Talk about a throwback.
It's been almost impossible to miss, from Instagram feeds to IRL (be it on trains, at the pub or just generally throughout the streets of London) cargo trousers are back in a big way. Between Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and Paloma Elsesser, It-girls by the dozen are investing in the Y2K-inspired utility trend, and going all in on its low-rise waist and oversize silhouette.
When cargo trousers for women made a comeback last year, as a Fashion Editor, I wasn't entirely sure how I feel about the look. You see, I already wore this trend the first time around, in the late ‘90s when the Spice Girls were doing it. My green, tie-waist cargo trousers were memorably one of the most utilised items in my wardrobe, not least because the oversize size pockets were the perfect place to house my Tamagotchi and Pokemon cards. (It probably goes without saying, but I was seven during the cargo trouser peak of 1999).
Fast forward a year and cargo trousers are not going anywhere, in fact, they have made their way into cargo skirts, cargo jeans and parachute pants. Celebs and fellow It-girls are balancing out the look by pairing the voluminous trousers, alongside cropped tops or shrunken tees, in yet another styling trick inspired by the early aughts.
Of course, the trend's resurgence is not purely anecdotal. Searches for women's cargo trousers in the UK have risen 83% over the last 12 months, while the hashtag #cargopants has over three billion views on TikTok. (For context, this was at 560 million views this time last year).
As far as labels leading the way, Jaded London seems to be the brand of choice amongst celebrity cargo trouser connoisseurs. Kaia Gerber, Kylie Jenner and Hailey Bieber have all been spotted in items from the label. While Local European is another brand on the A-list radar. But it's Bershka's cargo trousers for women that go viral on TikTok and sell out in the same week.
Want to get in on the trend? Keep scrolling to shop the best cargo trousers for women below.
These are the cargo trousers favoured by Kylie Jenner, Kaia Gerber and more. In fact, Jenner was seen in this exact pair earlier this week.
Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner have both been seen in trousers by this brand. The parachute shape offers a very oversize silhouette.
If you're after a more tailored iteration of the trend, these black cargo trousers from River Island will be your best bet. Don't forget to use our River Island discount code at checkout.
This is the pair that has gone viral on TikTok. Seriously, every time there is a new post of a creator in Bershka cargos they sell out the same week. (Always check ASOS).
Cargo trousers for women coming back is great, until you need a work outfit. M&S show us how to do tailored cargo trousers in the right way.
When we think of cargo pants, khaki hues come to mind. Levi's have this classic pair of cargo pants in khaki and black black as well as lilac and camo print for added interest.
