Are Khaki Pants Dressy?

Principessa

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Was chatting with a male member here the other day and was astounded about how clueless he is about male fashion; and what constitutes casual vs. dressy for mens shoes and pants.

Maybe it's a regional difference, since I am on the east coast and he is on the west. When did khaki pants become dressy? I always thought khakis were casual nice, but not dressy. Therefore a lace up shoe, loafer, boat shoe, or sneaker could be worn with them depending on the occassion. If I saw a man wearing wingtips with khakis I'd think something was wrong with him. To me wingtips are a dress shoe.

  • Are Khaki Pants Dressy?
  • What shoes do you wear with khaki pants, if you ever wear khaki pants?
  • What shoes do you wear with a suit?
  • What shoes would you wear with jeans for a casual date out? Say TGIF's and a movie.
  • Should your shoes match your suit or your socks?
 

B_Nick4444

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  • Are Khaki Pants Dressy?
dressy, no -- dressier than jeans

  • What shoes do you wear with khaki pants, if you ever wear khaki pants?
mostly deck shoes, chukka boots

  • What shoes do you wear with a suit?
mostly cap toes, sometimes wingtips

  • What shoes would you wear with jeans for a casual date out? Say TGIF's and a movie.
deck shoes or chukka boots

  • Should your shoes match your suit or your socks?
socks

any other questions? tie colors and seasons?
 

nudeyorker

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  • Are Khaki Pants Dressy?From the traditional sense no.
  • What shoes do you wear with khaki pants, if you ever wear khaki pants?top siders or sneakers
  • What shoes do you wear with a suit?A nice Italian loafer with a leather sole and stacked wood heel.
  • What shoes would you wear with jeans for a casual date out? Say TGIF's and a movie.sneakers or top siders
  • Should your shoes match your suit or your socks?Your shoe should be the same color or darker than the hem of the trousers.
[/QUOTE]
 
D

deleted3782

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Khaki: yes they are dressy for me.

I'm still not even sure what Wingtips are...but I rarely wear lace-up shoes unless I've got on my tux. I wear slip on loafers with my suit.

With jeans...I could wear tennis shoes, loafers, or flip flops.

My only sock rule is no white socks with black or brown shoes, or dark socks with tennis shoes. Aside from that, I really don't care.
 

D_Ireonsyd_Colonrinse

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It is actually possible to get brown or black leather shoes that are right in that middle cutting edge range of being both casual and dressy (can be worn with jeans or dress pants).

Is this peculiar to me? Take away the t-shirts and jeans and sweatshirts, and the bulk of my warbrobe can be worn simultaneously to the movies, an art museum, a five-star or 3-star restaurant.... I tend to feel somewhat uncomfortable "dressed up". So I tend to go for the Calvin Klein/Hugo Boss sporty casual look that is a multitasker.

You can always slip on a gold chain-link bracelet and Rolex watch to beef up any attire.
 

MagicJohnsonFan

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The whole "casual vs. dressy" thing comes up often here in So Cal - usually in regard to what's appropriate at work. I work in a very conservative, professional business environment and you'd be surprised at what some people consider "business casual!"

In my opinion, for what it's worth, khakis would be appropriate for dress-down Friday at work. They are not dressy. They're dressier than jeans but more casual than slacks. I think the shoes should match the socks AND go with the suit.

I completely agree with you on the matter of shoes, too, njqt. If I saw a guy with wingtips and khakis I'd be looking behind him for his adult companion. You may have an advantage living where you do - people still appear to be willing to dress up there.
 

yngjock20

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Are Khaki Pants Dressy? Hell naw!
  • What shoes do you wear with khaki pants, if you ever wear khaki pants? Top-siders, oxfords, Jack Purcells, Vans...or if you're from 1993, monkstraps.
  • What shoes do you wear with a suit? This is a completely different question. With a khaki suit? Because if it's a twill khaki suit, then the same as above applies; but if it's a khaki-colored suit, then I'd go with a traditional brown or oxblood leather oxford or wingtip. I don't believe that black and khaki should ever be put together. I hate the pair.
  • What shoes would you wear with jeans for a casual date out? Say TGIF's and a movie. Well, that's saying alot if your casual date is going to TGI Friday's. You might as well rock the NB 803's and your frat tee. I'm sorry, that was a callous judgment about TGI Friday's.
In all seriousness, the same shoes you'd wear with khakis you can wear with jeans and look dashing. There's nothing more attractive to me than a guy wearing a nice crisp (fitted) white t-shirt, some nice jeans (light wash) and a pair of clean, classic shoes.
  • Should your shoes match your suit or your socks? What are you wearing? Socks or a suit? If most people can see your suit, then you should match to the suit.

It doesn't shock me that very few men these days know how to keep a classic look when there are labels in popularity that condone "comfortable" as a way to dress. Thanks to the internet, there are more than enough people with the right info to lead men on the straight way to a respectable look.
 

canuck_pa

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Are Khaki Pants Dressy?
No. But can be worn for casual business.

What shoes do you wear with khaki pants, if you ever wear khaki pants?
Casual shoes but always either leather or suede, loafers, desert boots, etc.

What shoes do you wear with a suit?
Leather, many different styles work depending on your personal style. Sloan Rangers often wear brown suede with a navy suit. I usually wear black shoes with a navy or black suit. All leather should match, so the belt should match the shoes.

