Cargo Pants Outfits to Inspire You When You're Tired of Jeans
These pocket-clad pants will be your new fave.


You've likely sported a pair of cargo pants before. You've also likely tried to forget those years, which were filled with cringe-worthy fashion choices. The baggy cargo pants silhouettes of the aughts were undoubtedly comfy, but were they flattering? Not so much. Historically worn as military fatigues and later, as one of dad's bad sartorial choices, cargos are now straying from their strictly functional roots. The cargo pants of the runways are made to flatter the female form: Designed with higher waists, slimmer side pockets, and tapered hems, these fashion-forward options are made for pairing with your delicate ruffle tops and playful summer heels. Officially It-girl approved, the pants that were once synonymous with bad fashion have been given their second chance. Ahead, you'll find five new, no regrets, cargo pants options to shop right now.
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Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, where she has worked in various roles to ensure the brand's fashion content continues to inform, inspire, and shape the conversation around fashion's ever-evolving landscape. A Missouri School of Journalism graduate, she previously held fashion posts at Condé Nast’s Lucky and Self and covered style and travel for Equinox’s Furthermore blog. Over a decade in the industry, she’s guided shoots with top photographers and stylists from concept to cover. Based in NYC, Sara spends off-duty hours running, browsing the farmer's market, making a roast chicken, and hanging with her husband, dog, and cat. Find her on Instagram at @sarajonewyork.