Shop Linen Pants

Linen pants you can wear from the office to the beach. Choose wide leg, cropped or barrel leg shapes in linen and linen blends, in black, white and soft neutrals — breathable enough for a hot day, and smart enough for work.

A woman wearing white linen pants, a blue mesh sweater and a brown bucket hat with white polka dots.

Linen Pants at Max

Linen is the fabric you reach for when it's too hot for everything else. Our women's linen pants, designed in New Zealand, are cut from breathable linen and linen blends that let the air through on the days that need it. Wear them to work with a shirt and flats, or on holiday with a singlet and sandals. Browse the full linen range for tops and dresses to match.

Wide Leg, Cropped & Barrel Leg Linen Pants

The shape you choose changes the whole outfit. Wide leg linen pants are the most forgiving and the easiest to dress up — they read as tailored even when they're not. Cropped styles sit above the ankle and work well with flats or sandals, especially if you're shorter. Barrel leg is the newer shape: roomy through the thigh, tapering in at the hem. All three come in black and white as well as soft neutrals.

Linen Pants for Work

Linen isn't only for weekends. A pair of black or navy wide leg linen pants with a blazer will carry you through a summer workday far more comfortably than anything synthetic. Look for a darker colour and a fuller leg if you want them to read more formal, and keep the top half structured to balance the softness of the fabric. Our workwear range has more options that work the same way.

Do Linen Pants Crease?

Yes, and that's the trade-off. Pure linen creases as you wear it — it's a characteristic of the fibre, not a fault. If that bothers you, choose a linen blend, which holds its shape better while staying breathable. A quick steam or a hang in a steamy bathroom will drop most of the creasing out. Most people find the softness is worth it, and linen only gets better with washing.

How to Style Linen Pants

Keep the proportions in mind: a wide or barrel leg usually wants a more fitted top, while a cropped style works with almost anything. Tuck in a linen top for a matched look, or go contrast with knitwear. For cooler evenings, add a cardigan — New Zealand summer nights drop away fast. Flat sandals for day, a heeled slide or wedge if you're going out.

Max Linen Pants FAQs

Wash linen on a cool, gentle cycle and line dry in the shade. Cold water and a mild detergent protect the fibres, and hanging them damp lets most of the creasing drop out on its own. Avoid hot dryers, which are what cause linen to shrink and stiffen. Always check the care label on your pair first, as linen blends can have different requirements.

Linen can shrink slightly on its first wash, usually by a small amount in length. Washing cold and line drying rather than tumble drying prevents most of it. If you're between sizes and plan to machine wash often, sizing up is the safer choice. Linen blends are generally more stable than pure linen.

White and light-coloured linen can be slightly sheer, depending on the weight of the fabric and what you wear underneath. Seamless underwear in a tone close to your skin is the simplest fix. If you'd rather not think about it, a darker colour or a linen blend with a denser weave gives more coverage.

Pure linen is the most breathable and softens beautifully with wear, but it creases readily. A linen blend mixes linen with another fibre like viscose or cotton, which holds its shape better and creases less while staying cool. If you want the classic linen feel, choose pure linen. If you want something lower-maintenance for work, a blend is usually easier.