9 best work trousers for men
BUYING a pair of the best work trousers for men no longer means shopping in a sea of grey, black and navy — although there's no knocking the classics, many offices now allow more casual denim and chino styles.
Shirts and tops are often the garments most of us concentrate on when buying pieces for work, but with autumn just around the corner, now's the perfect time to make sure you've got a stylish selection of trousers for the season that will look smart and polished whatever your profession.
Ensuring you have a solid trouser rotation for work is key to creating outfit variety and keeping your style looking fresh. If you're working from home, the lure of joggers may be tempting, but putting on something a bit smarter will help create a distinction between work and home life.
Those headed back to the office should keep an eye out for transitional styles that will are cool enough for the tail end of summer, but cosy enough to wear on the brisker days of autumn. A pair of chinos always looks timeless with a crisp shirt, or if your dress-code is more casual, a classic pair of jeans is a winner.
If you work in an industry that's a bit more active and hands-on, utility styles with plenty of pockets are a must. Choose thicker, sturdier fabrics to add a protective layer if you work with tools and machinery.
To give you some inspiration, we've rounded up an assortment of styles below that will see you through the working day.
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find. Men's Trouser
- (AD) find. Mens trouser, from £12.49 -
We love these trousers from Amazon brand find. because they're cheap, versatile, and come in some great colours including classic navy, a dashing blue chambray and a daring burgundy.
Their relaxed fit means that they'll look great not only with a pair of work shoes like oxford or brogues, but also with a pair of suitable work trainers like the crisp white pair above.
They've received hundreds of glowing reviews on Amazon, with reviewers saying that their quality far exceeds their price tag — they're so affordable that you won't feel too annoyed if you spill your morning coffee on them.
Amazon Essentials Slim-fit Cargo Pant
- (AD) Amazon Essentials Men's Slim-fit Cargo Pant, from £12.81 from Amazon -
A smart take on cargo pants? We're in.
This pair from Amazon Essentials boasts a stylish slim fit, while the black colourway adds a more polished feel to the traditional military stylings.
Made from 90% cotton, they're ideal for lighter temperatures. Reviewers are really impressed too, with one shopper saying: "Nothing to dislike: fits perfect, looks good and good value for the money."
We tried: TM Lewin's Non Iron Radcliffe Slim Fit Grey Chino
- Non Iron Radcliffe Slim Fit Stone Chino, £59.95 from TM Lewin -
Looking to do smart with minimal effort? TM Lewin's non-iron chinos are the ones.
The heritage brand first opened its Jermyn Street store in 1898 and pioneered the first button-down coat-shirt, so they certainly know a thing or two about men's workwear.
With a new contemporary aesthetic for 2021, we were excited to try out the new slim fit, non-iron Radcliffe chino, designed to bridge the gap between looking smart and feeling comfortable.
With seven colours to choose from, we opted for stone and received our parcel in no time. Upon first inspection, the trousers looked of great quality and once we tried them on we were really impressed: they fit perfectly and felt really comfortable, thanks to the stretch waistband and cotton blend.
With Max Performance technology and an anti-fade, anti-pilling fabric, these trousers promise to hold up colour-wise, which is great if you plan on getting a lot of wear out of them — which we definitely will be.
Having worn them just once, we can't comment on the anti-fade just yet, but we can definitely vouch for the non-iron feature — they looked relatively crease-free once on, even after being folded in the packaging. Impressive!
Would we recommend them? Definitely. Our new favourite go-to trouser.
We tested: Uniqlo Dry-Ex Ultra Ankle Length Trousers
- Uniqlo Dry-Ex Ultra Ankle Length Trousers, £34.90 -
We got a pair of Uniqlo's "Smart Comfort" Dry-Ex trousers when we first returned to the office, hoping that they would provide a nice middle ground between the joggers we'd been wearing constantly for the last 18 months and the suit trousers we're used to wearing to the office.
And, to be honest, they're all we talked about for the week after we bought them — they look exactly like any suit trouser, and are available in the classic officewear trio of grey, black and navy — but feel like wearing pyjamas.
They're also great value at less than £35, and because we brought them in-store, we were eligible to get them altered at no extra cost. And importantly, they require a minimal level of care — we'll definitely be repurchasing.
Dickies Everyday Trousers
- Dickies Everyday Trousers, £27 from Dickies -
Nowadays Dickies is probably best-known for its 874 pant, which is beloved by skateboarders. However, it was founded in the 1920s as a brand that manufactured sturdy clothing for farmhands in the American Southwest.
That means that it has plenty of experience making some of the best work trousers for men, and the Everyday Trouser is at the core of its workwear offering.
They come with two hip pockets, a phone pocket and a ruler pocket, as well as a hook-and-loop fastening cargo pocket for carrying extra tools. They come in a regular fit with reinforced knees.
As their name might suggest, the Everyday Trousers are designed for general day-to-day work. If you need something more specialised, you might want something like the
Gap Slim Canvas Joggers with Gapflex
- Slim Canvas Joggers with Gapflex, £27.96 -
Ok, we know what we said about no joggers, but hear us out: this slim-fit silhouette by Gap strikes the perfect balance between comfort and style.
They're made from a smooth twill weave, which makes them smarter than the average pair (get it), but not so much so that you feel silly wearing them while scrolling through spreadsheets on your sofa.
And despite the fact that they're not made from jersey like your "lounging around" joggers, they use GapFlex technology, which claims to ensure total comfort and flexibility — so you won't notice the difference.
Ernest W. Baker Brown Pleated Straight-Leg Trousers
- Ernest W. Baker Brown Pleated Straight-Leg Trousers, £445 -
With their deep coffee colour, single pleat and a leg that is baggier than many of today's men are used to, it'll take a bit of panache to carry off these trousers from Portugese designer Ernest W. Baker — although you don't have to pair them with Cuban heels, as Ssense's stylists have done.
However, if you have the confidence, these are a great way to make a statement around the office without resorting to gaudy prints or fabrics.
They're made from a virgin wool blend, which will make sure you're both suave and comfortable.
Mango tapered fit crop corduroy trousers
- Mango tapered fit crop corduroy trousers, £49.99 -
If you're looking for a way to emulate the seventies without going for brown trousers and cuban heels, a pair of cords could be the way.
These, from Mango, would be a great addition to any office wardrobe, taking you from boardroom to bar effortlessly. Because these are slightly cropped, they look best with boots — although we like Mango's choice of black leather, we'd rate a tan suede, too.
Levi's 511 Slim Jeans
- 511™ slim jeans, £100 from Levi's -
If your place of work has a relaxed dress code, there's no reason a pair of jeans can't look smart and put together—especially teamed with a shirt for some added polish.
We've turned to the kings of denim, Levi's: every man should own a pair and that's a fact.
We're loving the 511 slim jeans — they're contemporary, sleek, and perfect for work-to-weekend wear.
What are the best work trousers for men?
If you're back in the office this autumn, you're going to want something that's both breathable and cosy, to suit the milder temperatures — a light wool would be suitable. Our favourite pair at the moment are from — they're oh-so-comfy but look the part.
Continuing that WFH lifestyle? Perhaps go for some joggers that are slightly more upscale than your PJs, or a pair of comfy jeans — or 501s for a more classic fit.
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Those with particularly active jobs will want something that offers sturdiness and support without being uncomfortable. offers trousers that are distinctly utilitarian and will become more comfortable the more you wear them.
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