Somewhere between discovering a love for black coffee instead of sugary lattes and being in my mid-30s came a realization that sun-scorched skin is NOT worth it.
Quite the revelation for those of us born into the suntan oil + tanning beds generation.
But I haven’t been covering up purely for sun protection, I also can’t help but think that long linen and gauzy layers are summer’s best pieces.
Not the denim short. Not a slinky tank top. Not even the sundress.
An oversized linen button down and a barely-there cotton gauze pant: THESE are the best, most chic options in the summertime (in my opinion).
Beat The Heat But Still Feel Chic: Gap’s Linen & Cotton Gauze Collections Are Just As Good As Ever
My spring and summer wardrobe has become a love letter to linen and cotton gauze.
I’ve developed a nice little collection of these linen button-downs. They look best when worn and wrinkly, and get softer after each wash. You can also frequently find them on sale, making them one of the far more affordable 100% linen options on the market, and the lighter, neutral shades are my top choice when sitting under the hot sun (even at the splash pad with my kiddo).
But a linen pant has been a harder item to score, at least for someone of my height.
I don’t mean to shop at what feels like solely at Gap, but as a tall girl, there are so few options we have in brands that consistently nail it for our longer inseams.
I have plenty of cropped linen pants that I wear on repeat, but I really wanted one with a long, drapey inseam. A pair that falls over thin flip flops, slightly baggy, and just as comfy as the linen tops I adore. I grabbed this trouser version from Gap a few months ago and fell instantly in love.
While not 100% linen, the mixture with rayon makes these trousers even comfier. The material blend also takes away any fear of being sheer in the rear, making them a great option for the office, too!
Maybe the most fun part about these pants is that they don’t just have multiple inseam options, but they also come in both high-rise AND low rise.
My love affair with cotton gauze began years ago, thanks to incredible basics like only Gap can make and even a few investment gems from Free People. My stockpile got so thick that I honestly haven’t had a need to browse any new gauze pieces for multiple summers. And then…Gap updated their selection with these barrel pants.
pants (S Tall) | top (L) | slides
The Gauze Barrel Pant is glorious for two reasons:
1) The light, thin, soft material is incredibly comfortable and easy to wear, even in high humidity.
2) The lightly tapered shape of the barrel silhouette is far easier to maneuver through sandy beaches, wildflower fields, busy parking lots, and muddy-puddled sidewalks of spring and summer than any of my wide leg versions.
pants (S Tall) | top (L) | slides
I didn’t think cotton gauze could get any easier, and then these pants proved me wrong.
Most stretchy waist/pull-on pants from Gap have been running quite large lately, so I knew I wanted to size down (from my usual medium) in these gauze pants, and was so happy I did.
They have a few matching top options: my preferred full sleeve button down, but also a more feminine short sleeve version. Pairing the items as a matching set has that cozier-than-pjs effect that honestly, I wish all clothes had.
While the linen-blend trousers can go from the lake cabin to the office, these barrel pants are just as good for weekend brunch as they are the perfect swim coverup. Both pieces have become fast staple pieces for me when wanting to stay covered up and comfortable. Honestly…I’m finding it hard to see a reason to wear, well, anything else.
pants (S Tall) | top (L) | slides
Xx
Amy
Let’s be friends on Instagram or come hang with me over on TikTok: Sharing life with my husband + kid, daily style & beauty faves, and never-ending Taylor Swift dance-athons…all with a good dose of relatable mom nonsense, too.
Thanks for this post! I burn very easily and struggle with how to dress for summer but not have overly exposed skin. I have a gauze top I love but have been hesitant to buy pants in this fabric, wondering if they stretch out a lot? Can you comment on how the fabric wears throughout the day?
Fellow tall girl (5’10”; need a 35″ inseam for pants worn with flats) here! About 95% of my jeans and pants, including sweats and workout gear, are from Gap or Banana Republic (with some Old Navy sprinkled in). I’ve been buying pretty much all my pants from these brands since my 20s (I turn 40 this year) because their tall inseams are always reliably long enough for me.