9 Pairs of Men’s Pants That Work For (Pretty Much) Every Occasion

The moniker here is spot-on when it comes to these trusty, Huckberry-designed and approved pants. They’ve been a fan favorite for years, blending the versatility and office-friendly style of chinos with the design of five-pocket pants or denim. The stretch cotton fabric comes in an astonishing range of colors, sizes and fit options, too (including Tapered and Straight). Wear them once and you just might want to get a pair of these for every day of the week.

If you’ve got a bit more leeway at your office or in your day-to-day, some workwear-inspired pants might be just as safe a bet as tailored chinos. The Proof Rover Pants use both cotton and canvas to craft a remarkably durable and rugged pair of stretch pants as ready for a day hike or camping trip as they are Sunday brunch. The neutral, pleasingly faded color options wear well with staples like a chambray shirt or a merino tee, but the Rover Pants can be dressed up with an Oxford shirt and one of the best men’s blazers, too.

Want a pair of comfortable, flexible, ever-so-slightly dressier pants to match your lifestyle? Yeah, you do. Todd Snyder’s 5-Pocket Chinos are a solid bet for tailored occasions aplenty, made with stretch cotton and some tasteful distressing, not to mention the jean-like five-pocket build. This helps them look a bit more like jeans, but dark, crisp colors give them a bit of business casual flexibility.

Rugged, sustainable, and dependable style is the name of the game with most of Patagonia’s gear, including this pair of wear-anywhere, straight-leg canvas pants. While they’re more suited for yard work or day hikes than board meetings, think of them like the pants you can wear most anywhere aside from the office. The rich Coriander Brown color pairs with anything in your wardrobe, and the range of sizing (up to a 44-inch waist) is an excellent bonus.

When the day involves everything from early morning meetings at the office to dashing out early for a family getaway, who has time to change? Western Rise has solved that problem handily with this performance-minded pair of everyday pants that check all the right boxes: They’re breathable and moisture-wicking, they’re water and stain-resistant, and color options like Khaki ensure they’re weekday-ready.

Still not ready to give up on tailored sweats or joggers? How about a bit of a happy medium by way of these tapered chinos featuring a forgiving elastic waist. If you’re able to wear a polo or an Oxford shirt untucked, or else topped off with a stylish sweater, no one will be any the wiser you’re forgoing a belt. Plus, the wear-with-anything faded black-grey color teams with plenty of other layering options for fall and beyond. Think of these as both weekend-ready and office-minded.

Aside from more formal occasions that call for a suit or tuxedo (both in short supply these days), there aren’t all that many places where a pair of dark blue, straight leg (but not too skinny) jeans won’t work. These jeans are an excellent wear-everywhere option. They feel great, and fit in everywhere from office meetings to weekend family outings.

Jeans are the original work pants, and Filson has taken that to heart with a pair of overbuilt (in a great way) jeans that are made to be worn every day. You can pull them off at a more casual office, sure, but they’ll look best when worn casually alongside the family, crunching fall leaves underfoot. The indigo rinse will break in and mold to your body the more you wear ‘em, and the straight-leg cut looks great on everyone.

Chinos, if it's not obvious, are some of the most versatile pants you can own, especially if you need to take things up a notch from denim at the office. Mott and Bow, who make some of our favorite jeans, have used their knowledge of fit and comfortable fabric to deliver reliable twill chinos that pretty much wear like jeans. Go rugged with a henley and shawl cardigan, or classy with a crisp Oxford shirt and brown leather boots.