Some of us (my hand is raised) are in a rut. We default to dark blue denim at the slightest opportunity to do so. And why not? It’s comfortable, it’s classic,and in our current day and age you can even dress it up a bit. Hell, it goes with darn near everything (even other blue stuff) and prices range from dirt cheap to investment worthy. That said, sometimes you gotta branch out. Because if you don’t, you might never discover a new favorite. Here are 10 pairs of pants to consider that aren’t dark blue denim, yet won’t make jeans-addicts too uncomfortable. Maybe… (someone hold me. please).
#1. Bonobos Made in the USA Travel Jeans in “Austin Asphalt” – $98
JEANS OF A DIFFERENT CUHLAH! Don’t scoff. Even going from standard dark blue denim to a saturated grey/charcoal can be a weird switch for some. But dark grey, like this, will fool the eye a bit more and look terrific with a wool or chino blazer. They feel and wear like jeans, but look slightly more dressed up. A little lighter in shade in person. Many have complained about Bonobos (probably?) changing the fabric over the last year or two on their travel jeans, but many of us still find em’ to be pretty darn fantastic. Made in the USA denim, all the Bonobos fits available (Straight, Slim Straight, Slim Tailored)… and not blue. Codes can drop these to the mid $70s. Size 32×30 in the straight fit shown above.
Want a cheaper option? Try these super slim fits from J. Crew Factory, or, their straight fit option, and use the code LEAVES for an extra 30% off, good through today only. Free shipping no min. too…
#2. L.E. Moleskin Straight Fit 5-Pockets – $59.25 ($79) w/ MAPLE & 1610
Moleskin is nothing short of awesome this time of year. Thicker. Keeps the wind off your skin. It’s like velvet with a crew-cut. Little to no shine. Velvet is dressy and a bit frou-frou. Moleskin is quite dressed down and almost rugged. The nap on Moleskin is much shorter than velvet. Think nubuck vs. full-grain suede. And don’t worry… moleskin is just cotton. Not the actual pelts of moles. Code & pin is good for 25% off reg. priced styles through Tuesday, 10/21.
#3. Target Mossimo Supply Co. Cords – $18.74 ($24.99)
Some of us denim addicts have an aversion to subbing out our jeans for cords due to the “Dressed up” connotation cords can sometimes carry. If you were raised in a cold weather area, and had house-of-worship going parents, chances are you were shoehorned into an itchy sweater and ballooning cords on Sundays (or Saturdays) as a child. Conditioning man… it’s powerful stuff. Anyway, so the key to break that connection in your head, is to stick with cheap cords. Cheap cords aren’t as soft and mushy. And you won’t feel weird scraping them up/spilling sh* t on em’. Get the light grey pair, wear with a t-shirt, and go change your oil.
#4. GAP Slim Fit Selvedge Twill 5-Pockets – $33.99 ($89.95)
Awfully close to dark denim, but not quite. Baby steps here for the true dark denim addicts. These are selvedge twill 5 pockets. Ultra deep navy color. Slim fit. Not a ton of sizes left in terms of length (UPDATE: looks like they’re all but gone in blue), but, if you’re willing to slice that selvedge, you can always have em’ hemmed. Really well reviewed.
#5. Lands’ End 628 Straight Fit “Jeanos” – $24.99 ($58)
Much denser twill than an average chino, so they’re not going to feel like you’re working the floor at Best Buy. “Vintage Brick” shade pulls a summer go-to-hell color right into fall. Patch pockets on the rear. These things are beggin’ for a shawl collar sweater and a winter ale.
#6. GAP 1969 Slim Fit Bedford 5-Pocket “Cord” – $49.95 ($59.95)
Not a plush, dressy corduroy. More like a canvas pant with a slight bit of texture. Dressy corduroy is going to probably drift too far from the norm for a denim addict, but these are more like canvas pants. Always on sale too, so might be worth waiting for a code. Slim fit, so watch out if you’re beefier through your lower appendages.
