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Seeking lightweight, breathable pants ETA update in comments

Christina F.

Veteran

I could take a medal in advance planning. I am going to SE Asia in late Nov-early Dec of this year. We are aiming to visit Southern Thailand and Cambodia for Angkor Wat (my husband's priorities, as we take turns choosing destinations).

I know it will be hot and possibly at the tail end of rainy season. We can't move the trip, as I need the two days off I have around Thanksgiving to be able to have enough days to make the trip worthwhile.

I've realized that I should make sure now that I have enough appropriate clothes, since it's now about to be peak summer shopping season in North America. I've taken stock and I think I'd like one more pair of lightweight, breathable casual pants. Please let me know if you've seen anything that fits the bill.

My activities will include walking, going to the beach and various other water activities, and maybe some hiking. I'm set on options for gear (including the Athleta pants below), bathing suits, coverups, lightweight tops (including long sleeved linen ones), shoes, shorts, and dresses.

I already have the following pants, and want to avoid duplication. The two olive pants are different, but I might not want to take both. I am clearly all set on the "jogger" silhouette, so I won't want another pair of joggers. Something white or in a fun pattern (not stripes) might fit the bill; culottes or wide legs or even harem pants might fit the bill. I don't want navy or black since I'd prefer to take lighter colors (and I have those colors covered in my wardrobe anyway). ETA - I should add that I don't like khaki/beige, which makes this search a bit harder.

PS: I realize that I might get some pants there (the famous elephant pants that lots of women get Thailand), but I suspect my size will be an issue so I don't want to count on it.

ETA - have narrowed it down to looking for light grey or light blue pants, since I'm kind of constrained on the one side by colors I already have and don't want to take, and on the other by colors I don't like.... There was some discussion of white linen pants below, and I'm interested in recs for those too, but they're not practical for the trip. They are a HEWI for me though, so I'm looking around anyway.

Helena Cropped Chino Pants

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Slim Ikat Joggers

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Caslon Crop Linen Joggers

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Gap Trekkie Jogger 2.0

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Shopping

49 replies

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RobinF

Veteran

I wonder if some white linen might round out your collection? I like your finds and think they will be cool and comfortable.

Christina F.

Veteran

Robin, I didn’t want to make the post too long, but this would be my ideal solution because I’m on the lookout for a pair anyway. I’ve come across some obstacles:

-Either they are see though, or
-they are lined, and the lining either makes it harder to fit on me, or is made from a less breathable material.

If I buy fun beach pants, I don’t want them to cost too much. But for my ideal white linen pants, I’d pay more (up to $150 maybe). Someone or other will probably suggest Eileen Fisher, and i’d like those prices to be a last resort. :p

There is a White Company store near my office. I may try there, as they seem to specialize in linen. Anyone have good ones from someplace like Garnet Hill?

Liesbeth

Veteran

Have you tried Uniqlo? I love my linen pants from them, but they are tapered. I saw that they have wide leg styles too though, dropped as well as full length and lighter colors too, even a striped version:
https://www.uniqlo.com/eu/en/p.....ousers1398

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Christina F.

Veteran

Liesbeth, it's a good thought. The colros I'm seeing though are either ones I have (and will bring or are darker than I want to bring) or don't like. But I'm sure they change up their colors so I'll keep looking. I am not an earth tone person, beyond olive, which makes this search a bit challenging. Vertically striped pants tend to not work on me, but maybe for a wider pair that doesn't stretch over my thighs it wouldn't matter so much?

Christina F.

Veteran

For the record, I have two pairs of cropped linen pants in navy and black. I think black would trap heat... not sure about navy.

Wideleg Culottes

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High-Rise Linen-Blend Wide-Leg Cropped Pants for Women

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nemosmom

Veteran

I'm seeing lots of linen separates (and jumpsuits) on etsy in some great colors. One downside would be you may not be able to return if they don't fit. But, maybe you have enough time to have a pair custom made?

bella

(website)

Veteran

Good for you for thinking ahead. That said, 6 monts is a long time. Will you put these clothes aside in the meantime? Will you not wear them at all until then? Because I get quite a bit of churn in my closet in 6 monts, especially with summer clothes. Just food for thought.

Christina F.

Veteran

nemosmom - thanks for the thought! I will browse etsy. I would think having something made would be a last resort, though...

bella, I actually over-shop for summer relative to the length of the season. If wear whatever I buy, it will last between now and say, September (when it stops being hot) because I will only get around to wearing it three times at most. Even fragile and lower quality summer pieces can last a good 3-4 years in my closet as long as I don't mess them up in the wash. I am willing to baby whatever item I get in the laundry, though.

