Comfy casual-dressy pants (non jeans)?

February 10, 2023 8:28 AM

I would like to find a pair of pants that I can wear frequently-- at home but also when going to bars and restaurants. The casual level is between jeans and work khakis, so nothing athleisure with zippers etc. Slim fit, not super long but also super comfy. I kind of hate wearing jeans, but that's what I wear since I'm sort of expected to. I'm a preppy dude but don't want to look preppy all the time. Want to spend less than $75. What should I buy?

My favorite pants are Banana Republic Aiden pants, but 1) They are pricy unless I find them in a factory store 2) they don't have the same name anymore, 3) they look too preppy/biz casual for me to wear all the time.

posted by sandmanwv to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (10 answers total)

Corduroys!
posted by kevinbelt at 8:52 AM on February 10, 2023 [3 favorites]

Target sells a lot of Dickies twill pants that look nicer than jeans but more casual than the pants you linked to. These have spandex and all of them run about $30-35.
posted by jabes at 8:53 AM on February 10, 2023

Uniqlo's Smart Ankle Pants do exactly this. You can wear them as proper pants or wear them casually, and they are super, super comfortable. The stretchy band at the back changes everything. They have a whole bunch of them, some casual, some fancy.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:00 AM on February 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I like Lee's Performance Series pants. Stretchy, available in a range of browns and grays plus blue.

Example
posted by kindall at 9:01 AM on February 10, 2023

I've purchased a number of Duluth Trading pants for this same need.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 9:27 AM on February 10, 2023

Best answer: I have been on this mission too! I am excited to see other recommendations.

So far, I have found:

LLBean Canvas Pants - They are pretty comfortable. They loose shape a bit quicker / more than jeans, so I feel the need to wash them more frequently than jeans. But, I think they are a good example of more casual than dockers and equal or more dressy than jeans.

Seconding the recommendation for Duluth pants, the "Fire Hose" either 5 pocket or Foreman style. I have the Foreman style. They feel a little more dressy than the LLBean canvas pants, but I feel comfortable wearing them with a t-shirt.
posted by bruinfan at 9:38 AM on February 10, 2023 [1 favorite]

I'm old enough that I lived through the period of atrociously baggy pants and I certainly don't care for the skinny leg but the pair of Duer pants I bought (over-priced, mind) are easily the most comfortable pants I own. There are drawbacks to the stretchy properties in pants these days, but the comfort factor is real. Good luck.
posted by elkevelvet at 10:59 AM on February 10, 2023

I have transitioned to an all-sweatpants lifestyle. They're casual of course but you can get sweatpants that (I hope anyway) aren't ostentatiously casual. (Helps to have a more fitted style instead of the big loose ones that gather at the top.) And, importantly, they are more comfortable than other pants. I have probably walked further down this path than others are willing to. Only you can decide how important comfort is to you.

Most of my erstwhile go-tos are apparently no longer made. For example, I have a couple pairs of semi-fitted REI fleece pants that don't seem to match any of the ones they sell now. They are very soft and cozy. The tapered Uniqlo sweats I used to get also seem to be gone, although they still have a sweatpant range that looks pretty interesting.

The pants in my rotation that are still available are the CloudKnit Slim Sweatpant from Outdoor Voices. These go for $88 but are sometimes on sale for much less. These are a bit pajama-like compared to the others. But those with the strength to wear them are richly blessed.
posted by grobstein at 11:35 AM on February 10, 2023 [2 favorites]

It's possible to find No Nation (NN07) pants on sale at or slightly below $75 - I think Nordstrom Rack have at least one style around $55 right now. I have a pair or two of these and would recommend. They're on the slimmer fit below the knee but are suitably roomy above. Just served a couple days of jury duty in a pair.

Similarly, it's occasionally possible to find Norse Projects Aros Slim pants in this price range, though they will again have to be on sale. Also recommended.
posted by lousywiththespirit at 2:21 PM on February 10, 2023

Response by poster: Great suggestions. I bought these Stretch Washed Chino 2.0 Bonobos on sale as well as the Lee and LL Bean pants above!
posted by sandmanwv at 1:35 PM on February 15, 2023