Cargo pants are effortlessly cool. Their roots took hold in the early aughts—a time when they were questioned by some, beloved by most. The golden era of the cargo unearths memories of Destiny’s Child, or perhaps the cropped versions worn by Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. Still, apart from construction workers, offbeat tourists, and hikers, the style remained somewhat polarizing. Just before the turn of the twenty-twenties, the slouchy trousers began trickling up again on city kids far and wide. As is often the case, the style was picked up off the streets and placed right on the runway. Its high fashion adaptations have taken some pretty inventive forms, from Zimmerman's asymmetrical iteration to metallic creations by Louis Vuitton. Although the utilitarian trousers don’t immediately read as glamorous, street-style looks have proven otherwise. Who could forget Rihanna’s camouflage Celines?
Pocketless clothing is the bane of many a woman’s existence. Cargo pants with their usual four (or sometimes more) places for storage are a godsend. Beyond your ordinary cotton-wool blend trousers, we found the utility chic style in a spectrum of fabrics, from dressed-down denim to luxurious leathers. Forget what you know about cargo pants with these 14 unique designs.
Leather cargo pants were favored on the Spring/Summer 2023 runways. These cargos, made of a durable grained sheepskin, would pair nicely with a similarly faded leather jacket and pair of pointed heels.
Remain Birger Christensen Black Washed Leather Pants, $625, Ssense
If you're struggling to choose between jeans or cargo pants, give the best of both worlds with a pair of cargo jeans from Mango.
Mango Carpenter Cargo Jeans, $90, Mango
The Frankie Shop specializes in undone-done suiting. These trousers are a perfect example—oversized, comfy, and effortless—just how a cargo should be.
The Frankie Shop Hailey Wool-Blend Cargo Pants, $285, Mytheresa
These wide-leg cargos by Dion Lee are made of a gradient-dyed lightweight cotton denim. With their pockets on pockets on pockets, zips, ties, and folds, this is a guaranteed standout style.
Dion Lee High-Rise Cotton Cargo Pants, $1,200, Mytheresa
Y-3 is a collaboration between Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto and athletic giant Adidas. With its ultra-wide legs cropped just above the ankle, these cargo pants feel equally sporty as they do avant-garde.
Y-3 Wide Leg Cargo Trousers, $289, Farfetch
These R13 cargos are a loose weave construction of rigid Japanese denim. Volume from front and back pockets create the perfect slouch.
R13 Blue Multipocket Utility Jeans, $890, Ssense
Extra long for added slouch, these cargos are highly versatile. Featuring a slightly abstract green and white pattern, this style modernizes the quintessential camo print.
Young Poets Camouflage-Print Cargo Trousers, $215, Farfetch
Combining loungewear details, like an elasticized waist, with utilitarian patch pockets, these trousers are like if a pajama and a cargo had a baby.
Stella McCartney High-Rise Cotton Twill Cargo Pants, $697, Mytheresa
This low-rise moto silhouette by Acne Studios comes in a beautiful butter yellow. Adjustable fasteners cinch the pant just below the knee for an ultra-flattering, customizable fit.
Acne Studios Potina Cotton Cargo Pants, $580, Saks Fifth Avenue
Bec + Bridge proves that less is more with its edited-down version of an army cargo. Style them with boots or sneakers for a relaxed (but chic) street-style ensemble.
Bec + Bridge Khaki Rina Trousers, $330, Ssense
Irish fashion designer Simone Rocha is known for subversive femininity. The belted waist, turned-up hem, and thoughtful seams on these cropped trousers are an elegant approach to a pragmatic design.
Simone Rocha Cropped Cargo Trousers, $445, Farfetch
