Slim, casual pants for a "business casual" environment...

[Lysol]

My wardrobe has two modes...on and off. It consists of either jeans, western style or Steven Alan button downs and sneakers OR it consists of suits, dress shirts, ties and dress shoes. I recently got a new job that gives new meaning to the term "business casual." The guidelines of no jeans, no sneakers, and no t-shirts gets taken far too literally and on my few visits to the office I have seen men wearing tan Dickies, black boots and wrinkled dress shirts untucked hanging down to their mid-calf. Even the site manager that I spoke with was dressed like a high school football coach (Polo, pleated pants, and rubber soled dress shoes complete with lanyard around his neck). Needless to say, I am going to feel like the nail sticking up if I go with my original plan of a suit and shirt sans tie.

I have enough button down shirts and sweaters to get by but I am seriously lacking in the not-jeans but not-dress pants department. I'm looking for a slim pair of casual pants that would match well with say a pair of driving moccasins or boat shoes. Flat front and slim cotton pants with a leg opening of 7.5 - 8.5" preferred. Chinos or khakis might be considered but I'm not looking for the distressed and wrinkled versions that a place such as J. Crew, the Gap or Banana Republic offer. Something along the lines of this look from the new APC line from the waist down:

Already tried the usual suspects of H&M and Zara but right now everything is either a dress pant or linen and unfortunately, I don't work on a beach so that's out. Ralph Lauren would be a possibility but it's my understanding that only the Purple Label is slim fitting. Something easily accessible that I could buy online or at a common store would be perfect as I need to throw this together by next week.

I would have posted this over in Men's Clothing but I think the age group that predominately reads this side and has encountered the "new Business Casual" would understand more what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance for the advice and sorry for all the words.

 

[drizzt3117]

DocHolliday was selling some nice slim polo grey trousers before which he'd apparently gotten from one of their outlets, you may want to explore that route. I'm not sure if he's going to get anymore but the ones he had were very nice.

 

[Lysol]

i actually saw those but the only waist sizes he had were too large me me. i'd need like size 32, unhemmed or 32 length.

 

[drizzt3117]

I'm pretty sure he had other sizes earlier and may have them in the future. Otherwise, check out polo outlets or look on ebay.

http://attr-search.ebay.com/search/s...e=search&fgtp=

There's a few items available in 32 on ebay, and there may be more in the future.

 

[Dangydang]

If you're in the NYC/NJ area then try Uniqlo. I bought a great pair of pants there called "Dress Up Jeans" that are made with a stretch cotton. The cut is slim - about the same as a pair of APC New Standards. Best of all they were only $40. They have other slim casual pants there as well.

A link the pants I bought, but in Japanese:

http://store.uniqlo.com/L4/getitem.a...e=&hdnColor=58

 

[BrettChaotix]

I was in the mall a couple of weeks ago and don't normally go into Express but they were having a sale. I bought The Producer pants in Cotton Pinstripe for $45. I really liked the fit and they are super soft! They are also super thin so I think they will fall apart or rip pretty easily.

But they are good for business casual. I can wear them with button downs or a slim fitting sweater and they look good.

 

[hollaforadolla]

are there any of the business casual pants but in smaller waist size? im a 28 and seriously cannot find a pair that are smaller than 30..

 

[thisisme]

i like the fit of those, slim but not really.

 

[nick123]

Originally Posted by BrettChaotix

I was in the mall a couple of weeks ago and don't normally go into Express but they were having a sale. I bought The Producer pants in Cotton Pinstripe for $45. I really liked the fit and they are super soft! They are also super thin so I think they will fall apart or rip pretty easily.

But they are good for business casual. I can wear them with button downs or a slim fitting sweater and they look good.

I love the producer pants, they fit great. I have them in wool and cotton.

 

[blank]

I thought of APC immediately. Those pants are awesome and suit your purpose. I have a similar business purpose and intend on getting some APC slacks.

 

[Joel_Cairo]

These are cheap

 

[Lysol]

Originally Posted by blank

I thought of APC immediately. Those pants are awesome and suit your purpose. I have a similar business purpose and intend on getting some APC slacks.

true enough. they're all sold out on their website. built by wendy is also another place that would suit my purpose but they have yet to put their new stuff online. it looks like i might have to take a trip up the turnpike this weekend unless anyone has any other suggestions.

those pants from express, i've actually tried them on before (i got a 10% discount on a shirt i was buying just for trying them on). the fit is actually pretty spot on what i'm looking for (still a bit wide at the ankle but i suppose i could have that taken in) but i'm not into a lot of the drab colors they come in...it seems everything is some sort of dark gray or black or on the other side of the coin like stone or khaki. i'd like to find sort of gray like above or navy or some sort of brown that isn't tan.

i know the quality is suspect but does anyone have experience with pants made by penguin? they seem pretty slim.

 

[haresh]

I am also looking for the exact same thing without much luck in 28. Although I did manage to get a pair of GAP extra slim chinos from Japan. These suit my purpose but are too slim perhaps. They have a bit of stretch to them. Apparently you cannot get these in GAP US.

 

[j]

Originally Posted by Joel_Cairo

These are cheap

I know we trash KC shoes all the time here, but the clothes are often not really that bad, for basics anyway. Those look like they could be just fine especially for $30.

I might iron creases in them if I got them, though.

 

[ratboycom]

Originally Posted by Dangydang

If you're in the NYC/NJ area then try Uniqlo. I bought a great pair of pants there called "Dress Up Jeans" that are made with a stretch cotton. The cut is slim - about the same as a pair of APC New Standards. Best of all they were only $40. They have other slim casual pants there as well.

A link the pants I bought, but in Japanese:

http://store.uniqlo.com/L4/getitem.a...e=&hdnColor=58

so the US Uniqlo is carrying the "Dress Up Denim" line now? Thats cool. Last summer I bought a pair of the washed ones, later last year I got a pair of single wash, the fit is decent (in the JDM ones, not sure if they changed for "American fit") and the material/construction is better than most in that price range (better than Express/Gap/American Eagle/etc).