Window Shopping for: Summer Pants

Get them while they're hot, so you're not.

For the love of all things good and cool (speaking strictly in terms of Fahrenheit), I beg you: put down the denim this summer. Those of us lucky enough to live below the Mason-Dixon Line are quick to retire our heavy knits once our two months of chilly bliss come to an end. But when the sweltering heat rolls in, why do we still feel obligated to pull on long denim to hit the town? Don’t get me wrong, I’m literally wearing a pair of low-rise vintage Guess jeans as I type this…but I’m parked in an aggressively air-conditioned coffee shop, fresh out of an equally frigid car. Slowly but surely, I’ve been building both a bookmarks bar and a dresser drawer full of breezy denim alternatives fit for our drawn-out summer season. It feels selfish not to share them with you!

Brooke Callahan Tie Capri

If you spend more than half your day with your phone glued to your hand, you’ve probably come across Brooke Callahan. Honestly, it kind of feels like I just woke up one day and was spiritually linked to the brand. I have no memory of how I found it, but major props to past-me for making it happen. Designed and made in LA, the brand delivers effortless style in every sense. I personally own the Tie Pants in Chocolate, and can confidently say they’ve replaced most of my loungewear. The adjustable waist is a dream for someone like me who’s not into super form-fitting clothing. That said, I do wish I’d sized up for a little extra wiggle room. These capris are officially at the top of my “I’m just browsing, but actually need this” list. And to top things off, the color options are endless. Think poppy red to turquoise blue—basically, the pants of the summer.

Gimaguas Fisherman Pants

I’ve got to admit, my love for fisherman pants didn’t just come to me in a vision. I owe this discovery to the incredibly stylish, all-knowing Juliana Ramirez of Search Terms. I met Juliana at the Loeffler Randall Charleston store opening and immediately knew I wanted whatever she had—and she definitely had the it-factor. In her recent summer closet manifesto, she (very humbly) bragged about owning a few pairs of these Gimaguas fisherman pants. After a little deep dive, I became fully obsessed with the silhouette. They're baggy, but not too slouchy; breezy, but way cooler than your standard linen pants. I’m especially loving the dark grey taffeta, which, in my (possibly controversial) opinion, goes with everything. If these aren’t quite your vibe, though, I’d recommend checking out the Gimaguas capris, the Banana Republic x White Lotus collab pants, these Free People shorts, or even the splurge-y Matteau pair.

Made Some Nylon Pants

Everyone say it with me now: board shorts are in. Made Some Sportswear is one of those brands I stumbled upon last year and haven’t stopped thinking about since. It’s held a steady spot at the top of my summer wishlist. At the start of each season, I do a quick inventory of what I already own and what I feel like I need to survive the months ahead. The list is usually short, with five items at most, and includes only the essentials: sweaters, shorts, and shoes. I try to start by sourcing secondhand as a small nod to conscious consumerism, but if that doesn’t work out, I dive into the internet in search of new and emerging designers. What I love about Made Some is how much ground they cover. There are short shorts, Bermuda shorts, pants, and even tees, tanks, and vacation-inspired extras. The nylon pants in particular? The colorways are so good, I’m genuinely struggling to pick just one. Self-control is the goal here… or at least I’m pretending it is.

DONNI. Linen Crop Stripe Pant

Sometimes, I’m my own worst enemy. A few months ago, I completely brushed off DONNI., and now I’m seriously kicking myself for not hopping on the bandwagon sooner. Shoutout to their newsletter marketing manager for consistently showing up in my inbox, especially when it comes to their pre-order drops. That’s where the obsession began. I’ve developed a deep craving for their cropped pants, which is odd considering I usually want nothing to do with linen (it’s often too scratchy for my sensitive skin). But these? The exception. The issue isn’t if I’m going to get them, it’s which color to get first. Emphasis on “first,” because I can already feel a full-on addiction forming. My gut says “espresso” (brown is my forever favorite), but I can’t stop thinking about the “bell pepper” and “pistachio” options either. What do you think? I just picked up a pair of these sporty ballet flats and am trying to be intentional about finding the perfect match.

OpéraSPORT Spandex Capris

In a desperate attempt to channel Scandi cool style, I did something I rarely do and actually went beyond just “add to cart.” ’90s-style fitted capris are officially having their comeback (because, of course, fashion is a cycle), and I jumped at the chance to test them out. These capris make me feel like Sandy Olsson in You’re the One That I Want, and my friends fully agree. I wore them to an art show recently and was approached by three of my girlfriends, all of whom admitted they’d been respectfully objectifying me from across the room. The pants hug you in all the right places without being so tight that you’d regret wearing them to a pasta dinner. I get that capris aren’t for everyone, but as a 5'4" gal on a good day, I’m here to say: step outside your comfort zone.

Happy window shopping! What are you on the hunt for right now? Comment below — your latest bookmarks may just inspire my next post!