How to Style Cargo Pants Like a Fashion Editor This Summer

Knowing how to style cargo pants is every fashion editor’s secret weapon this summer.

Though the functional garments were once associated with frat bros and ROTC members, the last few trend cycles have shifted perceptions. Now cargo pants can look put together with virtually any item in your closet. This goes double for those sweltering summer months, when you can’t rely on layering to add intrigue and texture to your look. Come on, there’s only so many times you can wear jeans and a white tank top before you start craving fall knitwear in June.

The first and most important step is choosing a style. Classic cargo pants are fairly seasonless, while linen cargo pants are the best denim replacement if you’re looking to stay cool and on-trend for summer 2026. Retailers like Aritzia and Anthropologie sell their own versions of the summery utility pant, and contributing editor Emily Tannenbaum says she regularly reaches for Rag & Bone’s Atlas Linen Drawstring Carpenter Pants. According to her, they have a slimmer silhouette and striped drawstring cord that adds a little something extra to even the most basic outfit combination.

Once you’ve picked your favorite cargo pants, everything else becomes about fit. Opting for a body-hugging top—whether it’s a baby tee or a sexy halter top—will instantly streamline and elevate baggy pants. On the flip side, leaning into the oversized look with a loose t-shirt or button-up top will maximize the cargo’s androgynous appeal.

It’s their effortless versatility that make cargos such an exciting piece to style (not to mention all the pockets). Like jeans, they go with everything. Unlike jeans, they add a level of intention to your look without much work. So with that, I invite you to peruse the most stylish ways to style green cargo pants—and some other options—for yourself with these summer outfit ideas.

Green cargo pants and a graphic T-shirt