Seeking lightweight cotton pants for summer
Trying to replace my GOATed pants that were perfect for summer; simple, light as a feather, breezy, great to wear with boots, and not too slim or baggy.
Looked around and every pair of pants I can find are made of synthetic fibers or heavyweight cotton twills. (Seriously, why are women's pants so lightweight in comparison to men's?) The lightweight pants I DO find are made of hemp/linen blends. I am looking for 100% cotton.
Where can I find pants that are lightweight, breathable, and made of cotton?
22 Replies
Hi @stillmorning! For better answers, include:
- Reference pictures
- Budget in numbers
- Specific measurements
- Openness to buying secondhand and/or online
- Location: country/continent is fine
- Timing/urgency
look for seersucker or poplin, or expand your mind and open yourself to blends.
Seersucker my beloved. I've got a pair of O'Connell's seersucker on right now.
I love the texture and stripes of seersucker for visual interest without being overwhelming. You can always count on it to be lightweight and breathable (the texture makes it even more breathable than you might expect).
IDK if seersucker suits. My last pants were used outdoors and in the city - light but strong.
seersucker isnt fragile
its literally workwear lmao
I would worry about it snagging and ripping a little more than a twill
And I would also worry about the white parts showing dirt more than a beige colored pair of pants though ngl
But it isn't flimsy by any stretch of the imagination
Last pants were twill, but quite thin. I don't know why twill pants in store are so thick.
I believe you guys, but I will not be converted. The look doesn't match what I'm after.
Ok...lmao
I mean fact is there is a massive degree of variance in any one type of clothing.
Being more specific about cut, style, and providing an actual budget will get you more concrete suggestions.
Your loss, good luck have fun
Linen is actually what you want but again glhf.
I know the pants I'm after exist, because I just owned a pair.
Imagine if what you had exists but is better and easier to find 🤯
Linen also tends to come in plain weaves so I could see not wanting it even if you didn't mind the texture (some people do) and didn't mind the wrinkling (some people do)
Finding chinos that are super light weight might be tough because companies would be more likely to brag about them being heavy than them being light
I thought it might also be a masculine thing because women's pants seem way thinner.
Alas, all I can do is sympathize with your plight. I don't know where to find what you want. Good luck!
Also because typically chinos are mid weight spring/fall leg wear. You would wear seersucker or linen or shorts for summer and heavy wool for winter. So being light isn't really something most people look for in them. It is a valid thing to want but not common to want.
I live in NZ and linen/seersucker does not seem big here. Perhaps because it does not get that hot.
Thanks for the answers so far everyone, I'll keep looking.
good luck!
Have you looked the brand of your pants up on eBay etc? If you're lucky, maybe you'll find some identical or similar pairs in your size available.
These are some of the best pants I've ever owned. That's why they're thrifted and unlabeled.
ripstop cotton comes to mind
not from NZ to give any local stores but brands like stan ray, frizmworks, gramicci, engineered garments, needles, or searching for bdu pants, all offer such a pant
Blessed ripstop is such an underrated fabric
or alternatively cotton pants in wider fits so you're getting increased airflow (vintage PRL andrews or phillips, sillage, harvesty, aidama, etc etc)
Cotton twill chinos break in really light and soft after extensive wear. Its hard to replicate with a new product so i would suggest going on ebay and looking for some that look really worn in. Vintage US army chinos are my fave but may be hard to find in NZ, i’m sure you could find something of similar make there
Anzac used cotton twill often so i would attempt to just find a pair that looks real salty