Every time I see a woman wearing a pair of these trousers, I’m stopped in my tracks says SHANE WATSON. Here’s where to get the best of this summery style

Every now and then you’ll be going about your business and your eye will be caught by something a stranger is wearing that makes you think, “That’s new.”

This is never a moment when you stand still. It’s not the same as the joy you get from seeing a beautiful summer dress bouncing down the street, or the nostalgia you feel when you see a young woman in a miniskirt that looks a lot like the one you had when you were 19 used to be.

This feeling is better than all of these things because you get it when you see a chic twist on something you already wear and can easily copy.

What strikes you is the newness and freshness, but you may have something similar at the back of your wardrobe – and if you don’t, you know you can find one on the High Street in a pinch.

Last week I had two of these lightning bolt reset moments at the same time. Two women sitting outside a cafe in the sun: one was wearing a buttoned-up sand-colored suede safari jacket and off-white jeans (very nice, but it looked expensive and we could probably do without a suede safari jacket).

The other wore a black blazer over a light beige sweater and cream wide leg trousers with a fine brown or black stripe (not close enough to see which) – and that was the fire starter.

Oh, striped pants! Where have you been? The wearer looked like a modern-day Jackie Kennedy – all because of her summery (but not so summery that you can’t wear them in the shower), striped pants.

Brown or black on cream, by the way, is this year’s navy blue on cream – less nautical and it goes better with all the summer black, of which there are many.

Model Gigi Hadid wears pinstripes as he steps out in New York

Under normal circumstances (and this is my number one fashion tip) I would have approached her, apologized for interrupting them and asked her where her pants came from. (Note: It’s too much to ask about more than one item: one looks like flattery, several looks like stalking.)

As it was, I sailed past on a bus, so we’ll never know – I’m guessing a few seasons’ old Ralph Lauren – but there are plenty of striped trousers in the shops, so copying her look couldn’t be easier.

Subtle and loose are the key to good trousers. Light ticking, not a circus tent, is the effect we are looking for, and certainly not the thick black and red stripes we wore in the eighties.

The atmosphere is easy, airy and smart. A wide-leg style in cream with a thin black stripe like Hush’s Elissia (£75, hush-uk.com) or in sage, or brown or khaki, will give you the perfect 24-hour summer trouser.

There are striped trousers at both ends of the smart casual scale, from Me+Em’s linen and lyocell blend wide-leg cream with a khaki stripe (£195, meandem.com), to a drawstring straight-leg style with a narrow double black stripe from & Other Stories (£75, stories.com).

Actress Katharine McPhee in pinstripe pants at a polo event in Los Angeles

Don’t let the drawstring waistband put you off. Although they are more casual, they can easily be made dressier as long as the waistband is covered by the hem of a sweater or little black top.

That said, the ones that have caught my eye are bespoke, swaggering and Annie Hall-esque from Jaeger for Marks & Spencer (£125, marksandspencer.com) in ivory with a brown/black stripe.

Would I wear the matching jacket (€175)? I could go to an air-conditioned office in a white T-shirt and flat tan sandals. Because the stripe is barely visible, it’s an easy summer look and looks better than a plain white suit.

Model Alessandra Ambrosio looks chic in striped pants in Paris in 2023

Like most of us, I haven’t worn striped pants in years. And in case you’re wondering: why now? The answer is: in a full trouser season you need options – and as long as the stripes are narrow and the cut fits the hips, widening at the legs, the stripes are naturally flattering.

But surprisingly, that’s not the main attraction. Stripes are a super easy way to introduce pattern into an outfit while keeping everything cool and simple.

Stripes don’t feel like a pattern, but they do break up plain clothes, block out colors, and give everything room to breathe. (The same goes for striped shirts, which are having a big moment: head to Zara for a selection of poplin stripes or With Nothing Underneath (withnothingunderneath.com) for the ultimate linen striped shirt).

Just don’t wear the two together – that’s instant pajamas – and you’re all set.