Murph11

Veteran

Lighter colors will likely show the dirt more than your cute cropped black and navy pants. I honestly think their linen fabrication will not trap heat noticeably more than lights. You could lighten up the outfits with light tops. Just my two cents.

Christina F.

Veteran

Murph, that is a good thought. I was thinking along the lines that I expect to wash things by hand on the road, and that I am VERY susceptible to feeling uncomfortable in the heat.

ETA - in light of this, maybe light blue is a nice compromise color, in that will show less dirt than white, at least? I tried these on but wanted to compare to a different size they didn't have in store yet.

Wide-leg cropped chambray pant

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Murph11

Veteran

I like those chambray crops. Will they work for your summer wardrobe? I don't travel much but end up buying items for a trip, then never wear them at home because they look like resort wear.

Christina F.

Veteran

Murph - yes, my office is casual enough for those if I dress them up a bit. Nice top, topper and I’m done. I am also going to Japan mid-summer next for he Olympics (I hope), Hawaii in the near future after that, and I go to a beach house every summer so lightweight pants can see more use even if I end up with something that has to be confined to a travel capsule.

LaPed

Veteran

I have a pair of Uniqlo linen pants (like Liesbeth's) from 4 years ago that have proven really useful, and I've been tempted to duplicate. They make a wide-leg version now too, with a belted waist.

I've also had my eye on the Boden St Ives pants (and shorts). I'm liking paperbag waists and wide belts this year.

Oh -- and I did finally try these Alex Mill chinos and have decided to keep them. They run a tad large, but manage to be both super comfy and a kind of slouchy-crisp. Lightweight fabric, definitely a summer pant IMO. I like the seaming a lot. The olive is a very bright, saturated one and the khaki (I am contemplating a dupe) is the perfect classic shade.

And there are, as nemosmom says, some good options on Etsy. I love Not Perfect Linen, but you have to be prepared for a long wait time coupled with international shipping. They have lots of beautiful blues/greens/greys if you're not feeling the earth tones. https://www.etsy.com/shop/notP.....d=21706199

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Women Linen Cotton Tapered Pants

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Women Belted Linen Cotton Wide Straight Pants

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St Ives Paperbag Pants

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ALEX MILL Stretch Cotton Twill Ankle Pants

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Christina F.

Veteran

La Ped - I tried the St Ives pants, but they were much too high in the rise for me. Great item, though.

I really wish I needed olive or khaki, but, I have plenty of the former and have a longstanding dislike of the latter (for me - goes back to school uniform years). It would make my search easier if I wanted khaki. Those Uniqlo pants are a contender in white. I have found their pants don't always fit we well, but since there are stores near me it's very easy for me to go check, and the price is of course right

Christina F.

Veteran

I had a Madewell discount code so I ordered these rather than the J Crew ones. Hopefully these work, but the rise makes me side eye it. I can order the J Crew ones in the proper size to compare.

In the meantime, I'm still on the lookout for white linen pants for general purposes, even if I decide they're not practical to travel with.

Chambray Huston Pull-On Crop Pants

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Anonymous

My thoughts were first Athleta or Columbia-more the gear sort! Have you tried Marshalls? I say that cause I bought pants there last spring (was cold) and they were too thin for winter this year Loft probably has a lot too.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Those chambrays look gorgeous, fingers crossed. You’re right to be picky, especially if you already tend to overshop for summer :).
LaPed: I was just thinking of your wiw’s when I wore my uniqlo linens last weekend, hadn’t thought before there would be overlap in our wardrobes :). good to hear that the uniqlo’s hold up well because I’m loving them right now for weekend wear.

Molly Mac

Veteran

Athleta has two great non gear options. The Cabo wide legged linen pants and the TriBeCa crops both come in a beautiful pearl grey (and many other colors as well). They wear like a dream and travel really well. (I am on my phone so can't provide links).

Christina F.

Veteran

suntiger, yes, Athleta is a good thought. It's my next stop if what I ordered doesn't work--and it may not. I didn't realize until too late that the rise is 14 in, which will make it practically up to my chest The J Crew ones were better in that respect (more like 11-12 in)

Liesbeth, see above.

Thanks, Molly, the Cabos are a real contender.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh. I was going to suggest the J. Crew chambray ones you've linked. I just bought them. I have to hem them. I think they're a really nice lightweight loose pant and easy to wear. I also bought the Point Sur joggers (but I realize you are set with that style). They do come in linen, though, just in case.

