Cargo pants an be casual and laid-back, but did you know that you can also dress them up in numerous ways? Ready to level up how you style your cargo pants? Here are 30 different ways you can try to maximize its edgy beauty!
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Off-the-shoulder Top
I personally love this look because of the touch of femininity that the off-the-shoulder top gives the entire look. We usually think that cargo pants tend to look a bit boyish, but this pairing proves otherwise!
Leather Jacket
The rockstar glory of leather jackets is undebatable and its edgy vibe works so well with the carefree structure of cargo pants. This look is perfect for your impromptu casual engagements – all while still looking stylish for your IG snaps!
Stilettos
I know what you’re thinking: can this combination really work? With stilettos bordering formal attire and cargo pants being too casual? Oh, you’ll be surprised how stilettos can balance the volume of your bottoms and make you look leaner and taller.
Pop of color
Most cargo pants come in neutral colors like black, beige, brown, or army green. In this case, it opens up a great chance for you to play with your colors, so don’t be afraid to wear a pop of color for your top to make you stand out!
Cargo Jacket
Look at how effortlessly stylish this ensemble is! Cargo pants are so easy to pull off with open-front jackets because of how they blend practicality and style without adding any extra bulk. You can simply layer it over a basic shirt or a tank top and you’re ready to go.
V-neck blouse
Whether you go for a plunging V-neck blouse or a semi-buttoned shirt, the open space it creates in your upper half is simply a genius way to prevent the volume of cargo pants from overwhelming your frame. This is also a great way to showcase your decolletage in a subtle but very stylish manner.
White Button Down
Button-down shirts can also go so well with cargo pants and depending on the material and design of your shirt, you can even turn your ensemble into a smart casual look suitable for work!
You can also pair them with heels or throw a blazer on it and you’re ready to hop from one business meeting to another.
Oversized Jacket
If you’re up for it, play up with your proportions by going for an oversized silhouette! This may be intimidating for some, as pairing something oversized with a pair of pants that’s already voluminous may have the tendency to look overpowering. But with the right choice of color, length, and strategic layering, you’ll see how oversized jackets can make you runway-ready!
Cable Knit Turtleneck
Here’s a cozy option you may want to try in cooler months – knit turtleneck tops! The key is to go for a fit that’s relaxed and a fabric that is not too chunky to keep your upper and lower body proportions pleasingly balanced.
White Tank Top
Now let’s talk about an outfit that can beat the summer heat: cargo pants and tank tops! Tank tops are incredibly comfy and if you’re someone who likes showing off your toned arms, this fashion pairing is a great way to showcase your best upper body assets.
Chunky Knit Pullover
If you’re someone who has a less prominent upper body, you’ll love the wonders of a cozy pullover made from thicker knit. This can neutralize the volume that your cargo pants have while also bringing more shape to the top part of your body.
Wrap Top
Wrap tops are simply universally flattering and it’s something I’ll never get tired of recommending for ladies of all shapes out there! Flaunt your gorgeous curves with a stretchy wrap top and try tucking it into your high-waisted cargo to create a shapely silhouette.
Neutral Top
Neutral tops will always be a classic choice that can go extremely well with a ton of different outfits. The soft-colored beige top in this look creates a flattering balance in a way that it nicely contrasts the black cargo pants, which is in this case, come in a slimmer fit.
Matching Belt
One way to make your pair of cargo pants stand out is to make sure it cinches the waist to bring out your shape. Going for a color that’s similar to the pant’s color will create an unbroken visual line that will make you look taller and more balanced from top to bottom.
Tailored Blazer
This is what exactly I was telling you about – cargo pants can be a part of your business attire! Just look at how sophisticated and at the same time effortless, this look is! The secret here is to look for a blazer that features a tailored and structured fit so that your upper frame can have a stronger silhouette.
Leather Loafers
Loafers are superbly comfy and versatile so they can accompany you on many different occasions, most especially casual ones. Loafers are pretty minimalist so they don’t have any sort of unnecessary detail that can add bulk to your look, therefore not further adding to the volume cargo pants already have to begin with.
