10 Modern Trouser Styles Every Man Should Own

Whether you’re going on a first date, prepping for your next holiday, heading into a big conference, or are just heading to dinner with friends and family, what you wear is an extension of your personality. It’s easy to get stuck in a style rut when it comes to your trousers. While most men know the wardrobe staples (jeans, chinos, and suit trousers), it’s essential to keep things fresh and exciting.

Luckily there are many stylish options to keep your look fresh. Modern menswear makes it easy to find a trouser style for every taste, budget, and occasion. Let’s look at the top contemporary trouser styles every man should own.

Cotton Chinos

Classic cotton chinos are a wardrobe staple! They are easy to style, relaxed, and pair well with almost everything in your closet. Unlike dress pants, which are worn on semi-formal occasions, chinos are made for relaxing. They are breathable and flattering for summer adventures. Compared to suit pants, chinos:

• – Sit lower than trousers with a shorter rise.
  – The hips, thighs, knee, and cuff all fit 1”-1.5” slimmer
  – Paired with casual sneakers or slip-on shoes (such as loafers)
  – Minimal break pant that ends about 1” above the sole of the shoe
• On days when the climate is too high for heavier trousers or suit pants, cotton chinos provide a breezy alternative without coming across as overly casual. Consider a pair of petrol blue, khakhi, burgundy, or military green chinos for a relaxing dinner with friends or a pair of dark navy, charcoal, or black chinos when you require a more semi-formal look.

Classic Jeans

The right pair of jeans are a timeless wardrobe staple that will stand the test of time. Regardless of your body type or age, every man needs a great pair of dark denim jeans in his wardrobe. The right pair of denim jeans can be dressed up with a bespoke dress shirt or paired with a classic crew-neck t-shirt for a more relaxed look.

When it comes to choosing a pair of jeans, it’s all about the style and cut. We recommend selecting a clean and elegant pair without too many details or fades.

Classic jean fits
– Loose fit jeans: are cut to avoid contact with your thighs
– Slim fit jeans: are cut to mold to the natural shape of your legs
– Regular fit jeans: are designed to sit where your hips begin
– Skinny jeans: are cut to hug the legs, starting at the hips down to the ankles

Pleated Trousers

In the past, pleats were almost exclusively found on “old-fashioned” trousers. However, the loosening silhouettes in modern male trousers have brought this throwback style back into the spotlight. Pleated trousers allow for more effortless movement, and the looser cut is far more comfortable than slimmer-fitted alternatives. Pleated pants work best when paired with relaxed tailorings, such as an unstructured blazer with an Oxford shirt.

Formal Trousers

Formal trousers are work must-haves, and they are essential to building your wardrobe. For this reason, most people make the mistake of thinking formal trousers are simply for work or formal events (such as weddings). However, you can wear formal pants to dress up your look for many occasions. From an elegant dinner and a night on the town to a formal event, bespoke formal trousers can be custom-made to enhance your physique while showcasing your sense of style.

Formal trousers should provide a smooth and unbroken silhouette without excessive or billowing fabric. They are typically widest at the waist and taper to the ankles when appropriately fitted. Designed with a higher waist, you can add a little flair to your look with a pair of colorful suspenders. However, a proper fit won’t slip off your body, especially when tailored to include side adjusters and paired with a stylish pair of suspenders.

Linen Trousers

Linen pants have made a considerable comeback, thanks in part to their revamped and enhanced look. Shapeless cuts have been replaced with modern, tapered leg lines that flatter every shape and size. Yet their linen blends make them far less likely (if not impossible) to crease while retaining their easy-breezy vibe. Extremely versatile, linen pants are ideal for outdoor events to keep you cool during warmer months. They can be worn anywhere from a beach vacation to brunch with friends, and even to nighttime social events when in darker colors such as black or navy.

Wool Trousers

Ideal for styling with other tailored separates or elevating a casual outfit, wool trousers have been a wardrobe mainstay for decades. Luckily, their popularity isn’t revealing any indications of going away. Versatile, you can dress down your wool pants with a pair of sneakers and a well-appointed crew-neck or style them more traditionally with your favorite blazer and a pair of bespoke double monk shoes.

Relaxed-Leg Trousers

When many people think about relaxed-fit trousers, they conjure memories of the slouchy all-over, double-pleated, too-long version of relaxed trousers that dominated the 1980s. However, today’s fit is roomy through the seat and thighs, with a tapered, streamlined front (i.e., no pleats). Looser-cut chinos and trousers are essential for a modern man’s wardrobe. They provide a hint of casualness while feeling remarkably comfortable.

When it comes to the cut, relaxed-leg trousers need to break perfectly. If they are too long, they appear to be dragging across the floor. If they are cut too high, you’ll look like you’re wearing cropped pants. Ideally, relaxed-leg trouser hems should fall somewhere between the top of your shoe and its first set of eyelets. We recommend investing in a few pairs of bespoke relaxed trousers to ensure the proper fit.

Cropped Trousers

Cropped trousers, also referred to as ankle trousers, allow your ankles to breathe during the hot summer months while showcasing your footwear in the cooler months. Wait, cropped trousers? What does that even mean? Cropped trousers are generally shorter trousers than your average length pants (i.e., displaying a sliver of ankle). Cropped trousers are perfect for both formal and informal events. Consider styling a pair of cropped sand-colored chinos with a simple white t-shirt, suede bomber jacket, and white sports-luxe trainers for a relaxed weekend look. Pair your black cropped pants with a gray blazer and oxford dress shoes for a semi-formal occasion.

Twill Chinos

With a nod to masculinity, twill chinos are where quality craftsmanship meets reliability. Highly stylish and exceptionally comfortable, twill chinos are ideal to wear in cooler months while effortlessly elevating your everyday look. Traditionally cut from heavyweight cotton, twill refers to the print pattern and not the material the pants are made from. Essentially, the woven design of material creates the diagonal parallel ridges referred to as twill.

Loungewear Pants

Loungewear has exploded in popularity because it’s both comfortable and fashionable. From starting your day at home or holidays with the family at your favorite resort, loungewear pants are designed for that in-between time when you’re looking for maximum stylish comfort while remaining on point. In fact, we like to think of lounge pants as the happy medium between being dressed up and ready to hop into bed.

Characteristics of loungewear pants:

• – Loose, comfy fit
  – Soft materials
  – No itchy or uncomfortable features
  – Warmth when appropriate

Collars & Cuffs Bespoke Trousers

Are you looking to enhance your personal wardrobe? Well look no further! Our bespoke trousers, chinos, and dress pants are unrivaled in quality and craftsmanship.

At Collars & Cuffs, our team of craftsmen is a band of tailors and artists who design and create luxe bespoke loungewear with the utmost finesse. Through combining our inch-perfect craft in design, a wide range of fabric options, and meticulous design and tailoring processes, our team of master tailors is dedicated to designing and crafting the highest caliber of men’s trousers.

Contact a member of our team to learn more!