In many ways, men have had it pretty good the last several thousand years or so, except when it came to fashion. Looking back two centuries, it was nothing but silly wigs and frilly shirts.
Then we ditched the wigs, grew huge mustaches and rode penny farthings everywhere.
Not better.
The 20th century stripped men of nearly everything but our jeans and t-shirts. Needless to say, it’s been a tough ride.
[Cue: the violins]
The gender fashion divide is a mess. Women have too many options, too much pressure on what to wear, and men… well, we could use a little more pressure. In fairness, it’s tough to be a man who wants to look well-put-together without looking like he tried too hard.
Pants that are too tight or cut too dramatically draw more attention than a man wants. He wants to look groomed in a subtle way.
When it comes to picking the right pants, work wear is the best way to go, but not just any workwear. (High visibility pants looks silly at dinner.)
For the working man it’s gotta be a classic cut, something his grandpa would have worn, but without looking like it came from Grandpa’s closet.
This blog is for those men, the ones who aren’t comfortable wearing the trendiest fashions. Depending on how hard one works, but also how much showing up clean-pressed matters, these are the pants he can wear off the work site, straight to the social event.
Carhartt Men’s Rugged Flex Rigby Dungaree
These medium-weight (8 oz.) classic-cut slacks have just enough synthetic material in them to flex when you move, but not enough to make them feel like athletic wear. They’re 98 percent cotton, with two percent spandex.
The aspects that make them work wear are subtle, like the slash pocket, reinforced belt loops, and cell phone pocket.
With a clean white t-shirt or a buttoned shirt, these dungarees flex in more ways than one. They are the dress-up-dress-down pants for all occasions.
They come in five color options, tan, gravel, dark blue, dark khaki, and peat. And, of course, the cut is relaxed, just they way they should be.
Carhartt Flame Resistant Washed Duck Work Dungaree
Most men wouldn’t think about flame resistant clothing for socializing, but a quality pair of Carhartt’s look great with a pair of clean boots and a casual shirt.
These work dungarees are a little heavier in weight (11 oz.), perfect for cooler climates, but the duck weave breathes well so one doesn’t have to worry about breaking into the meat sweats during dinner.
The blend is 88 percent cotton, 12 percent nylon, so they move with you. Like a reliable pair of workwear pants, these come with all the trimmings and more, triple-stitched seams, a durable brass zipper, and a comfortable cut.
The added bonus is that when the chef starts a grease fire in the kitchen, the one rocking these dungarees will walk out unscathed.
Red Kap Men’s Plain Front Cotton Pant
Most casual work wear enthusiasts lean towards brands like Carhartt and Dickies, two great names in work wear. Red Kap is another great brand for crossover fashion.
These slacks are a prime example of Red Kap’s dedication to the classics. No pleats, no funky tapering or flaring, only a clean cut from the waist to the floor.
These slacks are a midweight (7.5 oz.) easy fit made of 100 percent cotton, just like Grandpa used to wear. These look as great on the work floor as they do on the dance floor.
One can buy them in khaki, navy or black.
Changing from work clothes to casual is as simple as a shoe change and taking off that shirt with the company logo. When the day ends, whenever it ends, these durable pants go in the wash like any other pants.
Round House Stonewashed Men’s Five Pocket Dungaree
Sure, there are men out there who like to iron their jeans. There are also men who think they have to drop $500 to buy a pair of quality jeans.
Round House has been in business since before your grandpa was born. They know pants, and they know quality.
These heavy-weight (14 oz.) stonewashed five-pocket jeans are the perfect blend of fashion and durability. The pockets are reinforced, deep so you can stash what you need. All the seams are triple-stitched, so no rips.
They only come in one color but don’t get too attached to it. It’s gonna fade, and that’s a beautiful thing. The longer you own them, the better they wear, the more they will become your favorite jeans to wear on your day off.
Since everything you do in these jeans only makes them better, you can really wear them everywhere. Best of all, just like you, these are made in the U.S.A.
Dickies Regular Straight Fit 5-Pocket Denim Jean
Dyed in black until they match the midnight sky, these heavy-weight (13.5 oz.) 100 percent cotton denim jeans from Dickies are the meeting place of casual and dress. In the most cases, folks won’t be able to tell if you’re wearing slacks or jeans.
The cut of these jeans is a little tighter, a little lower in the waist than more work wear, but not so tight or low that one feels awkward. They’ll even fit over most boots.
Riveted and reinforced, with a heavy-duty brass zipper, these pants will take everything you’ve got and more.
These will fade with washing, but some would argue that only makes them better. If that’s not your preference, you can wash them inside out in cold water, no bleach or just toss them in the freezer between wearings.
As long as they have nothing spilled on them, the freezer will kill any bacteria without killing the dark shade of black.
For twenty bucks, you can’t do better than Dickies denim.
Most of these pants fall well within the working person’s budget, between $20-$75. They’ll all do well for the fall, but last through the winter as long as you don’t plan to go dog sledding in them. In fact, these are the kind of pants one buys to last for years.
Against every wacky fashion trend, it will take a natural disaster to make you replace these pants. It may be worth calling up your attorney to put them in your will, maybe to your grandkids, because these pants will still wear well in fifty years.
About the Author
Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with hundreds of clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Nick revamped the company’s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.