It’s an idea that seems counterintuitive at best, idiotic at worst: pulling on a pair of jeans when the tarmac is bubbling and the air feels like soup. Summer isn’t jeans weather. That’s the general consensus. But there’s a case to be made for not giving up on denim when the mercury climbs.
Because jeans are comforting. They're dependable. You know where you are with a pair of jeans – something that can’t always be said for pleated linen shorts or drawstring trousers that flap about like sails. The key is knowing what to look for, and how to wear them without wilting. With the right tweaks to colour, weight and cut, summer jeans start to make a lot more sense.
Table of Contents
- Can you really wear jeans in the summer?
- What to look for in summer jeans
- The best colours for summer jeans
- How to style summer jeans
- The best styles of summer jeans
Can you really wear jeans in the summer?
Yes. You just need to rethink what a pair of jeans should do in warm weather. Summer jeans aren’t about raw indigo and stiff selvedge denim. They’re about lightness, ease, and ventilation. Think looser legs, softer denim, and colours that don’t cook your knees in the midday sun.
This isn’t about squeezing into black skinnies at a festival. It’s about finding a relaxed, breathable alternative to your standard casual trousers that still makes sense with a T-shirt and sneakers. You’re looking for the pair you forget you're wearing – not the one that glues itself to your thighs.
What to look for in summer jeans
First, weight. Most traditional jeans sit somewhere around 12–14oz in denim weight. Fine for spring. Less so for a 28-degree commute. Lighter options – anything in the 8–11oz range – are far easier to wear in the heat, especially when cut with a bit more room. You want the air to move.
Next, fabric. Some summer jeans blend cotton with linen for a breezier, dry-hand feel, while others rely on brushed organic cottons that break in quickly and don’t cling. Raw denim has its place, but it’s not in July.
Cut matters, too. Straight or relaxed tapered legs allow for movement and airflow. If you’re still wearing spray-ons, now’s the time to reconsider. Cropped hems can help, especially with low-profile shoes, and a little break above the ankle does wonders for summer proportions.
The best colours for summer jeans
Light-wash blue is the obvious choice – casual, easy, with a baked-in sense of summer. The kind of colour that looks good with white, navy, pastels, or a sunburn.
Off-white or ecru denim deserves more attention than it gets. It looks sharp without trying too hard, works with almost every summer shirt you own, and makes your outfit feel considered. Wear with leather sandals or canvas slip-ons and you'll feel vaguely continental, in a good way.
Stone, pale grey, dusty olive – these are subtle ways to nod to the season without resorting to colour for colour’s sake. Save your dark indigo and black jeans for cooler evenings or dressier occasions, but even then, choose a lighter-weight version.
How to style summer jeans
Jeans and T-shirts. Jeans and polos. Jeans and linen shirts. It’s not revolutionary, but it works – and when you get the fit and colour right, it looks sharper than it should.
For something relaxed but still put-together, pair off-white jeans with a short-sleeve shirt and some loafers. Go beach-to-bar with a loose-fitting light wash, a towelling polo and some espadrilles. Or keep it stripped back with a tonal look – stonewashed jeans, grey tee, off-white sneakers.
Footwear’s crucial. Bulky leather boots make your legs sweat just thinking about them. Instead, think low-profile: canvas trainers, leather sandals, minimal slip-ons. Socks optional.
When it comes to layers, keep them light and unstructured – an overshirt or cotton work jacket will do more than enough.
The best styles of summer jeans
Not all jeans are made for summer. But these ones are.
The light wash straight leg
A soft, vintage-feel wash in a relaxed cut. Looks better the more you wear it and goes with just about anything. A foundational summer jean that doesn't overcomplicate things.
The ecru or off-white jean
Clean, confident, surprisingly easy to pull off. More versatile than it looks, especially when paired with tonal pieces – think sand, taupe, navy or black. A little smarter than blue denim, but still casual.
The relaxed tapered fit
Structure up top, ease down below. Tapered jeans give shape without the cling, allowing air to circulate without the whole thing ballooning out. Wear with a Cuban-collar shirt and simple trainers.
The cropped jean
Whether cut short or just cuffed, cropped jeans bring a summer feel to denim. Show a bit of ankle, balance it with an oversized top, and pick shoes that don’t dominate. Clean, simple, confident.
Next up: The best men's jeans (and where to get them).
