The Best Men’s Dress Pants May Just Replace Your Jeans

Another Great Menswear Head Option: Anglo-Italian (Read more here)

More Dress Pants We Love

Summer is all about care-free frolicking (…right?) and your summer pants rotation should be, too. Percival’s jaunty trousers fit the bill to a tee thanks to their lightweight linen fabric, relaxed fit, and double pleats, all of which will lend an air of sartorial joviality to your biggest summer fits.

Navy blue worsted wool is the foundation of every tailored clothing collection, but the pants you wear from fall through spring won’t cut it when the mercury spikes in August. That’s when tropical wool (worsted’s summertime alter-ego) steps in. With the gravitas of a classic navy suit plus enhanced breathability thanks to its net-like weave, Todd Snyder’s generously cut, double-pleated trousers will keep you cool for every occasion from sweaty weekday commutes to sultry summer weddings.

Drake’s’ Games collection draws equal inspiration from workwear and tailoring, making it the perfect complement to all of the other classic sporty pieces in your wardrobe. Rocking these creamy Italian-linen pants with the matching blazer is a definite vibe, but they’re just as potent worn solo with your best selection of rugbys, camp shirts, and knit polos.

The tailoring fanatics at Anglo-Italian tout these trousers’ unusual cotton-silk blend fabric as the ideal material for summer, and with cotton’s famous breathability and silk’s wrinkle resistance, it’s hard to disagree. With a washed-out tone, a single pleat, and an elegant drape, consider these an elevated version of your most lived-in summer chinos.

Thom Browne may be the guy who made shrunken suits a thing 20 years ago, but his eponymous brand continues to evolve (and relax) with the times. Browne’s essential elements are all accounted for here: mid-gray Japanese wool flannel, a knife-edge crease, and a cuffed hem that stops well above the ankle. But a roomier, slightly flared cut makes these unmistakably 2024.

If you’re looking to invest in (read: spend a ridiculous amount of money on) the type of actual wardrobe staples that will look great for the next decade, pretty much anything from The Row will do the trick—these pants included. A relaxed straight cut makes them as comfy as your favorite sweats, but the Italian twill fabric and sharp creases are all business.

Another Great High-Waisted Option: Casatlantic Herringbone Linen Trousers

If you like ‘em high, wide, and distinctly vintage-flavored, Casatlantic’s Tanger cut is made for you. These take a silhouette inspired by 1950 French military trousers—complete with forward pleats and a button-fly—and execute it in a tropical-weight linen herringbone twill fabric. With a deep navy color that’s evocative of crisp selvedge denim, they’ll add a gritty mid-century counterpoint to your best summer sportswear, workwear, and tailoring pieces.

Another Great Cropped Option: Reiss Relaxed Cropped Trousers

A solid pair of khakis is an essential piece of the business-casual wardrobe, but with so many excellent options to choose from these days, it can be hard to nail down a pair with the right blend of sartorial chops and easy-wearing versatility. With their mid-rise cut, single pleats, and cropped, cuffed hems, Reiss’ come as close as any we’ve found—and will see you through casual Fridays (and any other day of the week) in top form.

Another Great Patterned Option: J.Crew Big-Fit Linen Glen Plaid Trousers

Big, bold prints don’t usually lend themselves to dress pants (see below for more), but—as with most of the rules around tailored clothing—there are exceptions. J.Crew’s breezy glen plaid joints are full of details that demand to be admired, from their 1940s-style “Hollywood waistband” and sharp cuffs to their single reverse pleat and generous early ‘90s proportions. You could wear them as part of a suit, of course, but they’re almost too good to hide under a jacket.

Your Dress Pants FAQs, Answered

What’s the difference between dress pants and suit pants?