What shoes would you wear with jeans for a casual date out? Say TGIF's and a movie.
Shit kickers or casual shoes. I seldom wear sneakers

Should your shoes match your suit or your socks?
Usually both but depends on the look you're going for. They should all compliment each other.

And my glasses are chosen to compliment the clothes I'm wearing or the look I'm going for.
 

Principessa

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yngjock20, I chose TGIF's because they are a national chain and many people are familiar with them. I almost said Olive Garden, but then I realized many consider that to be fine dining. :yuck:
 

uncutblond34

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  • Are Khaki Pants Dressy?
  • What shoes do you wear with khaki pants, if you ever wear khaki pants?
  • What shoes do you wear with a suit?
  • What shoes would you wear with jeans for a casual date out? Say TGIF's and a movie.
  • Should your shoes match your suit or your socks?
[/quote]

Are khaki pants dressy ? No... they are "dressy casual". I wear mine without a tie, but sometimes with a blazer.

What shoes to wear with khakis ? I usually wear penny loafers, in brown or cordovan. While I wear loafers with jeans on occasion, most times I wear sneakers.

What shoes do you wear with a suit ? I always wear black. Sometimes a slip on, sometimes lace ups. Depends on the reason I'm in a suit. If it's business, lace ups. Personal, slip ons, OR wing tips. I never wear wing tips for business dress. If I'm in my tuxedo, I wear the traditional patent leather slip on opera pumps with the grosgrain ribbon on them ( I jokingly refer to them as my "Mary Janes" ) polished to a mirror - like shine.

For a casual date out ? Jeans and loafers.

Your shoes should match your clothing. Black suit/black shoes....khaki's and brown or cordovan..jeans and brown or cordovan, or sneakers. I worked with a "big band" for some time, and for summer afternoon or evening casual dances we wore white pants, white shirt,navy and maroon ties, navy double breasted blazers, navy socks, and navy and white slip on spectators ( two tone wingtips ) LOVE my spectators... still wear them on occasion with white pants and a blue and white bowling shirt...but while they are two toned, they ARE considered a "white shoe", and everyone knows that one never wears white between Labor Day and Memorial Day....just thought I'd throw my two cents in as well !:tongue:
 
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  • Are Khaki Pants Dressy? - I have never thought so
  • What shoes do you wear with khaki pants, if you ever wear khaki pants? - i wear anything from loafers, to lace ups to work boots
  • What shoes do you wear with a suit? - i wear loafers or lace ups as NueYorker said
  • What shoes would you wear with jeans for a casual date out? Say TGIF's and a movie. - Gucci loafers or shoes i would wear with a suit
  • Should your shoes match your suit or your socks? -shoes would match suit. socks would be black
 

B_cigarbabe

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  • Are Khaki Pants Dressy?
  • Absolutely not! These are strictly casual type of pant. No one with a well developed sense of style would even consider wearing a "suit of khaki".
  • What shoes do you wear with khaki pants, if you ever wear khaki pants?
  • You may wear any type of casual shoe such as loafers,top siders,sandals or sneakers.
  • What shoes do you wear with a suit?
  • Sorry exwhyzee those "loafers you picked could hardly be considered "dressy" enough for a suit. Nope never! Wingtips even a nicely polished penny loafer is better than a non dressy shoe like yours. Sorry.
  • What shoes would you wear with jeans for a casual date out? Say TGIF's and a movie.
  • Any shoe except a patent leather loafer would be acceptable.
  • Should your shoes match your suit or your socks?
  • They should unless ya'lls a barefeeted hillbilly!
cigarbabe:saevil:
 

Scrufuss

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HA!
INTACT 501's with my black shin length leather boots and a long sleeve shirt is FANCY for me.. Anything matches the jeans and boots. And a tie only if someone died. I park the Z and take the cover off the Lex and am good to go

No I am not straight, just missed out on a base pair sequence somewhere that gives that illusion....
 

heist

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I would say khakis are flexible. You can either wear them dressier or not, depending on what else you're wearing. For example, my high school had an option for the graduation uniform that included khaki pants (others had black or navy dress pants), and the outfit was definitely neither "casual" nor "dressy casual."

I used to wear khakis all the time, but I stopped because I discovered the joys of jeans. And now, I'd only wear khakis to dressy functions. When it comes down to it, I don't think khakis are inherently dressy or not -- they are very neutral. Perhaps that's why people think they are less dressy than dark dress pants.
 

Principessa

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I would say khakis are flexible. You can either wear them dressier or not, depending on what else you're wearing. For example, my high school had an option for the graduation uniform that included khaki pants (others had black or navy dress pants), and the outfit was definitely neither "casual" nor "dressy casual."

I used to wear khakis all the time, but I stopped because I discovered the joys of jeans.
And now, I'd only wear khakis to dressy functions. When it comes down to it, I don't think khakis are inherently dressy or not -- they are very neutral.
Wrong, wrong, wrong! I am officially reversing your %'s because only a colorblind straight man would think that. :tongue::mad:
 

surferboy

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i work for walgreens, yah? and part of the uniform is for wear dressy pants. i wear khakis, as do a lot of other guys in the different stores. they seem for be fine with it
 

Principessa

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i work for walgreens, yah? and part of the uniform is for wear dressy pants. i wear khakis, as do a lot of other guys in the different stores. they seem for be fine with it
Many retail stores will say dressy pants as a way of getting people to not wear jeans. Some people think a dark wash denim or black jeans are dressy. NOT! Jeans are not dressy.