This Fall, Wear Pants As You Please

Until a few years ago, choosing pants was very simple. No matter how trends changed, a single pair of wide-leg pants was all you needed.

Prada 2026 F/W RTW

Prada 2026 F/W RTW

Gucci 2026 F/W RTW

Gucci 2026 F/W RTW

At Prada's 2027 spring/summer menswear collection, all 49 models who appeared were wearing skinny-fit pants so tight they looked as if you could hardly breathe. Even Demna, who was a leading force behind the wide-leg pants trend, has presented long, slender trousers at Gucci. That’s not all. Some brands have put leggings on the runway, and on the street harem pants are trending. Right now there are no right answers, no wrong answers, not even rules in pants trends. So what we need to do is simple: choose whatever we feel like. We picked seven kinds of pants from the 2026 fall/winter season runways that will be responsible for our lower halves over the coming months.

Corduroy Pants

Tory Burch 2026 F/W RTW

Alaïa 2026 F/W RTW

These are corduroy pants that Vogue also highlighted once last winter. For the 2026 fall/winter season, Tory Burch, Alaïa, Kate, and Emporio Armani showcased these trousers with their distinctive texture, lighting a fire under the trend. Characterized by a thick weight and soft touch, corduroy pants are especially well suited to chilly weather. Pair them with a cozy knit or a heavy outerwear and you’ll have a perfect winter look.

Stirrup Leggings

Mugler 2026 F/W RTW

Jil Sander 2026 F/W RTW

The biggest change in fashion this year is that sportswear has become fashionable. You can tell just from how many people are styling relaxed sweatshirts and track shorts. Perhaps influenced by that, Mugler and Jil Sander presented stirrup leggings once worn by people who enjoy horse riding or skiing. The key to styling stirrup leggings—which you put on by slipping your foot into a loop—is one thing and one thing only: the ankle. Because skin is exposed, you must decide whether to fill that area with socks or stockings, or leave it bare. Sleek glove pumps would be a good shoe to pair with them.

Low-Rise Pants

McQueen 2026 F/W RTW

Ann Demeulemeester 2026 F/W RTW

From Cortis who enjoy sagging, to the drop-waist silhouette skirts that appeared in Chanel’s collection, and even the revival of grunge and indie sleaze styles—yes, now is the time to wear your pants low. The 'high-low style,' in which high-waist denim is deliberately bought one or two sizes up and worn hung on the hips, is also trending. Sensing this shift early, McQueen and Ann Demeulemeester presented low-rise pants stripped completely of Y2K mood.

Distressed Denim

MM6 Maison Margiela 2026 F/W RTW

Dolce & Gabbana 2026 F/W RTW

If I had to pick just one pair of jeans to wear this fall, I’d choose distressed denim. That’s because the 'threw something on at random' styling is trending. Ripped jeans also shine when paired with the all-too-familiar combination of a leather jacket and denim. Pair them with a formal piece like a blazer and the charm of a mix-and-match look really comes alive.

Suit Pants

Altuzarra 2026 F/W RTW

Calvin Klein Collection 2026 F/W RTW

Looking for pants that are respectable enough for the office but fashionable enough for a weekend outing? Suit pants—which strip away decorative elements and rely solely on a sleek fit and silhouette—are the answer. They aren’t show-stopping pieces, but they perfectly suit the current mood where pared-down styling feels unexpectedly cool. The trousers seen at Altuzarra and Calvin Klein’s shows are perfect examples. Pair them with a crisp shirt on weekdays and a top to liven things up on weekends. Don’t forget to wear sharp-looking shoes that harmonize with the pants’ silhouette—like pointed-toe boots.

Checked Pants

Dior 2026 F/W RTW

Diesel 2026 F/W RTW

Checked-pattern pants are perfect when you want to add a point of interest without going overboard. One thing to know when choosing checked pants is that the denser the grid, the more classic the vibe. Conversely, large-grid trousers that look like something Vivienne Westwood might have worn decades ago carry a rebellious mood. As with the looks from Dior and Diesel, it’s important to style them to match the pants’ vibe.

Technical Fabric Pants

Miu Miu 2026 F/W RTW

Miu Miu 2026 F/W RTW

The easiest way to ride the sportswear trend that’s continued all year is to wear pants made from functional materials like polyester or nylon. Because an all-sporty look is too predictable, it’s essential to mix in an unexpected element—like Miu Miu, which added shearling throughout the look!

Published: August 25, 2026

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