Khaki pants, also called chinos, are the most stylish alternative for men seeking to upgrade their look from jeans to a more stylish yet casual look.
Khaki pants are more than just an alternative to jeans but a symbol of classic American fashion style.
In terms of formality, khaki pants fall between jeans and dress pants. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll show you how to style khaki pants to achieve a super stylish casual look.
What Are Khaki Pants?
Technically, “khaki” refers to the recognizable tan shade, not the pants themselves.
However, due to their popularity, the term has become synonymous with this style of trousers, and this guide applies to chino pants of any colour.
Modern styles feature a tailored appearance with a mid-rise, flat front, and four pockets.
Choosing a pair that offers a slightly fitted look with a straight or subtly tapered leg is essential – not too skinny, but not baggy.
Above all, avoid cargo pockets; they detract from the classic khaki style.
A significant part of khaki pants’ appeal is the signature cotton twill fabric, a lightweight, woven material that offers stretch and breathability while remaining durable.
Some khaki pants incorporate technical fabrics with sweat-wicking or stain-repelling properties, perfect for a rugged, outdoorsy look.
However, for that timeless khaki aesthetic, stick with traditional cotton.
For a well-fitting pair of khaki pants, ensure they either graze the tops of your shoes or drape slightly over them, creating a subtle crease at the hem.
To eliminate any bunching around the ankles, have your chinos hemmed by a tailor but know this style of pants is often worn cuffed, especially during the summertime.
Khakis vs Chinos
So what’s the difference between the two? In a nutshell, Khaki pants are khaki-coloured cotton twill pants.
While chinos are dressier than Khakis and come in navy, blue, and stone, khaki and chinos are frequently used interchangeably.
Khakis are a classic style staple for the smart-casual dress codes in many offices and work environments.
Even for the most dapper man, they can be a form of casual swag for the gentleman who refuses to wear jeans.
Therefore, this guide is all about chinos, their details, colours and their history.
What to Wear with Khaki Pants?
Khaki pants are incredibly versatile when it comes to footwear. You can pair them with nearly any type of shoe in your collection—apart from gym sneakers.
However, khakis look best when matched with medium-brown dress shoes, derby shoes, loafers, or Chelsea boots.
For more casual settings, consider canvas sneakers, boat shoes, chukkas, or combat boots.
Due to their earthy hue, khakis are ideally suited for brown leather and suede footwear. While wearing black shoes with khakis isn’t a strict fashion faux pas, it’s not generally recommended.
Black shoes are typically reserved for formal attire and can starkly contrast with khakis.
If you choose black shoes, opt for khakis in a medium tan shade to create a more balanced look.
Casual Khaki Pants Styling Tips
Khaki pants are remarkably versatile and can be paired with various outfits for various occasions.
Here are some easy outfit ideas to help you make the most of your casual khaki pants.
Khakis for Casual Wear
Despite many clothiers blending the two styles into one, numerous fashion experts have difficulty agreeing on whether the two pants are interchangeable.
In most cases, slight differences between the two can make or break an outfit.
Khaki pants are typically very resilient and offer protection from wrinkles and sometimes the elements.
They are available in numerous styles and shades, from classic yellow-brown to grey, brown, green, black or cream.
Mostly made from cotton twill or linen, these pants come in flat-front and pleated styles for casual wear.
What to Wear with Casual Khaki Pants
Casual khaki pants are perfect for relaxed settings. They are often associated with preppy style, making them a great match for a button-down shirt.
For casual Fridays, combine a collared dress shirt with smart khakis, a matching belt, and leather loafers.
On the weekends, experiment with untucked chambray shirts or vibrantly coloured Oxford shirts.
You can add a personal style by rolling up your sleeves, leaving a button or two undone, and even cuffing your pants for a casual flair.
Another classic pairing for khaki pants is the polo shirt – if you’re heading to the office, tuck your polo in.
Khakis also complement pullover sweaters and henleys.
To blend traditional preppy style with contemporary streetwear trends, match your khakis with a simple hoodie, a simple tee from a preppy clothing brand, or a crisp white t-shirt.
For those who require a more formal office attire, khaki pants can be a very practical option for the weekend and at home.
Khaki pants are more stylish than denim jeans or shorts yet provide a similar level of casualness that pairs perfectly with a button-down or polo shirt.
Khaki pants can be paired with navy blazers, especially or, if well matched to polo shirts or collared casual shirts, worn for a relaxed dinner at the country club.
How to Dress Up Khaki Pants
Khaki pants can shine in semi-formal settings, such as smart-casual offices or fall weddings.
For formal occasions, opt for khakis that resemble trousers rather than casual chinos.
Choose a high-quality pair with lightweight fabric, a tapered leg, and a smooth front featuring slash pockets. Khakis are a staple for a men’s fall wedding guest outfit.