#7. J. Crew Factory Slim Fit Flannel Lined Chinos – $48.65 w/ LEAVES
Anybody need some wood chopped? They’re not going to move or feel like standard chinos. And that’s a good thing. For the coldest of days. Gonna look mighty fine with some Red Wings. Extra 30% off & free shipping, today only, with LEAVES.
#8. J. Crew Camp Pant – $27.99 w/ TGIFALL (final) ($98)
Not quite a cargo pant. Might be worth checking out your local Army/Navy surplus for something very similar. Based off a military design. Patch pockets up front, flaps in the back. Slimmer fitting. Straight through the hip but with a slim thigh and leg. Lots of sizes left, but they are final sale. Use TGIFALL for an extra 30% off.
#9. Your favorite dark blue jeans… in black
Yep. Black denim is “in” this season. But a tip: Make sure you pick a pair of black jeans that aren’t a super-saturated, solid black. Like your favorite pair of dark-wash denim, you want a little bit of the lighter threads to be showing through (as seen above on the pair from Bonobos). Solid black jeans are a little tough to pull off, aside from wearing with 3-wolf moon t-shirts, or, heading to at Star Trek convention. But if you’re headed in that direction… by all means. QAPLA’! But that’s not to say it can’t be done. Just having that visual texture there, with the lighter colored threads, makes it a bit easier.
#10. Put on a favorite pair of suit pants… and the jacket too.
A substitution for when you were going to get out your best pair of dark denim and dress them up. Why not? Just wear a suit. For the hell of it. No, not to the budget theater for a $2.99 matinee, but if you and your sweetheart were planning a casual night out, why not ask your betrothed if they’d like to step it up a notch for the evening? If you’re a blue collar or business casual worker, don’t save your suits for special occasions. Get em’ out. Practice makes perfect. Have fun in them. (Above: Suitsupply Napoli fit, out of stock, from a few years back)
NOTE: Yes, during editing we realized that the very top image of this post looks like it could be the cover to some 1980s VHS adult movie. Not that we’d know anything about that kinda thing. Gets the point across though.
Typo: #6 is a Bedford Cord not Beford. Cheers!
Ah! Black denim 😛 Good joke!
>Solid black jeans only look good with 3-wolf moon t-shirts, or, at Start Trek conventions
Or in/on your way to a moshpit
How does the sizing on those Mossimo cords fit? I wouldn’t mind picking up a pair of cords, but have always been a bit reluctant to do it. A pair that cheap is an easy first step. I usually wear 32×30 pants. But when I tried on some Merona shorts & khakis last year, I needed a 33 waist, which they didn’t carry in the store, (even sizes only). Does the Mossimo stuff run similarly sized? Or is it pretty TTS?
Looks like JCF changed the price of the flannel chino. I had them in my cart at $38.15, now they’re $48.65. Mega womp?
The L.E. Moleskin pants are on my to-buy list.
Word to the wise…I tried on those J.Crew Camp pants and they’re a lot harder to pull off than you might otherwise think. Can’t really put it to words, but they just didn’t look as good as chinos, cords, jeans on me, FWIW.
If you purchased about two hours ago you could have got some mega steals. They just increased prices on a ton of the “sale items”. I was lucky enough to nab the elbow patch tweed when they had it listed @108. Its now 138. With the 30% got it for $75.60.
My humble suggestion is to actually tuck your shirt all the way in – or don’t, unlike the models in several of these photos. I understand why they are opting for the hybrid move, but in practice I think you should commit to one or the other.
So, what is a Start Trek convention? Inside joke or typo?
Yes indeed. You’d think they’d change their “sale” prices before a code launches. Y’know, at 12:01 ET or something. But that didn’t happen this morning. Like the AE 2nds Rediscover America Sale issue, they changed prices AFTER the promo launched. Weird. Updated above. At least they ship free.
I don’t think most of us actually wear shirts like that. Not sure why that’s been the current trend in retail modeling.