I got a fabulous pair of white linen pants from J. Crew years ago -- I have been wearing them lately as summer at-home loungewear even though they are still in perfect shape; I just don't tend to reach for them going out. I also had the same pant in navy. Fantastic fabric -- a linen herringbone. Not that this is any help to you now! But the styling is very similar to the Point Sur jogger, except no elastic at the bottom cuff. So I can wear them full length (slightly tapered) or cuffed, BF style.

Wide-leg cropped chambray pant

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Point Sur seaside pant in cotton twill

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Point Sur Seaside Wide Leg Crop in linen TENCEL

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Point Sur washed wide-leg crop pant

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Linen drapey drawstring pant

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Linen drapey drawstring pant

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA, you can see them in my recent thread 2 returns and a hemming question.

Christina F.

Veteran

Suz, thank you for the input. J Crew has a sale today so I may go back for the chambray pants, and can compare them to the Madewell ones when those arrive. The light blue is a good color for the trip.

I DO have the Point Sur pants! In.... you guessed it! Green! Each of my pairs of olive pants fits a slightly different niche at home, but on a 12 day trip I'd get bored of most of my pants were that color. Alas. The technical fabric of my Athleta pants, and the slightly different cut of my Boden pants, will probably win out.

Re: pants color. This is a tricky area for me. I always want more variety but because I have so many printed tops, and am not a huge fan of print mixing or wearing more than one bold piece at a time (not counting shoes etc). I usually end up reaching for jeans, or pants in my core neutrals: black, navy, white or olive. Not too much space for adding another light color (which I do want, to beat the heat), but chambray is a good option since it's a kind of jean-colored neutral. I am off grey a bit but would be willing to add a pair of light grey pants for this purpose, since I am less opposed to wearing it on the bottom. I do NOT like earth tones except for olive, and so my pants colors tend to be limited to the neutrals I already own. White linen would fill a void too, even if it's not the most practical for the trip.

Point Sur seaside pant in cotton twill

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Christina F.

Veteran

Here I am in the J Crew ones. I sized down. I don’t think the pleated front works for me, so I left them behind.

ETA I have ordered the grey J Crew pants from Suz's find above, as well as some culottes from Gap (chambray and a very light stripe). I may altry to go try on the tapered linen pants from Uniqlo. If none of these work, I've marked a bunch of options from Nordstrom, the Rack, and Zappos.

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Point Sur Seaside Wide Leg Crop in linen TENCEL

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Suz

(website)

Veteran

I hope the grey ones work -- they seem like a nice grey!

Sal

Veteran

Just my thoughts.... I would not take white pants on this this holiday when you will want to travel light and are unsure of laundry facilities. Grey/patterned light colours/pale blue should be fine but white loose pants are asking for trouble.

I actually think your existing olive pairs would be perfect - for twelve days I think it is an advantage if pants are versatile and go with multiple top top options.

Christina F.

Veteran

That's fine, Sal - I am kind of sold on grey or light blue anyway. I do still want white, but more because it's been a HEWI for me for about a year now.

I want to take two pair of the green but I know myself, and THREE green options will just be too much for me. I'd like light blue or grey to take instead of the ikat ones above, ideally, since I want to keep the colors as light as possible.

cherylm

You might also try Patagonia or REI, both offer travel friendly options this time of year. Or Exofficio. I like to travel as minimal as possible so having items I can rinse out in the hotel sink is a bonus (especially if it is hot and sticky). Would you consider a skirt instead? A skirt would be cooler than pants and could be paired with your tops.

Christina F.

Veteran

Thanks, Cheryl! I find gear pants a hard fit on me and I already have enough for my needs really. (One pair is black and I won’t take it for this trip since it’s too dark.) I will take a look though since I know REI is having it’s big annual sale, and I know they offer non gear. Thanks!

I will plan to stake a skirt for variety or evenings - I am all set on that. I won’t want to wear it for heavy walking due to “chub rub.” (I’m familiar with the various solutions to that problem and there isn’t one that works to my 100% satisfaction, sadly. I hate slip shorts and find the various balms only partly successful.) At any rate, I have options already to choose from!

I know I’m being picky, but PPP is our mantra here. I’ll suck it up take one my my navy linen pairs of pants if this quest turns out to be a fail.

cherylm

I am going to put a plug in for a skort - they are great for travel and summer everyday wear. I just checked Patagonia and Nordstrom- they both have them. In fact I’m going to order one from Patagonia because of trips I have coming this summer - thanks for the instigation .

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