
Kargo pants are baggy, spacious pants with large patch pockets on the sides of each pant leg, usually at the bottom of the thigh. The pockets are closed and fixed with buttons, velcro, zippers, so that large items can be placed there. The number, shape and size of pockets varies from model to model.
When the British military designed the first model of these pants in 1938, they had only one small patch pocket. It was intended for essentials such as medicines, maps, and weapons. The pocket was soon abolished because it was too small and impractical.
A few years later, the U.S. military borrowed the idea of patch pockets and created their own version of cargo pants - paratrooper pants. They were used by paratrooper soldiers who had to be ready at any moment to jump out of an airplane and start fighting on the ground.
Invented for use in military uniforms, soon cargos began to be used by civilians. Modern designers have stylized the trousers, removing unnecessary clutter of pockets, narrowed the pants and made a model that will be appropriate in everyday life. They can be harmoniously incorporated into casual look in combination with sneakers and sweatshirt or even in sport-chic outfit - with high-heeled sandals and flowing blouse.
Coperni
Many designers have reinterpreted vintage military clothing into a more feminine and modern style that can be used every day. Retro trends from the past five decades are often incorporated into current year's designs, so if you're experiencing deja vu, you may have already seen them!
Trending cargo pants are:
Bella Hadid
Rihanna
Irina Shayk
Kourtney Kardashian
Lori Harvey
Kylie Jenner
US designer LaQuan Smith used low-slung turquoise cargos with chameleon effect and added a body to them for Spring-Summer 2023 collection . Transparent sandals look harmonious here - their strap is connected with the edge of the pants, which additionally decorates and elongates the model's ankle.
LaQuan Smith
Unlike LaQuan Smith's brightly colored pants, these silk black cargos from Versace's spring 2023 collection can be easily incorporated into your basic closet.
Versace
One of the main features of cargo pants - they fit almost everything. The pants will look equally effective with a simple white T-shirt, oversize shirt, sweater, jacket. They can be combined with sneakers or dilute the sporty style with high-heeled sandals.
Next, let's look at the most stylish combinations that you can take note of and adapt in your personal closet.
You can get an interesting look just by wearing a t-shirt with a cargo and play up everything with accessories and shoes. French model Tina Kunaki is a vivid proof of this: voluminous denim cargo pants, basic white T-shirt, pointed-toe shoes, soft yellow handbag - due to the difference in textures, the outfit turns out interesting and not flat.
Tina Kunakey
The shirt also goes well with cargo pants. A casual option can look like a combination of a classic white shirt and unusual accessories. For a more relaxed look, you can unbutton the shirt and wear a basic t-shirt or sports top underneath. Or try on a trendy cropped shirt and voluminous cargos like Hailey Bieber - this look will definitely make you stand out in the crowd.
Hailey Bieber
You can play with monochrome, as Kim Kardashian did: shirt, t-shirt, cargo and boots are almost the same color, but it doesn't look boring.
Kim Kardashian
If you want to shorten your shirt without cutting it off, just tie it in a nice knot under your chest.
Warming up in style - it's about a sweater and cargo pants. This is a really indispensable combination in winter and fall, when it is cool outside. Shortened sweaters with high-fitting cargo pants will look harmonious - such a technique will emphasize the waist. Bulky sweaters can be tucked into the pants.
Street fashion in Milan, New York, Paris, convinces us that cargos fit perfectly into the everyday looks of girls and celebrities. It can be seen that the styles of sweaters and sweaters can be different - with a high neck and without, with drawings and monochrome, in the color of pants and contrasting - only imagination limits!
Hailey Bieber
Hailey Bieber
You can diversify your everyday look with the help of a business style detail - a blazer. It is better to choose a straight or loose fit - fitted models are not trendy now.
Givenchy's 2019 show proved that it is possible to combine a blazer and cargo pants - business and military style. Only the blazer is now not used tucked in, but shortened models are used or a top is worn under the bottom, and the blazer remains unbuttoned.
Givenchy
The combination of sneakers with cargo pants is really an indispensable duo, when comfort and style are combined into a single and unique look!
Amiri, a young and already popular US clothing brand, used cargos in its fall 2022 collection. Leather black high-waisted pants and a cropped bomber emphasize the model's waist, and white sneakers dilute this minimalistic look. To add femininity, you can replace the bomber with a tight-fitting sweater with elegant buttons, top it off with a coat or trench coat and complete the look with a chain bag!
Amiri
As we have already realized, Hailey Bieber is a fan of cargos, so she wears them with any shoes, and sneakers are no exception.
Hailey Bieber
Many people still think that cargos can be worn only with rough boots - Dr. Martens or Timberlands. It seems that heeled shoes are a different matter altogether and are in no way compatible with cargos.
In fact, the tandem of rough sporty cargo pants and feminine heeled shoes is a classic sport-chic look that has been trending for the last 3-4 years. Shoes can be classic black loafers, like Hailey Bieber's, or pair with a print. It is acceptable to choose shoes that harmonize with the color of clothes or accent shoes of bright color.
Hailey Bieber
Heeled shoes are another way to emphasize femininity and sophistication. An elegant pair helps to create balance in the look and soften "aggressive" pants. Bella Hadid put together a similar outfit for Paris Men's Fashion Week in 2020. Despite the basic colors-achromats - turquoise-gray and black, the look still looks interesting.
Bella Hadid
At New York Fashion Week 2022, Tom Ford won everyone over with his spring collection: bright green satin cargo pants beautifully interplayed with straps from heeled shoes of a similar shade. In fact, many people forget or don't even know about the existence of such a style technique as "interaction", when a part of shoes is literally intertwined with pants, mostly satin ones - it looks insanely stylish!
Tom Ford
The look with high boots is an option for fall and early winter. For everyday outfits, it is better to choose boots under the color of cargo pants, or in a similar range. Long pants should be tucked into the shank of the shoe, otherwise instead of trendy you will get an outdated look.
Amiri brand showed how to wear shortened cargos with boots - they fully cover the legs, and the end of the pant leg should end near the ankle to emphasize the thinnest part of the shin.
Amiri
Bella Hadid
Cowboy boots are easy to confuse with booties, but still - the heel of cowboy boots is a bit beveled. This model is still on the list of fashion trends, and it looks great paired with cargos. Pants should be tucked in boots, otherwise the look will not be readable.
Cargo combined with rough-soled boots is an absolute classic. It takes us back to wartime, when only military men wore cargos. A military or military-inspired look is a stylish and impactful touch. Top it off with your favorite cropped sweater and complete the look with modern accessories, so you won't look old-fashioned.
A more relaxed and beachy look is the combination of cargo pants and sandals. If you choose pants of natural shades - beige, green, mustard, brown, there will be a hint of safari style. For late spring and summer it is better to choose linen and cotton cargos.
Jacquemus is proving once again that cargo pants are not going out of style. Here all the attention is on the corset top and cargo pants - they are made of the same fabric. Sandals with thin straps only relax the look and transfer all the attention to the upper part of the model.
Jacquemus
What combination of cargo pants did you find the most spectacular? Share your opinion in the comments!