RS Recommends: The Best Men’s Dress Pants for Every Occasion
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Despite their name, dress pants aren’t only for dressy outfits. The best dress pants for men can elevate casual looks for the office or date night (think, with white sneakers and a tucked-in T-shirt), or provide a base for dressier attire.
If you’re in need of a refresh (maybe those pre-pandemic slacks are feeling a little dated), we’re here to help. Below are some of our favorite dress pants you can order online, from stretchy, commuter-friendly trousers to statement-making designer slack.
In This Article
The Best Dress Pants for Men
How to Choose the Best Dress Pants for Men
The Best Dress Pants for Men
Below are some of the best dress pants for men, with picks for every personal style, occasion, and office environment.
Editor’s Pick: Rhone Commuter Pant
Stretch Dress Pants: Lululemon Commission Pant
Throwback: Todd Snyder Foundation Sutton Pant
Machine Washable: Bonobos Weekday Warrior Dress Pants
Budget Dress Pants: Calvin Klein Slim Fit Dress Pant
Modern Minimalism: Theory Mayer Pants
Casual Dress Pants: COS Slim Fit Corduroy Trousers
Designer Pick: Thom Browne Classic Super 120s Wool Backstrap Pants
Splurge-Worthy: Gucci Fluid Drill Pant
Preppy: J. Crew Bowery Dress Pant
Relaxed Fit: A.P.C. Renato Straight-Leg Trousers
Trendy Pick: Abercrombie & Fitch Pleated Trouser
Classic Style: Banana Republic Italian Hopsack Suit Pant
Drawstring Waist: Mr P. Tapered Wool Drawstring Trousers
Corduroy: NN07 Bill 1075 Corduroy Trousers
Flare-Leg: Valentino Garavani Tailored Trousers
1. State & Liberty Athletic Fit Suit Pants
Shopping for dress pants can be tough if you’ve got an athletic build, as slim-fit pants are often too tight and straight-leg pants can look too baggy. State & Liberty tackles this problem leg-on, offering dress pants designed to look great on guys with more muscular legs. They feature extra room in the seat, thigh, and quads (somewhat like straight-leg pants), but they taper at the calf for a flattering, pull-together look. Plus, the pants are extra stretchy for all-day comfort.
2. Rhone Commuter Pant
These Commuter pants from Rhone check all the right boxes. They look like your standard stylish pair of slacks, but they’re made of Rhone’s stretchy, breathable Flex-Knit fabric for top-notch comfort — even during long walks or long hours of sitting. Rhone also offers several colorways and fits, including slim, skinny, and classic, so you can customize the trousers to fit your style.
3. Lululemon ABC Trouser
Another great pair of stretchy, walking-friendly dress pants is Lululemon’s ABC Slim-Fit Trouser. Made of four-way stretch Warpstreme fabric, the pants are flexible enough for a yoga class yet (somehow) sophisticated enough for most offices. Better still, you can machine wash and even tumble dry the pants after particularly sweaty days.
4. Todd Snyder Italian Flannel Gurkha Trouser
These Italian Flannel Gurkha Trousers from Todd Snyder are about as classic as they come. The trousers feature a relaxed fit at the hips and a slight taper through the knee and calf (which makes you look taller). They’re also made of premium Italian wool that looks and feels nicer than your average budget suit pants, even though the price tag on these isn’t too scary.
5. Bonobos Weekday Warrior Dress Pants
If you find yourself out of clean pants (or out of time to hit the dry cleaners) try these Weekday Warrior dress pants from Bonobos. They’re machine washable, and can even be tumble dried, but they look just as good as most dry clean-only trousers. Featuring a slim fit and a slight stretch to the fabric, the pants are ready for demanding walks, traveling, and long days of sitting.
6. Calvin Klein Slim Fit Dress Pant
No need to splurge on new dress pants if you don’t want to: These Calvin Klein dress pants are available on Amazon, and most sizes are under $50. They’re made of a polyester blend with rayon and spandex, which lends a bit of stretch without sacrificing the pants’ classic looks.
