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Jun 13, 2025

Best Black Linen Pants, 2025: Tried 22 Pairs & Ranked Them

I never travel in the summer without a pair of black linen pants in my suitcase. Never. They’re my favorite swim cover-up (that effortlessly transitions to porch lounging), comfy enough for long

I never travel in the summer without a pair of black linen pants in my suitcase. Never. They’re my favorite swim cover-up (that effortlessly transitions to porch lounging), comfy enough for long travel days—car or plane—and they work overtime for dinner when paired with a cute top.

Do linen pants wrinkle? Absolutely. I’ve learned to embrace it. And sure, linen pants are rarely the shining star of the outfit—but when it comes to hot weather comfort, versatility, and classic style, linen pants prove their worth in my closet every summer.

Where To Buy: Athleta (6 colors) Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

In my younger years Roxy’s beach pants were my go-to, but on my almost-50-year-old body, they look… hilarious. WAY too low-rise, WAY too straight in the hips, and no where NEAR enough room for my butt. For the past several years, I’ve been very happy with the cult-favorite Athleta Retreat Pants, but this summer I decided to do a little digging in the linen pants world. I wanted to see what else is out there—and find out if Athleta’s are truly the best.

I tried 22 pairs of linen and linen-blend pants, including multiple styles from Athleta, Uniqlo, Old Navy, Gap, Open Edit, Free People, Eileen Fisher, J.Crew, Anthropologie, Caslon, Aritzia, and Madewell.

My biggest requirement for summer linen pants is that they’re soft and comfortable—after that, I’m flexible. Some I ended up liking have drawstrings, some simple elastic waistbands, some are high-waisted, some are a bit lower, and some are linen-blend while others are 100% linen. I stuck with black for this “study” since it’s my most-worn color and makes comparison easier, but many of these styles come in other colors as well. My top picks are versatile enough to work in a variety of settings, but I’ve highlighted their standout qualities so you can see what makes each pair special.

So….apparently taking mirror-selfies of black linen pants is quite difficult. They all kind of look the same in my selfies. So…for each one, in addition to the details of the material, laundry care, size range, price, pocket, and waist detailing, I also included a close-up of the waist band, the pants worn a few different ways, as well as an image of the pants on the retailer models. Hope this helps!

Where To Buy: Athleta (6 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 100% linen (certified European flax)

Care: Machine wash & dry

Size Range: XXS-3X; petite, regular, & tall

Price: $89

Fit: TTS; wearing MP; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs

Waist: Wide elastic with drawstring

Pockets: Zip side pockets & 2 back pockets

Takeaway: Still (after years of being a favorite) a top pick for versatile, comfortable, cute linen pants; they have a substantial “grown-up” feeling to them; wildly popular for a reason; the current style is a tad higher in the rise from years past and sizing has slightly changed (from number sizes to XXS-3X).

Where To Buy: Athleta (6 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Where To buy: Anthropologie (7 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 100% linen

Care: Machine wash

Size Range: XXS-3X; petite, standard, & tall

Price: $118

Waist : Wide smocked elastic with no tie

Pockets: Side pockets only & no back pockets

Fit: Runs big; wearing S; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs

Takeaway: I love that these are an easy and simple pull-on design, but with a cute wide smocked elastic waist and palazzo-esque super wide legs; really nice airy flowy vibe perfect for the beach; SUPER cute color options; soft and ultra comfortable; these definitely look better in person when you can see the movement.

Where To buy: Anthropologie (7 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Where To Buy: Nordstrom | Eileen Fisher | Bloomies Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 100% organic linen

Care: Machine wash, tumble dry

Size Range: XXS-3X; petite & regular

Price: $188

Waist: Elastic waist with zipper and clasp front

Pockets: Side pockets only & no back pockets

Fit: Runs big; wearing size SP here and they still have a slouchy relaxed fit; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs

Takeaway: Eileen Fisher high quality materials and design yet again does not disappoint; I love the slouchy relaxed fit and the super soft high quality organic linen; the charcoal reads a little more interesting than the stark black; versatile for dressier, but still able to be worn for a beachy vibe if you want them to do double duty; similar style from Eileen Fisher with more colors here.

Where To Buy: Nordstrom | Eileen Fisher | BloomiesNeed the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

These are the tanks, tops, sandals & bags you’ll spot in all my outfit pics…some of my most-worn pieces for summer.

White Tank: perfect length – size SDenim Tank: love wearing with jeans too – size SWhite Button Down: softest EVER – size SBrown Chunky Birks: size downGold Flip Flops: easy for the beach – TTSBlack Chunky Birks: size downClare V Pot De Miel: a most worn for yearsSezane Justine Bag: new to me this year & SO chicNaghedi Tulum Bag: gorg & holds ALL the things

Where To Buy: Nordstrom | Eileen Fisher | (10 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 100% organic linen

Care: Machine wash, line dry

Size Range: XXS-3X; petite & regular

Price: $168

Waist: Medium width elastic with no tie

Pockets: side pockets & no back pockets

Fit: Runs big; wearing a size S, pant legs are folded under on me b/c I need to hem or order the petite sizing; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs.

