I’m going to show you and explain 8 ways to wear cargo pants for Fall. Like many things from the early 2000s, cargo pants are making a major comeback. They are trending for Fall and I don’t see them going away any time soon. They are available in a wide variety of materials, colors, and styles. I know they were popular in my youth, but I never jumped on the train until now, at 35 years old. Leave it to Target to get me to give the trend a try. I walked into Target and saw these cargo pants in olive green and metallic silver on the rack when I first walked into the store. I decided to try the olive green ones on thinking they wouldn’t look great and I’d leave them on the rack of items that didn’t work out as I walked out of the dressing room. But to my surprise, they fit really well and they looked great. At under $40.00, they were a steal. This is just proof that even stylists have to step out of their boxes from time to time, look to elevate their styles, and keep an open mind (not just preach that to our clients) when it comes to style and fashion. If you have been seeing cargo pants while shopping, but unsure how you can wear them in a way that is authentic to your style and age appropriate, keep reading because this post is for you.
Before we get to the various ways cargo pants can be worn, let’s talk about the way they should fit. The proper way to wear cargo pants is that they should fit loose, but not be overly baggy. In the dressing room, I was deciding between getting a large and an extra large. Both fit well, but the extra large were definitely more roomy. In the end, I went with the large because the extra large would have been a little too baggy. Since I am petite, I never want to get lost in my clothes. As with everything style related, what items you decide to pair cargo pants with is all about proportions. Since the pants are loose, you want to balance them out with more fitted tops. Too loose or baggy of a top will give a sloppy look. This will make you look like you are drowning in the clothes and that is never the look that we want to achieve.
When I went home and looked at what I had in my closet that they could be paired with, I was shocked that there were a lot of things/ways to wear them for various occasions with many basic items that should be in most wardrobes. It’s nice when you don’t have to go out and find new items to match an item you just got. This is why having a capsule wardrobe and staple pieces is key. It eliminates the need for constantly having to shop. The pants can also be worn cinched like joggers, or they can be worn straight, which gives even more options for looks. I am all about getting my money’s worth with versatile pieces. With that said, here are 8 ways to wear cargo pants for Fall (pictured top to bottom, left to right).
Look 1: Initially, when I think cargo pants, I don’t think dressy. However, if you can pair the cargo pants with a mesh top with a strapless bralette underneath and heeled booties, you get a pretty dressed up outfit. You could swap out the heeled booties for heels. This look can be worn for girls night or date night and elevates pants that would otherwise be casual. Don’t forget accessories if you are going to wear this look for a night out. Think hoop earrings and a clutch or crossbody bag.
Look 2: You can pair the cargo pants with a mock neck top and matching sneakers for a sporty look. Be comfortable while still being stylish. When the temperature drops, you can put a long cardigan or duster over the top for a warm and cozy, yet cute look.
Look 3: Perhaps my favorite look of the 8 is this one. I often like to mix masculine and feminine elements with my style. That’s why pairing a corset top with cargo pants and sneakers is a perfect balance. As you can see from the picture, this corset top isn’t the type that squeezes me to death, but it still gives the cinched look that you would expect from a corset. I love the Nike Dunk Low panda sneakers because they match so many things in my closet.
Look 4: For cooler Fall days, throw a jean jacket over a white t-shirt and whatever shoes you want to round out the cargo pants look. I went with sandals. You can wear this look so many places, whether running errands or grabbing lunch. It takes minimal effort, but you look put together.
Look 5: Wear the cargo pants with a patterned top, like a striped one and casual shoes (I went with my tried and true Toms) for an easy look. If you don’t have stripes, other patterns will do (polka dot, for example would also do the trick). Work with what you already have in your closet. I would stick with something neutral like black and white, unless you have a patterned top that picks up the color of the pants, then that would also work too. In this case, if I had a white and olive green checkered shirt, it would work well with this outfit also.
Look 6: For those chilly Fall days, pair the pants with a sweater and matching shoes for a minimalist look. I went with gray and it worked well. You could wear this look just about anywhere, from the office (I’d probably go with flats instead of the sneakers I’ve worn here) to happy hour. I wore the pants straight for this look. No matter where you wear it, you’ll look good while also staying warm. Yay for weather appropriate dressing.
Look 7: For one of the most basic looks, simply pair the pants with a white t-shirt (or another color t-shirt you prefer) and sandals. This look is great for layering (as you saw with the jean jacket above). Depending on the weather, you can switch out the sandals for other shoes. Since the pants have color and a good amount of details, the simpler the better when it comes to tops to pair them with. You don’t want to do a top that is also detailed or the items would clash together. This is a general styling rule. You want to let the item with details stand out.
Look 8: To know me is to know that much like corsets, I love me a crop top. The last look therefore, obviously has to pair the cargo pants with a crop top. I went with sneakers again. Similar to the t-shirt, you can go with whatever color you like. I picked a black crop top for this look because they matched the sneakers. If it got cold, you could put a faux leather moto jacket on to complete the street style look.
Now, these are just 8 ways to wear cargo pants for Fall, but I can think of many others. A turtleneck or crewneck sweatshirt for example would also work. The possibilities are truly limitless.
A note on trends: you don’t have to try everyone. In fact, I encourage you to only try maybe one or two per season. Also, make sure that whatever trends you do decide to try align with your overall style. Do not try something just because it is popular. There are many trends I have seen over the years that I did not try because they did not fit with my overall style. If you want to try trends but are unsure how to style them, you have several options. First, this blog is a great resource because I will always post trends and various ways to wear them to give outfit inspiration. Second, sign up for my newsletter. I send out a newsletter once a month that includes trends, as well as all things happening in fashion, including sales. Another option is to hire a personal stylist like myself. Part of a personal stylist’s job is to not only be knowledgeable about current trends, but to also know where those items can be found and how to style those items for various clients who have different body shapes and sizes.
If you’re considering hiring a personal stylist, head to the How it Works page and see what the process is for working with Ley All Day Personal Styling. If after reading that page it seems like something you would like to learn more about, head to the Book link and schedule an initial consultation with me so that we can discuss your current style and where you see it headed. Style evolution is a journey and I would love to help you as you discover your distinct style and how you want to be perceived by the world.