Summer dressing is notoriously tricky. The mercury rises and with it, your desire to wear shorts at all times. But assuming you have a job, dinner party or another pesky wedding to attend, you're going to need some trouser options.
Dark denims, heavy wools or any other hardwearing winter fabric are generally out. So what are your options? The good news is that the trends for this year include breathable fabrics and looser fits - perfect for the swelter ahead. Here's our picks.
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Linen Trousers
In the summer, linen is the practical choice. And yet practical hasn't always been cool. Thanks to the likes of Brioni and Etro however, that's all changed: the most breathable of summer fabrics is back in favour (and, therefore, your suitcase).
Hugo Boss Crigan Trousers
Linen can be thicker and more tailored, especially when in the deft hands of Hugo Boss. Cash in on a more structured take on linen.
£130, mrporter.com
Frescobol Carioca Linen Trousers
Linen is modernising. And for that, you can thank Brazilian outfit Frescobol Carioca's sports-infused summer-friendly trousers: an easy win for off-duty weeekends.
£205, matchesfashion.com
Richard James Coral Hyde Trousers
How, in soaring temperatures aboard yachts on the Amalfi Coast, did the Jay Gatsbys and Mr Ripleys of this world maintain a sense of tailored sharpness? They settled for the likes Richard James, that's what.
£195, mrporter.com
M&S Linen Blend Trousers
There's less wriggle room in standard 9-to-5 officewear. Still, you can smuggle some linen in the guise of regular boardroom trousers.
£39.50, marksandspencer.com
Tailored Trousers
Conforming to rigorous dress codes in high summer isn't ideal. But if nothing else, weddings are a good excuse to smarten up. Be the most sharply-dressed guest in the photo album by sticking to formal trousers in light shades, paired with your best shirt and deconstructed blazer.
Séfr Puppytooth Trousers
Bold suits are big business. Though just as effective is the classic check, a way to add depth with ease, and one Swedish label Séfr has taken full advantage of.
£190, mrporter.com
Topman Blue Trousers
Pastel suits of Miami Vice yore are back, and you don't have to trade banned substances on the Floridan coast to indulge. Get back to the future with Topman's eggshell trousers.
£40, topman.com
Officine Générale Poplin Trousers
Traditional trousers don't make for the best air conditioning. Cropped trousers do. Lose a few inches from the ankle with Officine Générale and feel the breeze.
£185, matchesfashion.com
Suitsupply Jort Trousers
It might not be the featherweight of linen, but 100 percent cotton is still breathable. Pair these well-ventilated trousers from Suitsupply with a lighter shirt to dial down the mercury.
£179, suitsupply.com
Wider Leg
Wider leg trousers, as with so many trends in 2019, can trace its roots to streetwear - the sleepy-eyed Dickies-wearing cool kids that brought the West Coast to your local shopping centre. But now, the joys of looser legs are open to all.
Topman Side Taping Trousers
Black is (wrongly) discouraged in summer. Yet with Topman's wider leg, cropped trousers, you can embrace the art of darkness year round.
£42, topman.com
Dickies Cropped Work Trousers
As the founding father of the wider leg trend, Dickies' work trousers have been co-opted by multiple sub-cultures over the years. You're about to join them.
£45, urbanoutfitters.com
Marni Wool Trousers
Luxury has got in on the bigger fit thing. Though instead of halfpipe inspiration, these loose beauties from Marni are fluid, oversized and straight from the runway.
£430, matchesfashion.com
Acne Studios Cargo Trousers
The workwear trend has stepped beyond the city limits of New England. Thank Acne Studios, who've rejigged building site cargo trousers with a cooler, wider and louder twist.
£269, endclothing.com
COS Organic Cotton Trousers
Scandi minimalism won't budge. This is a good thing. So, adopt the perennial battle armour of the understated with COS' organic cotton trousers.
£59, cosstores.com
Cropped Jeans
Believe it or not, but rivet-reinforced jeans - that hard-wearing, rugged workwear necessity - was built in the sweltering temperatures of Nevada, 1873. That means they're wholly appropriate for summer, and more importantly, can chill out if you go cropped at the ankle. Think rolled-up cuffs and on-trend frayed hems.
AMI Alexandre Mattiussi Jeans
Alexandre Mattiussi's AMI has remoulded the definition of French style: it's now looser, cooler and a lot more laidback - much like these washed blue cropped jeans.
£175, farfetch.com
Fabric-Brand & Co Jeans
Rather than weathering your denim in the desert, opt for Fabric-Brand & Co: Japanese-made jeans that come pre-distressed.
£650, mrporter.com
Jacquemus Le De Nîmes Jeans
French style, so often dictated by Paris, now has a route down south with Jacquemus: a native designer that looks to Marseille instead for some summer-ready denim.
£240, matchesfashion.com
Topman Black Original Jeans
Just as wider trousers pack a breeze, so too will jeans - even when they're blacked out for those who prefer summertime sadness to the usual madness.
£39, topman.com
![new york, new york may 06 chris hemsworth attends the 2024 met gala celebrating sleeping beauties reawakening fashion at the metropolitan museum of art on may 06, 2024 in new york city photo by jeff kravitzfilmmagic](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-2151781604-6639ec7eb9110.jpg?crop=0.803xw:1.00xh;0.0609xw,0&resize=360:* "The 2024 Met Gala Celebrating "Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion" - Arrivals")