I Tried 2026’s Biggest Pant Trends—These 3 Actually Passed the Test
Balloon pants, polka-dot trousers, and wide-leg jeans all made the cut.
Balloon pants
If I had to choose just one pant trend for 2026, balloon pants would be the hands down winner. I first predicted this silhouette would be big after seeing the style all over the SS26 runways last September, and this is definitely a case where the runway actually translated to real life. Known by a bevy of names, from the pirate-dressing adjacent “pantaloon” to the dated “harem pant” to the jokey “Hammer pant” (after the “Can’t Touch This” MC himself), this style’s nomenclature isn’t nearly as certain as its ascent. Whatever you call it, its everywhere.
Fortunately, this is a style that can work for any aesthetic (when done right). The silhouette might feel a little daunting at first, but it is actually surprisingly easy to wear. To couch it in more comfortable terms: Balloon pants are just the voluminous evolution of the classic sweatpant shape (fitted at the waist, roomy through the leg, and cinched at the ankle). That means you get the ease of a sweatpant while still looking on trend.
That is part of the reason this style has been a surprise hit for me. I honestly didn’t expect to love this silhouette so much at first (I figured it might be an every once in a while statement piece), but its wonderfully breezy nature of the shape is perfect for warmer weather when you don’t want too much fabric touching skin. So when I saw this semi-sheer chiffon pair at Old Navy, I couldn’t resist.
I broke them out on the first summery day I could, and they were just as flowy and breathable as I hoped. For a casual day of coworking, I decided to go for a neutral palette of browns and golds to complement the natural vibe of the sage green. The pants have a short undershort built in, so styling was simple: I just added a ribbed tank, metallic slides, and gold-tone accented tortoiseshell sunglasses and I was good to go. These have a lot more styling potential too - I will absolutely be wearing them with a strappy heel and a bustier for a night out, and with a low cut sneaker and a cropped tee for an athleisure vibe.
Polka Dot Trousers
Polka dots are the undeniable print trend of the moment, spotted [😉] on everything from sheer dresses to swimwear, but to me, they are particularly good on a trouser.
Abercrombie’s Sloane trouser has been a personal favorite of mine for a few years now (I especially love the Curve Love silhouette, cut specifically for those who need more of a difference between waist and hip measurements). So when I saw this large scale ivory and black dot print in the Sloane, I knew I had to try it out.
The Curve Love version was sadly sold out in my size in the polka dot, so I got the standard fit version. If you are doing the same, I would recommend erring on the larger side if you are torn between two sizes. I typically wear either a 35 or 36 in Abercrombie pants, and got the 36 here. They were a bit snug through the waist on my first wear, and the 35 would likely have been too small entirely, so don’t feel weird about sizing up!
I paired these trousers with a linen button front vest, my go-to perforated mules (one of my wear-tested walkable favorites!), a sold out colorway of the Simon bag from NYC label Min & Mon, and a bold lip (Tom Ford Scarlet Rouge, a perfect true red) to pull everything together. When I spotted this cherry red Vespa on the streets of Soho, I was sorely tempted to hop on for a photo, but I tamed my inner feral party girl impulses and settled for a dignified outfit pic next to it instead (it was just too perfect to pass up entirely!).
Wide-Leg Denim
Not every trend is brand new. Some, like the wide leg denim trend, can endure for years. Even as slimmer cuts like straight leg and stovepipe jeans start to make trend inroads, wide leg remains the dominant silhouette.
The difference for 2026? Wide leg jeans with a bit of polish feel the freshest. That doesn’t mean they need to be full-on trouser jeans (though those are having a moment too); it is more a matter of eschewing the rips, tears, distressing, and pronounced fading that was so prevalent a few years ago when baggy jeans reigned supreme.
This pair from boho plus label June + Vie is a great example of what to look for when shopping for wide leg denim in 2026: A classic blue denim wash, a clean wide leg cut, a floor-skimming length, and a great fit. The latter is because it comes in two shapes: The standard June fit and the hip-friendly Curvie fit. I’ve tried both and the Curvie is my personal winner, but I really appreciate that they are being thoughtful in making denim for a variety of body types, because fit can make a huge difference in how a style looks and feels on.
I styled these simply for a day of writing and errands, pairing them with a ribbed long sleeve thermal, my Franco Sarto Oakes Mary Janes (another comfortable shoe pick!), a slouchy snakeprint bag, and tortoiseshell motif sunglasses from Warby Parker.
