Perfect Pants

12.12.2017 |

Episode #7 of the course Men’s guide to grooming and style by Eddy Larkson

 

Today, we’ll cover different kinds of pants, such as slacks, khakis, and jeans.

 

Types of Pants

First, let’s identify each type:

Slacks. These are usually for more formal occasions and might look slightly out of place at casual events like a sporting game or the movies. Also, you should try to iron these, as they can wrinkle easily.

Khakis. These are the traditional tan or beige-colored pants that many guys wear to work or school. They can be both casual or formal, and the more formal versions are often slightly darker and pleated. These can get wrinkles easier than jeans but not as easily as slacks. Try to avoid wearing khakis more than once or twice, as they can easily retain smells, such as the odors from a restaurant.

Jeans. These can be worn virtually anywhere, especially to dinners with friends or on a night out elsewhere. In more recent years, there have been countless variations of jean washes, colors, fits, etc. Jeans are the easiest to take care of, as they do not wrinkle or retain odors as easily.

Play around with different styles by trying different pants out at your favorite stores until you find some that fit you best.

 

Matching Shirts with Pants

The best way to match pants with shirts is based on the level of formality. For example, if you are going out to a formal dinner, you’d probably match a dress button-down shirt with a dressy pair of dark khaki pants or even dress slacks. On the other hand, if you went to the movies with some friends on a casual day, a t-shirt with jeans is more than acceptable.

However, you can use your shirt or pants to spice up your outfit and make it more formal. For example, wear jeans but match them with a sport button-down shirt to make your outfit look slightly formal but still casual. Note that it is easier to use your shirt to make your outfit more formal as compared to using pants for this purpose.

 

Mistakes to Avoid

A good way to add some boldness to your outfit is to contrast your shirt and your pants. For example, try to avoid wearing a navy t-shirt with jeans, as it can make you look a giant blue figure. Instead, try out a green or red collared shirt with your jeans to add some formality, as well as some color pop, which will help you stand out but still be stylish. For the same reason, when you wear khakis or light slacks, avoid matching them with a light beige or khaki shirt. We will cover color more in a later lesson.

Additionally, avoid wearing a dressy button-down shirt with jeans, and wear a sport button-down shirt instead. The sport shirts usually are softer and have bolder or busier patterns as an easy way to identify it as a more casual shirt.

 

Key Takeaways

Some of the most common pants guys wear include slacks, khakis, and jeans. Be aware of how your pants retain odors from restaurants or work, and when in doubt, wear jeans, as they do not retain odors or wrinkle as much as khakis or slacks do. Lastly, try to contrast the colors of your shirts and pants so you don’t wear the same color from head to toe.

Tomorrow, we will cover how to accessorize with your shoes and belts to top off your outfits and add a subtle but powerful addition to your style regime!

See you then!

 

Recommended reading

Chino & Khaki Pants Fit Guide

 

Recommended book

Effortless Outfits: The Men’s Guide to Matching Clothes for Powerful Impression in Personal and Professional Life by Robert van Tongeren

 

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