When it’s too hot for jeans but you still want to wear trousers, linen is the answer. Light, breathable, and blessedly low-maintenance, linen trousers are the rare summer essential that checks every box: They’re comfortable in high temps, instantly pulled-together, and look just as good with a bikini top as they do with a blazer. Whether you’re braving a humid tube ride, wandering a weekend farmers’ market, or dressing for a European summer, linen trousers are your one-and-done solution.
This season, the category is quietly thriving. You’ll find exaggerated barrel-leg silhouettes as the heat-proof answer to everyone’s favourite jean, cargo styles with a utilitarian feel, and striped pairs that tap directly into the sardine girl summer and fisherman trends. Meanwhile, wide-legs — from drawstring and low-slung to sharply pleated — are everywhere, anchoring everything from office looks to beach outfits with equal ease. Black linen makes the case for warm-weather minimalism, while crisp white remains a forever staple for those devoted to versatile neutrals.
Ahead, we’ve gathered the standout linen trousers to wear now — tailored, slouchy, coastal-coded, and everything in between. The best part? They’re as cool as they look.