I picked up 3 pairs of the GAP 1969 Bedford’s this weekend when it was 40% off everything and they ended up costing me just under $32 each after tax. I got Navy, Grey & Raspberry (trying to add some burgundy-ish to the wardrobe this fall per Joe’s suggestion — http://dappered.com/2014/09/10-style-suggestions-for-fall-2014/). The cord/canvas hybrid description sold me and I’m definitely looking forward to wearing these.
Or on your way to a date with Jennifer Aniston, Beyonce, Victoria Beckham, or Kim Kardashian, as these women’s significant others, Justin Theroux, Jay Z, David Beckham, and Kanye, respectively, have all been known to wear solid black jeans with a ton of easy-to-pull-off, approachable style.
Like everything else, better to understand a guiding principle than to follow a blanket rule like solid black jeans aren’t stylish. If the fit is spot on, solid black jeans work really well because they allow for easy pairing with other high contrast or tonal pieces. This weekend, for instance, I wore solid black jeans with a red and black buffalo plaid shirt and brown boots. I think it was pretty stylish, though maybe not for everyone, which is totally permissible. Admittedly, this isn’t really a conservative look, but I think, especially in many online style communities, we only allow conservative or classic pieces to be considered part of “appropriate” or “good” style. But style is more about understanding what works together and how to best pair items to flatter your appearance and express your personality, and if this is the case, few things are going to be inherently wrong or bad. It’s all in the way we utilize garments, which is where creativity and expression come into play;
or, I like solid black jeans and find them to be perfectly stylish when worn well.
/rant>
I’m way into cords right now, especially in standard chino colors (tans and khakis). My jeans have taken a backseat to cords, even on weekends.
Yes indeed. Usually not so absolute around these parts. Changed the copy above to reflect that.
I think the idea is just to show the waistband of the pants even when the model is wearing a more casual, untucked outfit.
Right, but they seem to do it all the time, with everything. Even if the item in question they’re showing is a sweater or somethin’.
Always good to show as much of a garment as possible, if you can.
Man, I love those flannel lined khakis!!! If only it got cold enough here in SoCal to actually wear them.
dat klingon, tho…
Hm, I hadn’t specifically noticed that it’s done with stuff other than pants. Perusing J.Crew’s sweater section right now, they are apparently big fans of pushing the sweater up so it sits just on top of the waistband in one spot….
Same here. Though, my long chicken legs tend to swim in straight fits. Having a tough time finding some affordable slim/slim straight moleskin pants. I think GAP had some last year but they haven’t made an appearance yet this year. Suggestions?
It’s the highly coveted partial tuck. It takes about 20 minutes of adjustment to achieve a look like you don’t have the time to actually tuck in your shirt for real.
Sprezzatura (sp?) run amok.
I had a pair of lined jeans in middle school that I wore religiously. They got handed down to my little brother, who wore them until they were rags. Most comfortable pants I have ever owned. My expectations are high.
I’ve been looking for something close to the JC Camp Pants – painter, utility, cargoish. Were they too casual? Fit wrong? It’s final sale so definitely want to be wise going in.
Leans very casual, which may be the crux of the problem for me. I don’t think they advertise it in the description, but they are 770 fit – which I normally like a lot. Don’t count on wearing much with it besides a henley, sweater, or plain tee.
I wear black 511s all the time and I look bad ass.
I have the camp pant in green, and they’re my favorite pants to wear right now. Slim, but not too slim, and characteristics that set them apart from most pants.
Seriously having the blue everything problem right now. It’s nice to break from that. ha
Squats! 😉
I find the mossimo stuff runs pretty tts. I have these exact cords from last year (and love them) that I have a 32×30, and I’m usually about a 31 waist and they’re not tight.
You could probably just buy a 32 and a 33, and return the other. I think they do free ship over $50 and free returns.
So what is the verdict on Bonobos travel jeans? I heard the fabric was fabulous but then I started hearing it changed and wasn’t worth buying. Any opinions?