My coastal grandmother aesthetic is BACK in full swing, and it’s all thanks to these new Athleta linen pants.
I can’t get enough of them.
These Linen Wide-Leg Pants Are A Dream Come True (Especially For Tall Girls)
It was only last year that I decided to give linen pants a go. Mainly because I was completely over distressed denim shorts but I was desperate for warm-weather bottoms I could wear on repeat (spoiler alert: the fashion gods heard my cries, and denim shorts are finally being made with finished hems and zero holes – but more on THAT later…). I ended up with a handful of pants that were good enough but, honestly, I was a bit unsatisfied.
I scooped up the Retreat Linen Wide Leg Pant from Athleta on a whim when I found them in January. And in just a few months they have already become better than every linen pant I’ve worn in the past combined.
pants (6T) | top (similar) | sandals | bag
Athleta’s Retreat Linen Pants are extremely comfortable, especially the waistband. As someone without much to speak of in the hips and booty, I would consider the pants to run a bit big (although reviews are mixed).
While most all other linen pants are too short on me, Athleta offers a tall inseam to save the day.


pants (6T) | top (similar) | sandals | bag
At 5’9” with long legs, the tall inseam falls long, skimming just above the ground when I wear thin sandals. They are the exact length I had been looking for, in a loose wide leg that is slouchy enough to be on-trend without feeling swallowed me up.
While Athleta’s Cabo Linen Pant felt a bit too structured for my taste, the Retreat Linen Pant is the more lightweight, breezy alternative that makes me feel like I need to book a trip to a tropical island, STAT. The pockets still have a zipper, but instead of being heavy and on the outside front as seen on the Cabo Linen Pant, the zipper on the Retreat Linen Pant is hidden inside a larger side pocket.
pants (6T) | top (similar) | sandals | bag
The best part of the Retreat Linen Pant — and the main reason I scooped them up in the first place — is the side splits at the bottom of each pant leg. Split hems are the best. They allow pants to be flowy and give off a casually flirty appearance. Not to mention, split-hem pants sit on top of shoes better.
The white color I’m wearing definitely has a sheer element to them, so I would recommend grabbing a different color if you’re wary of them being see-through. But seeing as I live in a beach town, I don’t mind it, and actually love how it adds to the lightweight aspect of the outfit overall.
When I’m not slipping the pants up over a bathing suit (they are the perfect cover-up, by the way), I just make sure to grab nude underwear, and you’re left only seeing the white outline of the pockets.
pants (6T) | top (similar) | sandals | bag
I wear just about anything with linen pants, similar to how I style denim shorts. But there’s something extra easy and comfortable about throwing on a cotton gauze or linen top and slipping on flip-flops. I scooped up this soft button down from Gap only a week ago and it already completely sold out (as in, it’s not even listed on the website anymore), but it’s not hard to find great similar options (and you better believe I will keep our social channels alerted if there’s a restock!).
Xx,
Amy
Let’s be friends on Instagram! Sharing life from a California beach town, daily style & beauty faves, and never-ending Gilmore Girl binge-athons — all with a good dose of adorable toddler content too.
