We're officially approaching summer dress season, in which we cycle through puff-sleeve numbers, swinging shifts, and endlessly versatile ‘do-it-all’ designs on a weekly rotation as part of our unofficial uniform, intentionally designed to handle the warm weather in both comfort and style. But for those who prefer to live day in and day out in jeans, chances are you're looking for a cooler alternative to cope with summer's scorching temperatures, along with something more relaxed for holidays and lazy weekends alike. Enter summer's latest trend – colourful striped trousers.
Deck chair-esque stripes have been cropping up across dresses and skirts in a vibrant array of seasonal shades, with the print firmly featuring across the spring/summer 2026 runways. Their adornment on trousers can be directly traced back to Versace's collection, with the Italian fashion house bringing the irreverence of Miami in the ‘80s to the catwalk. Meanwhile, Dolce & Gabbana showcased elasticated-waisted, loose pyjama styles, some of which were decorated with pretty floral embroidery.
Spring's side stripe trousers trend offers a more subtle take on the trend and is an easy and wearable access point into the print, but we say embrace the bold! The high street certainly has, with endless iterations available in an array of fabrics from classic cotton, breathable linen, and even hard-wearing denim if you don't want to be pushed too far out of your comfort zone. The key is to ditch boring plain blue washes for eye-catching colourful designs.
Stick to simple colourways with two alternating shades striped vertically down each leg, or opt for something a bit more daring in the form of multi-coloured stripes adorning your trews in every colour of the rainbow. Similarly, stripe thickness ranges from pinstripe designs to thick swathes of colour.
On the hunt for the perfect pair? M&S' linen-rich striped wide-leg trousers have shot straight to the top of our wishlist for the gorgeous pink, white and brown pattern. Whether you wear them with the matching top and sandals for beachside walks, or a button-down shirt and loafers for work, there's no end to the styling possibilities.
Below, find more of our favourite colourful striped trousers available to shop on the high street right now:
M&S Linen Rich Striped Wide Leg Trousers
Next Blue/Yellow Stripe Linen Blend Wide Leg Trousers
Nobody's Child Multi-Coloured Striped Linen-Blend Wide Leg Elstow Trousers
Nobody's Child Multi-Coloured Striped Linen-Blend Wide Leg Elstow Trousers
Oliver Bonas Short Blue & Green Striped Wide Leg Trousers
Oliver Bonas Short Blue & Green Striped Wide Leg Trousers
New Look Green Striped Seersucker Wide Leg Trousers
Ro&Zo Petite Green Stripe Linen-Blend Wide-Leg Trousers
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Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
