I picked up a pair of FRAME’s low-rise cargo pants several weeks ago and have barely taken them off since. The day after they arrived, I threw them on and headed to Ocean City for the weekend. They’re soft enough for a road trip, light enough to function as a beach cover-up, yet dressy enough for a night out.

If interested, you can see how I styled them for a night in Ocean City, here.

top (6) | pants (27) | sandals | bag

In addition to Ocean City Boardwalk hangs, I wore these pants on our eight-hour road trip to Vermont (they actually look great with that wild, down-comforter-like floral jacket from the NSale — talk about comfortable) as well as out to dinner, in a dressed-up kind of way.

Dress Up — Or Down: 8 Summer Outfit Ideas For Low-Rise Cargo Pants

Well, since I found that these cargo pants can function as both loungewear and going-out pants, I’ve been wearing them with everything from Vans to heels. And while I do love to pair slouchy, low-rise pants with a fitted top, I’ve found that these pants work well with oversized pieces as well.

Outfit Idea 1: With a Sexy Black Top & Heels

top (6) | pants (27) | bag (similar Clare V.) | heels or taller version (more in stock)

This little black top from Reformation is 100% cotton and one of my new faves. I love to wear it strapless, but if you click through, you can see how to configure the crisscross straps to wear it as a halter too.

---

Outfit Idea 2: Sexy Black Top, Dressed Down With Vans

top (6) | pants (27) | bag (similar Clare V.) | sneaks

Same outfit but with Vans. That’s the power of these little cotton tops: They’re just as versatile as the cargo pants.

---

Outfit Idea 3: With Yellow Stripes & Tan Sandals

tee (S) | pants (27) | sandals | bag

I was a little worried that these pants’ particular shade of tan wouldn’t work with my existing tan Kork-Ease sandals (aka basically the only sandals I wear on the regular), but it turns out that the rich, tawny hue works with a wide range of browns and tans.

---

Outfit Idea 4: With A Rich Brown Linen Tank

top (6) | pants (27) | sandals | bag

To drive home that point even more, I tried on these pants with a much darker brown top. I love how the look is almost monochromatic — and very chic.

---

Outfit Idea 5: Warm It Up With An Oversized Poncho

top | pants (27) | sandals | bag

I don’t really know what else to call this epic Frank & Eileen sweatshirt-poncho, but it’s GOOD. It’s basically a cozy sweatshirt material but cut in this really stylish shape. I also appreciate that it can be thrown on over any of these little tops if it gets chilly at night. Love this piece — it’s a wardrobe problem-solver for sure.

Side note: Frank & Eileen pieces are all made, sustainably, in the US (which is also why they’re so expensive).

---

Outfit Idea 6: With An Oversized T-Shirt

tee (XS) | pants (27) | sandals | bag

Happily, there’s nothing precious about these pants, and for days when I just want to wear something shapeless, they manage to look put-together with an oversized tee too.

---

Outfit Idea 7: With a Comfy Vuori Tank

top (M) | pants (27) | flip-flops

This is the outfit I wore recently on our road trip to Vermont. Felt like pajamas, looked cute enough. And when we arrived, late, and it was cold? Well…

---

Outfit Idea 8: With A Cozy, Oversized Jacket

jacket (S) | pants (27) | flip-flops

…everyone made fun of me, when we left 90-degree Philly, for throwing this jacket in the car. But then later that night, when we stopped at Pro Pig in Vermont for a quick, late-night-arrival dinner, and everyone was freezing except me?

Yup. Northern girl. We know things.

But seriously, gang, these pants have barely left my body since I snapped them up a few weeks ago. And I’ve just been washing and drying them in the machines — no fancy wash instructions needed. Good stuff.

xo,

S