The best casual pants for men aren’t all that complicated despite being extremely, uh, vague. These days the lines between casual and formal have been all but obliterated, and even pants that were once exclusive to church and the office have shed their stuffy associations. “Casual” is in the eye of the beholder—as long as you know how to style them.
It’s a world-expanding notion. Just think: any pair of pants can be worn with the care-free attitude of a long weekend. The world is your wardrobe! Carpe diem! Carpe denim! But the flip side is that unlimited freedom can be overwhelming.
Whatever the reason, whatever the occasion, whatever the cut—slim fit, straight fit, classic fit, relaxed fit—there’s a pair of casual pants here for you. From sturdy twill chinos you can wear with your slubbiest T-shirts, heavily-pleated trousers you can wear with a big, bold, button-down, or a pair of elastic drawstring pants to wear on a quick coffee run, the right pair is calling your name. And luckily for you, you don’t have to look far. Because we sifted through a near-endless array of pants (so many pants) to compile a list of all the best pants available today.
The Best Men’s Casual Pants, According to GQ
Jeans
Obvious—maybe too obvious. But if we didn’t address it, we couldn’t call ourselves GQ. Jeans have been around since the 1800s and society would be bleak and infinitely less stylish without the indigo-soaked dungaree. Bring them back to their roots with some honkin’ leather work boots, or rock them day-off mode with a hoodie and sneakers, or pair a light wash option with a button-up shirt and a tailored blazer. There’s not a situation that the right pair of jeans couldn’t slot into, which makes them a requisite for every closet.
When it comes to arguably the best pants ever, it’s hard not to mention the Levi’s 501, our overall pick for the best jeans for men. Levi’s invented the five pocket blue jean after all, and they’re just as great today as when they first came on the scene. If you take just one lesson away from this, let it be this: if you don’t have a pair already, get yourself a pair of 501s.
Chinos
Over the last 50 years, chino pants have evolved from active-duty army garb to civilian-life staple, cemented into the culture thanks to notable prepsters and the Ivy League set. They still come in every shade of khaki imaginable, but these days some of the coolest pairs on the market subvert the fabric’s neutral origins via unexpected colors, patterns, and even materials (corduroy, baby!). And while there’s no shortage of chinos built with sweat-wicking fibers, gobs of stretchy elastane, and anti-wrinkle properties, the best chinos are still made of 100% cotton. Not sure what to wear to an upcoming date or to a business casual office? Chinos have a sheer versatility that makes them a safe bet in every occasion.
Khakis
Like chinos, khaki pants remain a perennial classic of casual American style. What’s the difference? Chino is a fabric; khaki is a color. Khakis derive their name from the particular shade of light brown that became ubiquitous in the U.S. after World War II. As the original camouflage, GIs returned from war and brought their dusty bottoms with them, ushering in a new era of civilian style. Once relegated exclusively to off-duty fare, khakis—a color that now encompasses everything from plain-jane beige to mossy olive green—have long since crossed over into the realm of work-appropriate attire. In their simplicity, they remain a reliable template for designers’ freakiest projections.
Cargo Pants
It’s tough to beat the cargo pant when it comes to sheer utility. Even in their simplest form, the ultra-practical and—you guessed it—military-inspired trousers include discrete pocket space aplenty, making them the pants you should wear when you want to run errands without lugging a mostly-empty tote around with you. Over the last few years, capital-D designers and big-box brands alike have updated the menswear staple, tweaking the proportions and adding as many (or as few) pockets as they please. Which means it’s easier than ever to find one in the perfect fit, whether you’re looking for a relaxed version you can wear with trail-ready boots or a slimmer take cut to stack perfectly over a pair of simple kicks.
Dress Pants
We know what you’re thinking—dress pants are not casual pants. To that we say, “open up your mind, bro.” See, any pant can be a casual pant if you really use your head. (Jury’s still out on whether that rule works the other way around, but the evidence so far doesn’t look promising.) Separate your tailored trousers from their matching suit jacket and they can be free to a whole world of style possibilities. Dress pants can look surprisingly casual and fresh with a plain tee and a pair of canvas sneakers. Super billowy, paired with a breezy camp shirt and elevated leather sandals, and you’re about ready for a summer vacay. The key is more simple than you think: treat ’em like any other pant in your closet.
Work Pants
It was nearly three years ago that GQ collectively freaked for Dickies’ sturdy-as-hell painter’s pants. Since then, prices for Carhartt’s quintessential double-knees have reached truly astonishing heights, and every cool guy in a trucker hat and lug-soled loafers wants in. The style’s popularity speaks to the appeal for a practical, durable, hard-wearing work pant that won’t ding your credit card. While blue jeans will forever and always be the best everyday pant, a pair of work pants—like the Dickies Original 874—is undoubtedly the more versatile pick.
Track Pants
If there’s one thing we remember from grade school it’s that the sports coaches all had sick on-field style. And while the aerodynamic shades and New Balance trainers accounted for much of their swag, it was actually the swishy track pants that set their whole style ablaze. Today, track pants are hotter than ever thanks to style gods like A$AP Rocky and designers like Grace Wales Bonner. They’re usually made in some sort of synthetic material like a windbreaking nylon, or a bouncy poly blend, and feature extra panelling and even bold stripes running down the outseam. Extra points for track pants with bold colors and dizzying patterns.
Drawstring Pants
Sweatpants are the obvious and most casual pants here, but drawstring pants go well beyond your old pair of Champion sweats. You might not think a little ol’ drawstring could warrant its own category. But that tiny detail has the power to turn any pant into a looser, loucher version of itself, like a very chill Jekyll and Hyde situation. Or better yet, it’s like your regular pants on vacation mode. When fused with denim or cargo pockets, or even dress pants, the drawstring has the power to cozy-fy any trouser without looking like you belong on a sofa with a pint of ice cream. The great thing about drawstring pants is that they’re uh, more, understanding. That adjustable waist will meet you wherever you’re at, whether that’s all-you-can-eat Korean barbeque or a light lunch at the local salad bowl. Besides that, who wouldn’t love a belt built into their pants?
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