To dress up khaki pants, add a sports coat or blazer, but not a suit jacket. Suit jackets are too formal for khaki pants.
Since khakis are less formal than traditional dress pants, opt for a jacket with a relaxed structure crafted from casual fabrics like cotton or linen.
Beneath your blazer, wear a crisp collared shirt in neutral shades or subtle prints. Tuck in your shirt to finish the look with a touch of formality.
Complete the look with refined accessories, such as a knit tie, a stylish watch, or a matching leather belt and loafers.
Khaki Pants in Business Settings
Ideal for manual labour jobs or those who work in casual office environments, the khaki pant has become synonymous with IT and retail environments since the mid-1990s.
Many brick-and-mortar retail stores, such as Best Buy or Target, have adopted khaki pants as their uniform style.
Also, many technical and tradespeople visiting office environments have chosen these resilient pants, as they blend into all dress environments better than denim jeans or cargo pants.
They allow the visiting technician to be easily identified as a visitor in most office buildings and offer an appropriate transition when he might be visiting a top law firm, followed by a cellphone store.
Khaki Pants History
Like many other menswear garments, such as Jodhpurs, Seersuckers, Madras, and Jodhpur boots, khaki pants originate in India.
The first documented use of Khaki pants was in 1848, when the Corps of Guides wore them as a part of their required uniform in India.
The Corps Commandant, Sir Harry Lumsden, commissioned his brother in England to send the pants to his men working on the ground in Peshawar, Punjab.
Soon, as the comfort and design of the pants caught on, all regimental forces serving in India began adopting khakis as their active and summer dress uniform.
Originally a closely twilled linen or cotton, they were ideal for the climate compared to the uniforms previously worn.
British Soldiers Wearing Comfortable Khakis
Their continual growth in popularity resulted in the Indian police forces and foreign services adopting khaki uniforms.
In 1867 and 1868, Indian troops travelled to Ethiopia during the Abyssinian campaign under the command of General Sir Robert Napier to extricate British captives and forcibly persuade King Theodore to change his practices.
During this mission, British Army soldiers saw these comfortable khaki uniforms.
How Khakis Got Their Name – From the Dust
Until then, British troops wore white clothes in those climates, and they soiled very quickly, whereas dust—or sand-coloured khaki slacks looked clean for much longer.
The word Khaki is in Hindi and means as much as “dust-coloured,” which explains the name.
Enamoured with the comfort and appearance of Khaki pants, the British adopted them as colonial campaign dress during the Mahdist War from 1884 to 1889 and the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902.
British Troops Khakis
During the Second Boer War, British troops became known as “Khakis” because of their uniforms.
Following their triumph, the government called an election referred to in the history books as the “khaki election,” a term now used to describe any election to exploit the government’s approval after winning a battle or war.
Khakis in the U.S. Army
By 1898, the U.S. Army began introducing khaki uniforms for the Spanish-American War.
Within a few short years, all branches of the U.S. Forces, including the Navy and Marine Corps, followed suit.
By 1902, the British forces made khaki uniforms their predominant dress attire for continental service.
To blend in with their surroundings, they began to opt for darker shades with green hues, leading to the various shades of khakis currently available on the civilian market.
By the First World War, olive drab khakis were a key identifier of British and American forces, and many armies worldwide subsequently adopted them.
Not only did khaki provide soldiers with a more comfortable uniform, but it also offered more protection from combatants compared to the previously worn costume-style uniforms, which were rather elaborate or, in some cases, used bright colours.
The khaki uniforms allowed soldiers to camouflage themselves in their surroundings, making it more difficult for combating forces to attack or surveil them.
As the years passed and American soldiers began returning from World War II, which shotgunned the front pages of every newspaper worldwide, civilians began to notice the pants worn by the men fighting abroad.
By the 1950s, khaki pants started to fly off the shelves as men began to wear variations on weekends and casually to a baseball game or backyard barbecues with friends or family.
By the 1960s, khaki pants had adopted a new name for a more dressy and arguably more elegant version of the pants.
Now named “Chinos” by various haberdashers, these resilient and practical dress pants graced every college classroom as preps began wearing them to class.
As the preppies wore them to class with a school sweater, their dads paired the chino pants with a blue blazer at the country club and office.
The trend continued, and today, chinos and khakis are arguably some of the most popular and practical pants worn by men (and women).
Key Takeaways
In conclusion, khaki pants are one of the most versatile items you can own.
They effortlessly adapt to your style, making you appear rugged and masculine or preppy and professional, depending on your preference.
Following the advice in this guide, you can confidently incorporate Southern Tide’s casual khaki pants into your wardrobe and effortlessly elevate your fashion game.
Remember, versatility is the key, and with khaki pants, you’ll always be dressed for success, no matter the occasion.
With khaki chinos as your canvas, you have the power to create fashion statements that reflect your unique style and personality.