I get it, but the fact of the matter is even on the stickiest, most sweltering days, you need a good pair of pants in your arsenal. What if you get a bad sunburn or forget to shave your legs? What if your boss has a no-shorts policy, or you run into an unseasonably chilly day? (Thanks, global warming.) Don’t sleep on the need for summer pants, because the last thing you want is to find yourself in a pants pickle with only your fleece-lined leggings or wool trousers to pick from. Below, find 17 of the most stylish pants to have on-hand this summer.

Amazon carries this breezy style in a variety of hues to meet all your summer wardrobe needs.

Sizes: S-XL

Material: Polyester

Colors: 12 options

Contrary to popular misconception, this laidback silhouette isn’t just for days at the beach.

Sizes: S-XXL

Material: Cotton, linen

Colors: 16 options

I’ll shout from the mountaintops about these Alo trousers, which are made with a lightweight, wrinkle-resistant fabric that feels like exercise apparel, yet looks sleek enough to wear to work.

Sizes: XXS-XL

Material: N/A

Colors: Black, Anthracite, Espresso, Cosmic Grey

Summer is the season of crochet!

Sizes: S-L

Material: Cotton, polyester

Colors: Ecru

Sheer garments and going pantless are two of the hottest trends of 2023. Fortune favors the sartorially bold.

Sizes: 2-12

Material: Polyamide, elastane

Colors: Black

You can still wear jeans in the summer, obviously, but I do recommend lighter washes.

Sizes: Waist: 23-34; Length: 26-32

Material: Cotton, elastane

Colors: 15 washes

The wider leg, the more room for a breeze. Dress smarter, people!

Sizes: 23-34

Material: Cotton, elastane

Colors: Blue

If you’re looking to rock the leather pants look in the heat of summer, opt for a machine-washable style like this.

Sizes: 24-35; Regular, Tall, or Petite

Material: Polyester

Colors: Black

It’s the ultimate catch-22 that summer is the high season for wearing white, yet white is arguably the hardest color to wear. Spanx is making it easier with these 100 percent opaque sculpting pants.

Sizes: XS-XXXL; Regular, Tall, or Petite

Material: Cotton, rayon, elastane, polyester

Colors: White

These are as soft and flowy as pajama pants, yet can totally pass for party pants.

Sizes: 0-16

Material: Polyester

Colors: 9 options

Like a picnic for your pants drawer.

Sizes: 34-44

Material: Cotton, elastane

Colors: Green, Black

These pants make a great case for more bandana-printed clothing, don’t you agree?

Sizes: 1-3

Material: Cotton

Colors: Pink

These are flashy enough to turn heads on a sweaty summer night out, but loose-fitting enough that you won’t have to peel them off your body at the end of the evening.

Sizes: 23-32

Material: Polyester, spandex

Colors: Silver foil

I’m naming parachute pants as the unofficial bottom of summer. (Just think of all that airflow!)

Sizes: XS-XL

Material: Rayon, nylon

Colors: Blue or white

You’re going to need pockets on all those summer adventures you have planned.

Sizes: XS-XL

Material: Cotton

Colors: 10 options

A light linen trouser is your best bet for corporate dressing during the dog days of summer.

Sizes: 0-12

Material: Linen

Colors: Oatmeal

C’mon, it’s summer—have a little fun.

Sizes: XXS-XXL

Material: Cream

Colors: Cotton

Meg is the Associate Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com where she researches trends, tests products, and looks for answers to all your burning questions. She also co-writes a monthly column, Same Same But Different. Meg has previously written for Cosmopolitan and Town & Country. Her passions include travel, buffalo sauce, and sustainability. She will never stop hoping for a One Direction reunion tour.

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