Structured Cardigan
Think of round-neck cardigans reminiscent of Chanel’s iconic silhouettes from their Cruise collection. Something as sophisticated as this cardigan design can totally work with the casual vibe of cargo pants and believe me, once you discover its stylish allure, it will be your quick office go-to!
V-Neck T-Shirts
In this look, we can see how a simple V-neck shirt gets stylishly elevated by having it paired with a sleek structured blazer and a pair of khaki cargos. As I mentioned earlier, open necklines such as the V-neck create a balance that can work around the bulk that most cargo pants have, so they absolutely make a solid fashion pair.
Matching Coordinates
A matching suit is simply elegant, no questions asked! But did you know that if you do the same with cargo pants by matching them with a blazer that comes in a similar color, you can also create your very own color-coordinated professional look?
Chambray Shirt
If you’re looking for something effortlessly casual and comfy to accompany you to your daily errands or informal meetings, here’s a look worth trying. Chambray tops can be your absolute go-to in these types of relaxed settings and because they are incredibly versatile and easy to pull off with pretty much any outfit including your favorite cargo pants!
Trench Coat
And of course, cargo pants go so well with trench coats because this coat’s timeless elegance perfectly contrasts the ruggedness of cargo pants, creating a balanced and laid-back ensemble. Its tailored silhouette also helps elevate the utilitarian vibe of the cargo pants which makes it easier to layer.
Bomber Jacket
Bomber jackets are the bomb! I’d say it’s a style that epitomizes the street style trend, and since both share that street-style vibe, they just simply blend well together to create a chic, youthful look.
It’s better to wear it open to prevent creating a cramped appearance. Bomber jackets tend to constrict your frame when worn fully zipped, so be a bit careful with that.
Denim Jacket
Denim on denim is a style you shouldn’t miss so if you have that pair of cargo jeans just sitting in your closet, don’t be afraid to match it with a structured denim jacket! This all-denim ensemble works especially well for those who lack natural structure and prominence in their figure as the shape of the denim will counteract that.
Utility Jacket
Here’s another version of a matching coordinate, but this time, try to amp up your look by going for a nicely overfit utilitarian jacket. Its huge pockets, when strategically placed on the jacket, can help bring more depth to your overall look and further enhance the offbeat vibe of cargo.
Skin Color Sneakers
It’s true that cargo pants can be a bit tricky to pull off especially if you’re a short girl like me, because of how its added volume can visually shorten the legs. But fret not, because you can still rock them when you’re short – just go for skin-tone colored shoes like beige sneakers to elongate the appearance of your legs!
Tube Top
If you think shirts or tank tops aren’t feminine enough, here’s a look that the sultry side of you will absolutely love! Wearing a bandeau top or a strapless top creates a perfect balance by keeping the volume in the cargo pants while showing more skin in your upper body.
You can wear your bandeau by itself, but since they are quite simple and minimal, it can work flawlessly well when layered with other clothing such as jackets or blazers.
Sweater Blazer
One of the best ways to successfully don cargo pants is to show more skin in your upper body to visually open up space. This is why three-fourth sleeves can also be a very good choice – it’s pretty much the same principle as open necklines!
Does this mean you can’t wear your blazers or jackets that come in full sleeves? Well, just simply roll them up for a more effortlessly casual vibe and you’re ready to flaunt it, that’s for sure!
Folded Hems
Whether you’re a tall or petite girl, there are a number of style advantages when you turn your cargo pants into a cropped length and one of them is the fact that exposing your ankles can actually elongate your frame even more. If you already have your full-length cargo pants in your closet, you can just roll the cuffs up to create more depth in your lower body.
Basic White Tee
Chic and effortless – the best thing about styling your cargo is that you can go as minimal as you want for your top as the cargo pants already feature details worthy of being their own focal point! In this look, the relaxed fit of the top perfectly balances out the volume of the wide-leg shape of the pants.
Combat Boots
An all-black outfit will always be a foolproof fashion choice and this is exactly why this look is one of my favorites. The whole outfit screams simply edgy and the leather boots with side zippers bring all the clothing pieces together ready for fashion combat!
