A few weeks ago I took a trip to the King of Prussia Brooks Brother’s store in search of some new chino pants. As a longtime customer of BB, I know they’re one of the best places to shop for men’s pants. Since starting Crossfit nine months ago, I’ve lost a decent amount of weight, and I’m working to recalibrate my closet. Actually, I wouldn’t say I’ve lost weight as much as it’s shifted into different areas. Mainly from my waist to my chest. Don’t worry, I’m not complaining. Regardless, I need some new khaki pants, and I began my exploration with Brooks Brothers.
Let’s take a quick break here and discuss the word “khaki”. “Khakis” began as British military uniforms in the mid-nineteenth century. The word loosely translated to the color of the dye used for the uniforms; that tan we all equate with the word khaki today. But over the centuries, khaki has shifted from describing the color of a pair of pants to the type of fabric and style of many pairs of pants. Today, the word “khaki” can be used for pants of virtually any color cut from a heavy twill-woven cloth.
So, when I was perusing the shelves of my local Brooks Brothers, I came across a few pairs of selvedge twill pants. Interested, I decided to do a little research on these selvedge chinos. Selvedge itself refers to a weaving process that reduces fraying and increase the quality of the color. A few weeks ago, there was a debate on Style Girlfriend over whether jeans and chinos are the same. They’re not, but these pants walk the line between the two. With the qualities of selvedge denim and the sharpness of chinos, these are a great alternative to jeans that are both work and weekend appropriate.
What I look for when putting an outfit together with pants like these are complementary fabrics and textures. In this case heavier is better. Fabrics like oxford cloth, wool, herringbone patterns, etc. work really well. Knit ties are also a great accessory. Shoes with some broguing or moderate boots can really bring an outfit together.
Work
Selvedge Twill Pants: Brooks Brothers // Shirt: T. M. Lewin // Sport Coat: Hart Schaffner Marx
Shoes: Loake // Belt: Johnston & Murphy
Tie: hook + ALBERT // Fragrance: Hermes
Weekend
Selvedge Twill Pants: Brooks Brothers // Sweater: Brooks Brothers
Boots: To Boot New York // Belt: Crockett & Jones