Linen Pants Are the Secret to Effortless Summer Style
Linen pants often get a bad rap—but it’s frequently deserved. The wrong pair wrinkles on contact, billows like sails, or reads straight-up cruise ship cosplay. But the right pair? That’s summer’s secret weapon. Light, breathable and structured just enough to pass as proper trousers, linen done well is how style-savvy men keep cool without caving to cargo shorts.
Blame the heat, not your wardrobe. Linen’s loose weave and flax-based fibers have been regulating body temperature since ancient Egypt—not just because it’s breathable, but because it wears like air. And yes, wrinkles happen. But that lived-in texture is part of the deal. It says relaxed, not lazy, guys. Paired with loafers and a button-down, linen can even hold its own in a white-tablecloth scenario.
And here’s the thing about maintenance that most guys stress over unnecessarily: the care is simpler than you think. Most modern linen pants handle machine washing just fine, though they’ll soften and fade beautifully over time, which only adds to their appeal. Just machine wash cold, hang dry, and skip the dryer. That broken-in softness you’re chasing only gets better with age. You don’t need to baby them like a vicuna sweater or silk shirt—just wear them often and enjoy.
From Amalfi streets to backyard BBQs, this season’s best linen pants go well beyond resort clichés. Think sharp tailoring, garment-dyed textures, and technical blends that actually hold their shape. You’ll find fatigue cuts with elastic waists, beach-ready drawstrings with urban polish, and taper-leg options that read business-class upgrade. Either way, these men’s linen pants move like they mean it, bending and breathing (and stretching just enough to survive a second helping of moules frites). Below, the best ones to buy now—before brunch weather turns on you.
The Best Linen Pants for Summer
- Buck Mason Loomed Linen OG-107 Fatigue Pant
- Zegna Roccia Linen-Blend Trousers
- Canali Linen and Silk Drawstring Trousers
- Joe’s Jeans Clarkson Slim Fit Linen Pants
- Alex Mill Standard Pleated Pant in Flax Linen
- AG Tate Drawstring Relaxed Fit Pants
- Wax London Kurt Washed Linen Pants
- Etro Linen-Wool Tapered Trousers
- Polo Ralph Lauren Linen Pleated Drawstring Trouser
- Alex Crane Bo Pants
- Theory Curtis Drawstring Pant in Good Linen
- Vilebrequin Linen Pants Solid
- Todd Snyder Linen Beach Pant
Buck Mason Loomed Linen OG-107 Fatigue Pant
Buck Mason reimagines the military fatigue in soft-washed linen with a looser weave that breathes easy. The elasticated waistband updates the straight-leg classic fit without straying from the utilitarian silhouette, and the cropped length keeps things sharp, especially when paired with slip-ons or low-top sneakers.
Zegna Roccia Linen-Blend Trousers
Tailored like a pair of dress jeans but dialed back for summer, these Zegna Roccia pants are what you wear when it’s too steamy for denim but you’re not ready to surrender structure. The linen-cotton blend feels easy without veering rumpled, and this pair’s particular color wash (somewhere between turquoise and slate) plays nice with everything from white camp shirts to navy polos.
Canali Linen and Silk Drawstring Trousers
If your idea of dressing down still involves pressed pleats and high-quality Italian tailoring, these are your warm-weather trousers. The Italian fashion label blends linen with just the right amount of silk to give these regular-fit drawstring pants a soft, fluid drape ideal for anything from terrace dinners to post-flight decompression. They taper just enough to wear with loafers but not so much they feel fussy—and yes, they’re comfortable enough for the plane ride itself.
Joe’s Jeans Clarkson Slim Fit Linen Pants
These flax-colored casual pants walk the line between tailored and off-duty, thanks to a slim silhouette, elastic waistband and drawstring closure that’s more hidden than hammocked. The linen-cotton blend feels light without reading wrinkled, and the zip fly plus welt pockets give them enough structure to sub in for chinos when needed.
Alex Mill Standard Pleated Pant in Flax Linen
A linen remix of the brand’s cult-favorite pleated pant, this version is tailored but relaxed, hitting that elusive sweet spot between smart and slouchy. Cut from breathable flax linen and offered in summer-neutrals like flax and navy, they hold their own at rooftop dinners or slow weekends in Montauk.
AG Tate Drawstring Relaxed Fit Pants
AG’s Tate pant feels like a cheat code for all-day comfort with its cotton-linen blend and waistband. The relaxed fit is roomy without turning sloppy, and the finish has just enough polish to fool people into thinking you dressed up (when you definitely didn’t). For anyone who’s toyed with wearing sweats to a dinner party, here’s your upgrade path.
Wax London Kurt Washed Linen Pants
You may throw these on for your morning coffee run, but you’ll end up wearing them until midnight because they’re so comfortable. Made from 100 percent washed linen, the Kurt pant nails the off-duty brief with its cropped inseam and lived-in texture. Slightly tapered with utilitarian pockets, they’re a quiet favorite among design-y types who won’t touch cargo shorts.
Etro Linen-Wool Tapered Trousers
Cut from an Italian linen-wool blend that breathes like the former and drapes like the latter, these pants from Etro manage to feel breezy without looking beachy. There’s a light elastic panel at the waist—smart for long days or late meals—and the taper keeps things sharp. They’re made in Italy and designed for cruise season, but perfectly at home in a New York summer.
Polo Ralph Lauren Linen Pleated Drawstring Trouser
There’s something about cream-colored linen that reads “Hamptons by default,” but these Ralph Lauren trousers are less Hamptonite cosplay, more utility. Straight-legged, lightly pleated and cinched with a drawstring waistband that actually stays put, they do the job of balancing comfort with presentation.
Alex Crane Bo Pants
These are linen pants for people who don’t want to look like they just rolled out of a yoga retreat. Cut from sustainably grown French flax and garment-dyed with sustainable pigments, the Bo Pants have a coastal energy that looks even better when you’re bronzed from a day at the beach.
Theory Curtis Drawstring Pant in Good Linen
Constructed with a linen-viscose-elastane blend, these offer just enough stretch to dodge that “I’m wrinkling by the second” effect most linen pants suffer. A drawstring hides inside the waistband so you can skip the belt but still tuck in a shirt. If your summer looks bounce between gallery openings and rooftop drinks, this pair plays both sides. For a full summer linen suit, wear with the matching blazer.
Vilebrequin Linen Pants Solid
The French brand known for highbrow swim trunks makes an equally Mediterranean pair of linen trousers. These are cut roomy and finished with subtle metal-tipped drawstrings, giving them a Riviera-louche vibe that may secure you beachfront loungers at Nammos Mykonos even if you’re not on the list. Pair with a linen button-down or a T-shirt.
Todd Snyder Linen Beach Pant
These best-selling pull-on linen pants are made with washed linen for a worn-in feel and a straight, easy fit that balances drape and heft. They come in five colorways, are weighty enough for city nights, but still breezy for resort wear. Cuff them, wear them barefoot, and pretend your out-of-office reply writes itself.