Looking to live out your schoolboy fantasies even when school is barely even in session and you’re years past the day you graduated? Good. You’ve come to the right place. It’s time to pick up a pair of men’s plaid pants and get this show on the road.
Fashion-wise, the year has brought us a lot of throwbacks. From tie-dye patterns to beach pants only seen in family vacation photos from the 90s, we’ve seen styles once laid to rest six feet underground rise from the dead to find their way onto mannequins in the mall, influencers’ Insta selfies and even Parisian runways.
Because it’s getting a bit colder outside, fashion-forward dudes are bringing plaid back into their everyday looks whether they’re grocery shopping or grabbing spiked hot apple cider at the local pub. Specifically, plaid pants are having a bit of a rebirth moment the way tie-dye and beach pants did and it’s safe to say we’re pretty happy about it.
Given that there are so many unique pant designs in style right now, if you’re going to buy yourself a pair of plaid pants to get in on the trend, now’s the time. With that being said, it’s finally time to add a pair of plaid pants (that aren’t PJs) to your wardrobe — so let’s get to it.
1. H&M Slim Fit Joggers
BEST OVERALL
If you’re looking for something inexpensive that will match just about anything you wear, you’ve found your pair of pants. These slim-fit joggers from H&M are, for the majority, black all over — so you all-black wearers will have no problem incorporating these into your style. They’re slightly tapered at the bottom to give that effortlessly cool “jogger look” and come with a drawstring waistband for a little extra breathing room. For just $35, these are a pair of plaid pants you simply can’t pass up on.
2. Bonobos Slim Fit Plaid Stretch Wool Trouser
MOST SUBTLE
Plaid doesn’t have to be as in-your-face as you might think. Just check out these trousers from Bonobos and see what we’re talking about. These ready-for-work stretch pants are totally blue from afar; it’s not until you get closer to the person wearing them that you’ll figure out they’re actually lightly plaid. They are quite the clean alternative to the business most plaid pants tend to exude, so if you want something more subtle and sophisticated, you should stop looking now/
3. Gingtto Slim Fit Chinos
MOST HUGGING
Buns and thighs, boys, buns and thighs. If you’ve been working on your fitness with a witness this quarantine (yes, that’s a Fergie reference), then you’re going to want to show off all your hard work whenever you get the chance. No, you can’t go running around the streets in your boxer briefs in order to give the world a visual of your legs, but you can throw on these tight slim fit chinos from Amazon. The color is really nice and for guys that like their clothes a little tighter, these are a stellar option to pick.
Buy: Gingtto Slim Fit Chinos $37.99
4. Topman Whyatt Plaid Drawstring Trousers
BEST DAY TO DAY
Looking for something that meets your office’s standards while having the comfort of your go-to lazy day sweatpants? These drawstring trousers from Topman are your best bet. Decked in dulled greens, blues and blacks, these add a nice color to your everyday look and can be worn running back and forth from your desk to the photocopy room to drinks at happy hour afterward. Because they’re tied together with a classic drawstring, you can let that post-quarantine gut hang freely, too.
5. Original Penguin Plaid Flat Front Pants
BEST BEIGE
You don’t need to splurge on Burberry in order to get yourself a nice pair of beige plaid pants. For just $42, Original Penguin is offering these Burberry-esque, rich-looking plaid pants every guy needs to incorporate into his wardrobe. Dress these up by adding your favorite black blazer and white button-down shirt into the mix or dress them down with a graphic tee and white vans. No matter how you choose to rock ’em, you’re going to look like eye candy.
6. UO Plaid Flannel Beach Pant
BEST BEACH PANTS
We know, we know. The majority of us are ditching the beach and hibernating until May, but for those of you who still love the beach-pant aesthetic that appeared out of nowhere this year, we had to include these flannels from Urban Outfitters. With the feel of your favorite flannel shirt, these beach pants will have you staying warm and cozy even though their name might make you think otherwise. All in all, they’re kind of meant to be pajama pants you can go outside wearing. It doesn’t get better than that.
7. Nike Flash Track
BEST TRACK PANTS
Another lost fashionable treasure making its way out from the woodwork? Tracksuits. These long-lost bad boys coming back in style is an opportunity we can’t pass up on. Like, just look at these flash track pants pictured below. That baggy look? That plaid pattern? That greenish-blue completion? Damn. We’ll take five.
8. Bershka Checked Cargo Pants
BEST CARGO PANTS
Here’s something we should all know by now: cargo shorts are not cool. Cargo pants, on the other hand, are very cool. Add multiple exterior pockets to the mix with this classic design that will help you hold everything you can possibly ever need to carry. The black and grey coloring will help you match these with just about anything and they will look handsome with any kind of shoe you add into the mix.
9. Uma Wang Treated Plaid Check Trousers
MOST EXPENSIVE
Here at SPY, we love a bit of a higher price point every once in a while — even when it comes to plaid pants. These Uma Wang checked trousers are exactly what we’re willing to splurge on this time around. The overly wrinkly vibe is something we haven’t seen yet in high-end fashion, and if wrinkles are in, we’re more than glad. Match these with your favorite black sweater and Oxfords to tie together a dapper, fashion-forward look.
