Today I’m sharing four outfits with black linen pants! I know, I know.  You might be like, “Audrey, I CAN’T wear pants right now!  Even linen ones!”  No prob. These looks work with black shorts, too!  Pick a lightweight pair of linen shorts, black khaki shorts, or black denim shorts.

As for linen pants, last summer I fell in love with them. There were a lot of reasons I hadn’t loved them prior–ones I’d tried were too itchy, wrinkled WAY too much, and were mostly wider leg styles which didn’t look great on me. I finally found a few pairs I like, and now I’m on the linen pants train!

While no matter what, on the hottest days I’d still rather wear shorts.  But, linen pants are great when it’s not scorching hot.  And they’re a nice option on days you can’t or don’t want to wear shorts for whatever reason, but they’re a much cooler option than jeans or other pants. They’re comfier and easier to move around in too!

Two linen pants options I own are 1) THIS pair from Old Navy, which is the pair I’m showing today, and 2) THIS pair from Nordstrom that I’ve shown a few times lately. The Nordstrom pair is much more expensive, but it is a little thinner and more breathable than the Old Navy pair, and it’s not scratchy AT ALL. It’s VERY soft and feels good against your skin. Plus, I love the jogger silhouette, especially since most linen pants have a wider leg opening. The Old Navy pair isn’t super duper itchy (after going through the wash once or twice) but it still has SOME scratchiness and is overall not as soft as the Nordstrom pair.

I wear the Nordstrom pair in size S.  It comes in 4 colors and a camo print which you can see HERE.

With the Old Navy pair, I sized down to XS for a slimmer fit. They start a bit tight but eventually loosen up to a perfect fit without being too baggy. They might not fit like that for everyone, but just wanted to share in case it works for some! It comes in 7 colors HERE.

SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.

 

Outfit #1: Black and White Striped Tee
The first look is with a classic black and white striped tee. I LOVE black and white with tan, so I added my Nickel & Suede tan leather cutout earrings. You could easily add a pop of color for accessories instead, since both the top and bottom are made of neutrals.

Shop the Outfit:
Tee: H&M (similar, similar, similar)
Pants: Old Navy (exact–wearing size XS, similar–I wear size S)
Sandals: (similar, similar, similar)
Necklace: c/o Dear Mushka (exact)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (exact–wearing size M)

 

Outfit #2: Colorful Tee + Printed Accessories
I paired my black linen pants with a colorful tee! Without the accessories, the yellow tee and black linen pants look fine in the sense that they aren’t a mismatch. But they’re not really tied together either. To tie the look together, I put on black and white spotted earrings which threads together the black in the pants, and bookended it with white sandals to complete the thread. Not only do the earrings provide a pop of print for more visual interest, they help tie the outfit together.  Check out the earrings HERE.

This tee is a fun addition that I’ve been wearing a lot lately.  It starts a bit stiff, but quickly softens up to a comfy feel.  I sized up to M for a more relaxed fit.  Check it out HERE.

Shop the Outfit:
Tee: J.Crew Factory (exact–wearing size M)
Pants: Old Navy (exact–wearing size XS, similar–I wear size S)
Sandals: Target (similar, similar, similar)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (exact–wearing size M)

 

Outfit #3: Neutral Top w/ Details + Pop of Color
This is a casual top that’s a step up from a plain tee, thanks to its cute button and tie front details. Those details give it a little oomph and kick up an outfit without you having to try harder. 👏🏼  This top is fairly thick and comes in cream, black, red, and a blue/white stripe.  See them HERE.  I’m wearing size M for a looser fit but could go down to size S for a closer fit.

This time I added that pop of color!

Shop the Outfit:
Top: Old Navy (exact–wearing size M but could also wear size S)
Pants: Old Navy (exact–wearing size XS, similar–I wear size S)
Sandals: (similar, similar, similar)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (exact–wearing size M)

 

Outfit #4: Leopard Print Top
Of course, I’ve gotta go with a leopard print top! The black from the print ties in nicely with black bottoms.

This top is from last year (so is this pic 😁) but there are loads of leopard print tops available right now. They’re available in nicer materials and casual tee materials. There’s something to meet everyone’s different lifestyles needs! Shop them through the widget below!

Shop the Outfit:
Top: Target (similar, similar–tank top, similar, similar)
Pants: Old Navy (exact–wearing size XS, similar–I wear size S)
Sandals: (similar, similar, similar)
Bag: Sole Society (similar, similar, similar)
Earrings: c/o Nickel & Suede (exact–wearing size M)

 

If you *have to* wear pants in the summer, what’s your pants of choice?  How would you wear black linen pants?

 

---

Download the FREE Summer Starter Kit Wardrobe Checklist

Need some spring wardrobe inspiration?  Download the free Summer Starter Kit Wardrobe Checklist and set a great foundation for your summer wardrobe!

Get the free PDF by subscribing to PMT email updates through the form below.  Or, sign up HERE.