The Comfortable Fashion Trend You'll See On Everyone's Legs In 2025

With the rise of loose jeans and everyone learning how to wear matching athleisure sets in the cutest ways, fashionistas everywhere are choosing comfort over suffering for style, and 2025 is going to be the year of cargo pants. While this may bring up visions of dads herding their kids around theme parks or going on nature walks, you may be surprised to know that even trendsetters are currently donning this look. For instance, "Fifty Shades of Grey" star Dakota Johnson, the epitome of the laid-back chic aesthetic, was seen out and about in cargo pants paired with a crisp white T-shirt this week. With the tailored fit of her trousers and barely noticeable pockets, Johnson managed to make her cargo pants look beautifully yet casually elevated.

Last year, stylists predicted that cargo pants would be a huge trend in 2025, and they were right. "Their rise in popularity is due to the perfect mix of nostalgia and functionality they offer, appealing to both millennials reliving their youth and Gen Z discovering the trend for the first time," fashion coach Leena Alsulaiman told Business Insider. For an updated look that won't take you back to the Y2K era, choose a high-waisted pair, and make sure the pockets aren't too bulky. And don't think they're just for daytime, either. Although cargo pants were once considered to be super casual, designers these days have made them elegant enough to wear for a night out.

Traditional cargo pants were meant for utility and often made with cotton. However, if you want to hop on this trend with an elevated twist, look for ones in a silk fabric, like Katie Holmes' wide-legged set in a gorgeous light-yellow shade that she wore to the autumn/winter 2025 Zimmermann show at Paris Fashion Week in early March. Worn with a matching trenchcoat and a brown bodysuit, this look could have easily been an elegant date-night 'fit.

You can also do a mix of high and low-end with casual cargo pants paired with an unexpected item, like a faux fur coat, the outerwear trend that screams mob wife aesthetic. Add a pair of strappy heels or a classic pair of white sneakers that never go out of style, and you'll be ready to take your 'fit from day to night. With this trend taking over in 2025, you may want to buy a relaxed pair for running errands or a Sunday brunch and ones with a more trouser-like feel to wear during a night out. Be on the lookout for various colors and patterns as well, including options like the Viatabuna High Waisted Cargo Pants that come in many color variations. Ultimately, while cargo pants were once boring, they're now one of the biggest pant trends of the year, so don't be afraid to have fun with them.

Now, to complete your outfit, check out the one shoe that works with every pair of jeans in spring 2025.