Black and White Work Outfits for Spring and Summer

A piece we should all be paying attention to for the Spring and Summer 2026 is balloon pants, also known as harem pants. Their exxagerated rounded silhouette gives them plenty of edge and a great deal of comfort. We've all embraced straight-leg pants and wide-leg pants as wardrobe must-haves, and now balloon pants expand our options with a more voluminous and distinctive shape. They're similar to barrel pants in some sort, but with a bit more material making them a super comfy pick. At first, they may seem too street-style-ish, but dressed with the right pieces, these billowy bottoms can easily be elevated to officewear status. Below are some ideas for styling balloon pants for both casual and professional settings.

Balloon Pants with a Cropped Trench

When in doubt, always reach for your classic pieces! A trench top is always Spring-appropriate and can be paired with anything, really. For this casual outfit, I went with black balloon pants with a light golden yellow trench jacket. I love how the color pairing gives an alluring balance between colorful and neutral. To keep it comfortable yet edgy, I added studded slingback flat shoes. This is a look anyone can pull off, and one that is perfect for weekend and off-hour feats.

Black balloon pants | Other black balloon pants | Cropped trench jacket | Sleeveless trench vest | Studded flats | Colorful leather bag

Balloon pants with a printed peplum top

Black and white never gets old, especially with bold pieces! I styled the same black balloon pants as in the previous outfit with a batik print ankara peplum top. The structure of the top juxtaposed to the loose fit of the bottom creates the perfect style tension. To give the look a pop, I reached for a green handbag, and to add polish, I went with black pointed toe pumps. This is one easy way to elevate balloon pants to workwear level.

Black balloon pants | Zebra blazer | White peplum top | Black pointed toe kitten heels | Colorful leather work bag | Oversized square sunglasses

Balloon Pants With A Layered Shirt

Layering doesn't end with Fall or Winter. In fact, you can layer year-round, you just have to pick your pieces carefully so you can stay comfy. Another way to wear balloon pants is to pair them with a shirt and vest combo. A vest is a classic wardrobe staple and a piece that lends a preppy aura to a look. For a classic yet punchy color contrast, I opted for a black vest over a Kelly green linen shirt but you could experiment with other hues if you're feeling playful. To give the dandy-leaning look an edgy vibe, I wore studded flats. This look is another one that is easy to pull together and one that can multitask, from work day to weekends.

Green linen shirt | Black vest 

Balloon Pants with A Tunic Top

For an exaggerated take from top to bottom, you can wear balloon pants with a printed tunic top and go for bold accessories. You know I always seize an opportunity to cinch a look, and for this one, I reached for my wide waist leather belt. Also, to pile on the bold vibe, I wore a super chunky leather bangle and oversized gold hoop earrings. This look delivers on attitude and tension, pairing ethnic ankara prints with a modern belt and pants, and really playing with volume for that exaggerated effect. This is another balloon pants outfit that is perfect to zhuzh up your workwear routine and really bring some personality to your balloon pants.

Colorful belted long vest | Khaki brown long vest | Yellow longline vest | Black balloon pants | Black leather pumps | Large leather tote | Aviator sunglasses | Other aviator sunglasses | Statement gold earrings

Balloon Pants with an oversized shirt

An oversized shirt will never let you down! I have built a collection of those over the years and regularly put them on outfit rotation, whether it's Summer or Winter. For this outfit, I was going for something elevated and effortless for work. I started out with my burgundy balloon pants from last Fall and my red striped oversized oxford shirt. Now, balloon pants are voluminous, and so are oversized shirts so in order to restore balance, I added a wide leather belt. Again, I love a cinched look, and with balloon pants specifically, a cinch adds that refined touch and who doesn't love that? This look gives bold, modern, effortless all at the same time and is another one to add to the workwear idea board.

Maroon balloon pants | Other balloon pants | Striped oversized shirt | Other striped oversized shirt | Wide leather belt | Other wide belt | Burgundy convertible clutch bag | 

Spring's here! And that means it's time to tuck away the boots, the coats, and the heavy knits to make room for the sandals, lighter pieces, and bright colors. One piece that goes with this transition is a colorful linen shirt. Yes, button-down shirts are year-round items, but make them lightweight and colorful, and they take on a total Spring and Summer vibe. I recently scored this bold green oversized shirt and am so excited to put it on rotation for transitional Spring looks, as well as rock it on hot Summer days. A button-down shirt is perhaps the most versatile piece you can have in your closet. It pairs effortlessly with a dressy pencil skirt, wide-leg pants, jeans, and really any bottom, be it dressy or casual. 

Want some inspiration on wearing a colorful linen shirt this Spring and Summer? Keep on reading!

Striking Workwear

The first outfit I put together consists of a pair of navy blue wide-leg pants (similar here, here) and the green oversized linen shirt. I love that the contrast is bold yet super wearable thanks to the darker, more classic bottom. On top of the colorful effect, this combo gives a flowy vibe that can be balanced with a wide leather belt. This is an outfit formula you just can't go wrong with, and one that works perfectly for corporate office settings and some elevated casual feats depending on the shoes and bag you go with. For work, I opted for brown leather pumps.

Chic Casual

I've been wearing my barrel jeans a lot lately! They give such a modern twist to casual fits and are very easy to style! I'd definitely say that barrel jeans are a closet staple. I paired these Calvin Klein extreme barrel jeans with my green linen shirt and matching strappy sandals. I was going for a fun, colorful outfit for weekend errands and wanted a good dose of Spring in it. Dark blue and Kelly green make a standout contrast which I love for Spring. For a transitional and neo-prep touch, throw on a matching sweater around your shoulders.

Modern dandy

Layering doesn't end with Fall or Winter. In fact, you can layer year-round, you just have to pick your pieces carefully so you can stay comfy. Another way to wear a colorful green linen shirt in the Spring and Summer is to layer it with a fitted vest. A vest is a classic wardrobe staple and a piece that lends a preppy aura to a look. For a polished color contrast, I opted for a black vest but you could experiment with other hues if you're feeling playful. To give the dandy-leaning top a modern vibe, I wore balloon pants (similar here and here) and studded flats (similar here and here, here, here) This look is easy to pull together and one that offers versatility, from work day to weekends.

If extra bold colors give you heebie-jeebies, try this more pastel option instead!

For more outfit ideas, bookmark this post and check back very soon as I am concocting many looks to wear with this green shirt.