Knowing how to style cargo pants is every well-dressed eclectic girlie’s secret weapon. Once associated with frat bros and ROTC members, the last few trend cycles have shifted perceptions on the functional garment. Now, cargo pants can look put together with virtually any item, or aesthetic, in your closet—if you’re willing to take the risk.
You can still wear cargo pants classically—with a hoodie or bomber jacket, for example—but they’re also easy to style with more unexpected pieces. Scandi girls, for example, love to go experimental by wearing the loose-fit bottoms with a striped button-down shirt and cowboy boots. Those with a more sporty-adjacent style, on the other hand, often mix theirs with graphic sweaters and basketball jerseys. And though cargos are undeniably boyish in nature, they also pair well with spicy Club Classics like bra tops and bustiers. (Notice I said “pair well,” not “match”—because when styling cargo pants, intentional clashing is half the fun.)
It’s these delightful contrasts that make cargos such an exciting piece to style. Like jeans, they go with everything. And unlike jeans, they give every outfit a palpable air of coolness. So with that, I invite you to peruse the most stylish ways to style cargo pants for yourself with these outfit ideas for spring, summer, fall, winter, and every transitional season in between.
With Tweed
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If you’re looking for an editor-tested method that’s been proven to withstand the most brutal conditions (read: February’s New York Fashion Week), cargos and tweed should be a top contender. I personally wore this look for NYFW’s Fall/Winter 2026 season, and it was one of my most complimented outfits of the week. Though I chose to dress up in a fuchsia lady jacket and leopard cargos, the opportunities for color/print mixing are pretty much endless.
With a Trench Coat
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