There’s a test I run these days that’s a fool-proof way to know if an outfit suits me: I ask my teen daughter what she thinks. At 15, she’s brutally honest (perhaps to a fault) and has no problem saying she dislikes my picks when we’re shopping together. Recently, on a shopping trip before a vacation in Italy, I found a pair of pink, wide-leg, satin pants on a clearance rack. “What do you think?” I asked her with some trepidation. “Cute!” she exclaimed, which was good enough for me. Once I got my satin pants home and actually wore them, I fell in love, and so did my daughter. 

I’ve ordered several more pairs since that shopping trip, including this fun print from Target and a dressy Halara pair, and now my daughter keeps borrowing them from my closet. We’ve worn these lightweight, soft, satin pants everywhere from Sunday-morning church to nights out with friends. Paired with a cute tank and a denim jacket, they’ve become my summer uniform—one that’s oh-so-comfy to wear, even in the hot temps. Here are eight satin pants that will keep you cool yet elevated this summer, starting at $15.

I love this style of wide-leg, satin pants because it’s a bit dressier than drawstring varieties. While they still have the pull-on style of other satin pants, they have a button closure at the waist, which gives them a more tailored-looking fit. I also love that they come in black and white, two essential colors to have on hand to match any kind of top.

“Great stretchy waist,” wrote one five-star reviewer at Amazon. “They look super classy. Not too thin, not too thick. Like wearing pajama bottoms but with a beautiful line.” 

Cargo pants are back in style, and yes, they even make them in satin fabrics. This style comes in colors like purple, black, and light blue, and is made of thick satin with a zipper front. Slightly long in length, reviewers praise these satin cargo pants for being “tall girl-friendly” and made with “good quality material.” Another Amazon reviewer wrote that they “got so many compliments" wearing them, and they comfortably wore them "all day."

Confession time: I have purchased these Target-brand satin pants in every available color, many of which have since been discontinued. I own these drawstring, pull-on pants in everything from snake-print to bold red, and they are extremely comfortable and cool in the summer weather. The drawstring waist makes them easy to find a customized fit.

One Target shopper calls them “comfortable, soft, can dress up or down. Nice addition to my wardrobe.” 

Another great pair of satin pants for the short girls, these Halara pants are cropped and have a relaxed, high-waisted fit. They’re a pair I grab again and again to wear with everything from padded camisoles to ribbed tanks, and my daughter does the same. I own them in black and pewter, but find myself reaching for the beautiful pewter shade more often because it’s light and reminds me of summer.

They’ve also held up great in the washing machine, something I appreciate since I live in Florida and have to wash sweaty laundry often.

My daughter showed me this jogger-style satin pant and commented that they’d look cute with sandals and a tank. We ordered a pair and couldn’t believe how soft and comfortable they were. They also come in lots of colors, like pink, silver, and yellow, so there’s a pair to match anything in your closet.

“The fit is perfect,” said one Amazon purchaser. “These pants can be worn with heels with a nice blouse as dress-up or with sneakers and a tee as dress-down.”

I love to have lots of classic black or white pieces in my closet, but I also love a pop of color. This style of satin pants comes in multiple colorways, from black to magenta to emerald green, and has a pleated front and cropped leg for a dressy look. The shorter inseam length makes them a great option for short people like my daughter and me. 

“Being petite, most dress pants are either too long or have a very long inseam, so I usually have to choose which I can live with,” said one five-star reviewer at Amazon. “With these, I have the perfect pair! The satin is so rich-looking and soft.”

My daughter and I love that these satin pants come in both solids and prints. With an elastic waist and wide leg, they’re ideal for wearing everywhere from the beach to a date night. And, because they’re just $15, they’re a great way to try satin pants and see if they’re your style.

These satin pants are made with a polyester and spandex blend, so they’ve got a bit of stretch for extra comfort. They’re also wrinkle-free and machine-washable, so you can pack them for traveling or wear them at home. 

These silky drawstring pants from Quince come in beautiful, subtle shades like smoke gray and navy, and are made with 100% mulberry silk with a satin finish. But, just because they’re silk doesn’t mean they’re hard to take care of: These silky, wide-leg pants are machine washable and get high marks from reviewers for comfort and style.

“These are fabulous for lounging,” one reviewer gushed. “I took them on a trip to Europe, as they’re lightweight, stylish, and easy to pack. Now they’re great for weekend lounging. Highly recommend!”