If your summer wardrobe is starting to feel like a sea of solid-colored pants and shorts, printed wide-leg pants are a fun way to shake things up. A splashy floral, chic stripe, or colorful tropical print can turn a simple top and sandals into a fabulous summer look.

The trick is knowing how to style them without letting all that print and volume take over. What kind of top looks best? Should you tuck it in? And what shoes work with that much pant?

Here are five fresh ways to wear printed wide-leg pants, plus my best tips for keeping the look flattering, modern, and chic. But first….

What Tops Look Best With Printed Wide-Leg Pants?

When your pants are wide and the print is bold, the easiest way to balance things out is with a simple, solid-colored top. A tee, tank, lightweight knit, linen shirt, or simple blouse lets the pants be the star without adding more visual clutter.

Shape matters, too. Wide-leg pants look best when you can see some definition at your waist. Try a top that finishes around the waist or high hip, tuck in a longer top, or do a small front tuck. A long, oversized top worn loose over wide pants can leave you looking swamped in fabric.

One of my favorite tricks is to pull a color from the print and repeat it in your top. It ties everything together and makes even a colorful print look more sophisticated.

High-waisted printed pants are especially flattering with a tucked or shorter top because they define your middle and create a longer leg line.

Now, let’s look at a few ways to wear them.

1. Go Bold With a Tropical Print

If you’re going to wear tropical-print pants, you might as well have some fun with them!

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A big, splashy tropical print has plenty of personality, so there’s no need to pile much else on. A simple white, cream, or neutral top gives the eye somewhere to rest and lets the print take center stage.

Keep your accessories easy, too. Flat sandals, a woven bag, and a few simple pieces of jewelry are all you need. It’s a fabulous look for sightseeing, lunch by the water, or anywhere you want to channel that relaxed vacation feeling.

2. Keep Florals Feminine, Not Fussy

Floral wide-leg pants can be beautiful in summer, but when the flowers are big and colorful, I like to keep everything else fairly quiet.

A simple neutral top is an easy choice, but texture can also be interesting. For example, a lightweight crochet or open-knit top adds dimension without introducing another competing print.

You can also pull one of the less dominant colors from the floral pattern and wear that on top. This is a great way to add more color while still keeping the outfit cohesive.

Finish with simple sandals and a natural-looking bag, and you’ve got a pretty summer outfit that feels feminine without being overly sweet.

3. Try Stripes for a Clean, Classic Look

If bold florals and tropical prints aren’t your thing, striped wide-leg pants are a great place to start.

Stripes have a cleaner, more classic feel, and vertical stripes work particularly well on wide-leg pants because they emphasize that long, flowing line.

Pair them with a simple tank, knit top, or crisp white shirt. I especially like striped pants with woven summer accessories because they soften the graphic look of the stripes and make the outfit feel relaxed.

As for shoes, flat sandals, slides, espadrilles, or a low wedge all work beautifully.

4. Dress Up a Dark Floral Print

Printed wide-leg pants aren’t just for the beach or daytime. Choose a pair with a dark background, and they can easily take you out to dinner.

Black, navy, chocolate, or another deep background color gives a floral or abstract print a richer, dressier feel. Pair your pants with a solid top in one of the darker colors from the print, then add slightly dressier shoes, jewelry, and a great bag.

Fabric matters here, too. A soft, fluid fabric with a beautiful drape will always look more elegant than something stiff or bulky.

This is an easy way to stay cool and comfortable on a warm evening without looking too casual.

5. Freshen Things Up With Blue and White

There’s something about blue and white that always looks crisp and fresh in summer.

Whether it’s a palm print, floral, stripe, or something more abstract, blue-and-white wide-leg pants are also incredibly easy to style. Add a white tee, tank, linen shirt, or lightweight sweater and you’re practically done.

Natural textures work especially well with this color combination. Think raffia, rope, woven leather, canvas, or straw. They add interest without fighting with the print.

This is one of those looks that can take you from a casual lunch to vacation sightseeing to dinner by simply changing your shoes and accessories.

What Shoes Look Best With Printed Wide-Leg Pants?

With so much fabric and pattern going on, your shoes don’t need to shout for attention.

For full-length wide-leg pants, try a sleek flat sandal, low wedge, espadrille, or platform sandal. A little height can be especially nice because it helps the pants hang beautifully and gives you a longer-looking leg line.

With cropped wide-leg pants, flat sandals, slides, loafers, or a streamlined sneaker can work well.

The biggest thing to watch is proportion. Very heavy, clunky shoes can weigh down a light, flowy pair of pants. In most cases, a simpler shoe keeps the whole outfit looking fresher and more modern.

How to Choose a Print That Flatters

Not all prints have the same effect, and if you’ve always been a little nervous about wearing printed pants, this is where to start.

A lower-contrast print—where the colors are fairly close in value—will look softer and quieter. A high-contrast print with bright colors against a dark or white background is going to make a much bolder statement.

Scale matters, too. Smaller and medium-sized prints tend to be easier to wear, while a huge floral or oversized tropical print has much more visual impact.

Also pay attention to where the print falls. You don’t want one giant flower or medallion sitting in an unfortunate spot!

And don’t forget that the cut of the pants is every bit as important as the print. Look for a smooth waistband, a flattering fit through the waist and hips, and fabric that falls and flows rather than puffing out.

Can You Wear Printed Wide-Leg Pants If You’re Petite?

Absolutely. You just don’t want the pants to wear you.

Look for a pair that fits smoothly through the waist and hips without an enormous amount of fabric in the leg. A high waist can be particularly helpful because it visually raises your waistline and makes your legs look longer.

Keep your top relatively short or tuck it in so your waist doesn’t disappear. You may also find that a small-to-medium-scale print is easier to carry than a very large, sprawling one.

And, of course, make sure the pants are the right length. An extra few inches of fabric puddling around your feet isn’t doing anyone any favors.

Are Printed Wide-Leg Pants Still in Style?

Yes, but the shape makes all the difference.

The most current printed pants have a relaxed wide or flowing leg, a clean waistband, and an easy drape. They feel lighter and more effortless than the printed skinny pants and cropped patterned trousers we wore years ago.

The styling has changed, too. Rather than loading them up with lots of boho accessories, keep the rest of your outfit clean and simple. That’s what makes printed pants feel fresh now.

They’re especially good in spring and summer when you want something cooler and more relaxed than jeans but a little more interesting than another pair of plain linen pants.

The Secret to Making Printed Wide-Leg Pants Look Chic

Printed wide-leg pants already bring plenty of personality to an outfit, so you don’t need to work very hard around them.

Keep your top simple, define your waist, choose shoes that don’t overpower the pants, and repeat a color from the print somewhere else in your outfit when you can.

That’s really all there is to it.

Whether you’re headed on vacation, going out for lunch, or just tired of wearing the same solid-colored pants all summer, a fabulous print is an easy way to wake things up.

Do you wear printed wide-leg pants, or are you more of a solid-pants gal?