What is the difference between khakis and slacks

When used in this way, pants can refer to any kind of pants. Jeans are pants, so are chinos and khakis and suit pants. In fact, even slacks are pants. The French word actually refers to a stock character named Pantaloon, essentially a clown-like buffoon who wore a pair of tight pants as part of his costume.

Additionally, some style guides will define trousers as a specific type of pants, or use the way the piece of clothing is cut to distinguish between the two.

Pants, on the other hand, is a more general term and may be created from a single piece of cloth. Note that when using trousers, just like with pants, you need to treat the noun as a plural. That means were and are, compared to was and is. Some style guides suggest that slacks are only formal pants, while others say that slacks are completely different from the type of pants that come with a suit or other formal wear.

This word comes to English from Germanic, the very early proto-language from which Old English, Dutch, German, Norse, and a variety of other languages.

In the mids, a few innovative British officers realized that it was silly to dress their soldiers in the traditional, swelteringly hot wool of the British army uniform, which also had to ship from England to India! They replaced the heavy wool pants with sturdy cotton twill and dyed this fabric locally with coffee, curry, and tobacco juice. This created a uniform that blended into the colors of the landscape, providing better camouflage.

It means dust-colored or dirt-colored. By , the cotton twill khaki-colored uniform pants became an official part of the British army uniform. Like chinos, this kind of pants quickly moved into the realm of popular fashion when returning soldiers came home wearing these comfortable, sturdy pants! Khakis often have a more rugged appearance than chinos in the fashion world today. They usually contain heavier cotton twill and may have a pleated front, pockets, and a looser leg than classic chinos.

For this reason, khakis do not always look great for business casual or formal wear. Instead, think of them like jeans—you can wear them paired with a nice shirt or sweater around town or out on a hike, but probably not to the office. You can buy khaki pants for men and women literally everywhere, from Target to Kohls to Banana Republic and the Gap.

The main difference between chinos and khakis is that chinos tend to use lighter-weight fabric and have a more tapered design, while khakis use heavier cotton twill and have a more bulky cut. You may find variations in this general trend depending on the brand or manufacturing of an individual pair of chinos or khakis, of course, but this comparison will give you a good idea of the typical differences between the two kinds of pants.

Chinos typically have a tapered cut, meaning that the pant leg narrows toward the ankle. Khakis often have a looser, straight leg that does not narrow toward the ankle. Some khakis may also have bulky pockets or a cuff at the bottom of the trouser leg.

This makes chinos look more dressy and trendy, while the bulkier khakis often get relegated to tasks involving rougher work, like hiking or doing yard work. For example, Carhartt sells a line of durable, tough khaki workwear. These days, you will more likely find both types of pants using a blended fabric that contains at least some percentage of synthetic fabric. The synthetic materials lack the nice stretch and breathability of cotton, but they cost a lot less to produce.

If you want real cotton twill in your pants, make sure you read the product description before purchasing! Cotton twill is simply cotton fabric made using a twill weave pattern. This kind of weave uses an offset thread structure to create repeating diagonal ribs in the thread pattern. Materials like gabardine and denim also commonly use a twill weave.

Khaki pants often use a more heavyweight, durable cotton twill, while chinos use a lighter-weight version. This characteristic can vary greatly depending on the brand and manufacturer, though, so you may want to rub a bit of the fabric between your fingers to test its thickness and durability for yourself. Generally speaking, manufacturers use thicker, heavier fibers to make a more heavyweight version of the material. This kind of cloth still has the characteristic diagonal threads of a twill weave, but it has a greater thickness and weighs more than the more summery, lightweight type of cotton twill.

The topstitching on khakis gives them nice sturdy seams and helps the thicker fabric lay flat where it needs to. Chinos, on the other hand, typically maintain their sleek line by only having interior stitching. Khakis are always khaki-colored and chinos may come in a variety of colors.

Of course, you can find khaki-colored chinos, which is where a lot of the confusion comes from when comparing these two pant styles!

That said, you often find navy blue, grey, or brown chinos besides the popular dusty khaki shade. In general, chinos offer a comfortable, stylish alternative to classic dress pants. They work well in a business setting and can even serve as formal wear in some circumstances. Khakis usually go well in any situation where you would feel comfortable wearing jeans. If you can wear jeans to work, you may get away with pairing a nice sweater and khakis in the office!

Most of the time, though, khakis do better in more rugged environments, while chinos look best in business casual or formal environments. Chinos and khakis have widely varying pricing depending on the brand. That said, lots of high-end brands sell chinos, meaning that these types usually cost a lot more than the Walmart or Target brand of khakis. Woolen materials offer protection against cold temperatures. When compared to cotton and linen, for instance, woolen materials are typically warmer.

Slacks, of course, are made of a woolen material, thus making them a great choice for the cooler months of the years. You can still wear slacks during the spring and summer months, though. Slacks offer year-round usage. Dress pants offer benefits as well. Dress pants are an essential part of formal and semi-formal outfits.

They feature a dressier appearance than their slack counterparts. Maybe you prefer chinos, or perhaps you enjoy suit trousers. So, should you choose slacks or dress pants? There are advantages associated with both choices. Slacks fit more loosely than dress pants, so they are usually more comfortable. Dress pants, on the other hand, offer a dressier appearance and are available in more styles.

For a more casual appearance, slacks are probably the better choice. For a formal appearance, dress pants are probably the better choice. With that said, you can choose either slacks or dress pants.

Choosing between slacks and dress pants is ultimately a personal decision.