7. Theory Mayer Pants
For a clean, modern look, pick up a pair of these ultra-sharp Mayer pants from Theory. They’re considered straight-leg, although they seem slightly on the slim side of straight, and make a great choice for elevating business-casual outfits. For example, you could throw them on with a black or white T-shirt and clean sneakers and fit in at just about any office.
8. Gucci Fluid Drill Pant
Stylish celebs (like Harry Styles) have been proving the greatness of Seventies-inspired Gucci slacks. If you want to nail that throwback leading-man look, pick up these Gucci Fluid Drill pants pants. They’re as bold and luxurious as you’d expect from the famous designer, and look great on nights out or in adventurous offices.
9. J. Crew Bowery Dress Pant
A longtime favorite at J. Crew, the Bowery trouser is a great pair of pants to gound any preppy outfit. With a low-key slim fit and a bit of stretch, the pants are slightly more casual than your usual trousers, going especially well with button-ups, sneakers or loafers, and sweaters.
10. A.P.C. Renato Straight-Leg Trousers
Another great pair of pants for business-casual looks are these Renato trousers from A.P.C. They feature a comfortable wool-blend fabric and a pleated, straight-leg look. Pair them with sneakers and tees, or dress them up with boots, a button-up, and a nice sweater or trench coat.
11. Abercrombie & Fitch Pleated Trouser
Abercrombie & Fitch has done a 180 in the last couple of years, now pumping out trendy, quality pieces that we can’t stop buying. These pleated trousers are a great example of this “new” Abercrombie & Fitch, showcasing a clean pleated look and a soft polyester build.
12. Banana Republic Italian Hopsack Suit Pant
Every guy should have a classic pair of suit pants in their closet (ideally with the jacket to match, but not necessarily). These Italian Hopsack pants from Banana Republic fit the bill, featuring a timeless tailored fit and a wool fabric.
13. Mr P. Tapered Wool Drawstring Trousers
Drawstring trousers, such as these from Mr. P, are a great way to make your dress pants feel more comfortable. But, besides adding some comfort, they also let you micro-adjust the fit. You can wear them with a dress shirt, but we think they work best with more looks; think a polo or sweater and boots.
14. NN07 Bill 1075 Corduroy Trousers
We always keep a pair of sophisticated corduroy pants on hand. Besides mixing up the usual denim-or-dress pant rotation, they’re also warmer than most other pants for cozy winter outfits. These ones from NNO7 are more dressy than most cords with a fine cord material.
15. Valentino Garavani Tailored Trousers
For something a bit dramatic, check out these Valentino Garavani pants. They showcase a flared leg look that deftly turns a basic black trouser into something more exciting. Pair them with a T-shirt and sneakers or boots for a fun going-out look.
How to Choose the Best Dress Pants for Men
As their role has become more flexible, dress pants have adapted. Today, some of the best dress pants for men feature stretchy fabrics and drawstring waistbands, or they come in bold fits and statement-making colors.
No matter what kind of slacks you’re after — or how you plan on styling them — here are a few things to keep in mind while shopping for the best dress pants online.
Fit: In terms of pants fit, almost anything goes right now. Grab some slim-fit trousers for extra professionalism, or go baggy for streetwear-inspired outfits to spice up your office look. Just be sure to check how dress pants fit before buying them so you know what you’re getting into.
Material: The material used for a pair of slacks dictates comfort, breathability, and the way the pants hang on your body. We think the best men’s dress pants are airy enough to accommodate a brisk commute and comfortable enough to sit in all day (even if you’re traveling). Look for high-quality cotton twill, wool, or blend fabrics with some stretch.
Color: Like fit, there aren’t rules anymore about what color the best dress pants should be. Unique colors and patterns are great for building interesting outfits, but dark blues, blacks, and greys are still the most versatile.
Care: Although some dress pants require dry cleaning, others can be machine washed and a few can even be tumble-dried. Being able to machine wash your pants is a big plus in our book, especially in a pinch if we need the pants the next day.