Takeaway: I tried several barrel shaped linen pants, but they were all way too exaggerated of a shape on me, these are perfect for a gentle barrel shape (i.e. lantern shape); super soft linen, high quality Eileen Fisher fabric and design; the shape feels classic and something different from my typical wide-leg; warning… the white color gets TERRIBLE reviews.

Where To Buy: Nordstrom | Eileen Fisher | (10 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Where to buy: Nordstrom (4 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 55% linen, 45% rayon

Care: Machine wash, tumble dry

Size Range: XXS-XXL; petite & standard

Price: $59.50

Waist: Medium width elastic with no tie

Pockets: Side pockets & one back pocket

Fit: TTS, wearing size MP; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs

Takeaway: These have been worn by various TME contributors for a while now; budget-friendly, soft, and a good go-to basic black linen-blend pant; the linen-blend wrinkles less than linen (if you’re bothered by wrinkles); Linen-blends are also great for skin that doesn’t like the more natural feel of linen and these are very soft to the touch; style and cut is nothing special, but if you’re looking for a budget-friendly linen-blend this is a good one; slightly higher rise than the similar Old Navy budget-friendly ones below.

Where to buy: Nordstrom (4 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Where To Buy: Old Navy (8 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 55% linen, 45% viscose rayon

Care: Machine wash

Size Range: XXS-4X; petite, regular, & tall

Price: $39.99 (and often lower w/ Old Navy’s frequent sales)

Waist: Medium width elastic with no tie

Pockets: Side pockets & 2 back pockets

Fit: TTS, wearing size MP; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs

Takeaway: A great SUPER budget-friendly option for simple linen-blend pants (especially when Old Navy is having one of their frequent sales); I like the fit better than the Caslons (they sit a tiny bit lower on the waist) as well as the look of the waist band better, but the Caslons are definitely significantly softer; the linen-blends don’t wrinkle as much as the 100% linen pants (if wrinkles bother you).

Where To Buy: Old Navy (8 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Where To Buy: J.Crew (14 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 100% linen

Care: Machine wash

Size Range: XXS-3X; petite, classic, & tall

Price: $98

Waist: Thin elastic with drawstring

Pockets: Side pockets & back pockets

Fit: Runs slightly small (if you have bigger hips); straighter in the hips than other brands; wearing MP and slightly snug at first try-on; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs

Takeaway: Straighter in the hips than other brands; the thin and simple tie waist has a very classic look; soft and high quality linen; tons of fun colors.

Where To Buy: J.Crew (14 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Where To Buy: Nordstrom | Free People (10 colors) Need the sandals, bag or tops? Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 55% Linen, 45% viscose

Care: Machine wash cold

Size Range: XS-XL

Price: $78.50

Waist: Thick elastic & no tie

Pockets: Side pockets & no back pockets

Fit: Runs big; wearing size S here (if you want the exaggerated bagginess go with your true size); for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs

Takeaway: So…I recognize I don’t have QUITE the cool girl vibes in these pants that the model does, but they do feel like a more current version of my typical go-to and definitely have a more on-trend vibe; they’re also super appealing because the linen blend fabric and relaxed fit is extremely comfy; they’re a little long on me to give the same vibe as the model; I would go with your typical size if you want the exaggerated baggy look; for me, sizing down felt better.

Where To Buy: Nordstrom | Free People (10 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops?Shop the rest of the look here.

Where To Buy: Nordstrom (3 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops?Shop the rest of the look here.

Fabric: 100% Linen

Care: Machine wash, line dry

Size Range: XS-XL

Price: $79.50

Waist: Medium thick elastic with drawstring

Pockets: Side pockets & 2 back pockets

Fit: Length is too long for me; fit is relaxed; waist however was slightly snug so size up if you’re thicker in the middle; wearing size M; for reference, I’m 5’2, 145-ish lbs

Takeaway: WAY better than I anticipated; exaggerated wide leg that’s high-rise and reads a little trouser-ish; wide hem stitching adds an interesting detail; the high rise, combined with the long and super wide legs, feels like a more dramatic take on the classic linen pant; soft and comfortable; way too long for me, though—not sure how they’d look hemmed with those wide hem stitching details.

Where To Buy: Nordstrom (3 colors)Need the sandals, bag or tops?Shop the rest of the look here.

Okay…now it’s your turn. Any go-to linen pants that are wardrobe workhorses for you? Any new and exciting styles you’ve tried? I love hearing from you all and sharing try-on and shopping gems, so please feel free to comment below or join our TME discord conversation. I think I’m going to order the Eileen Fisher linen trousers in cocoa. Looks like the perfect blend of cream/khaki/brown for summer, and her pieces get worn on repeat for me year after year.

-Linzi