Three Styles for… Dockers Khakis
Men’s fashion is a great big breeding ground for traditions, and the Dockers Khaki is one of the greatest in Americana. Most see it largely in a preppy light, standard fare for East Coast kids and Ivy League enrollees. The label, however, leaves out much of the style potential that the iconic – and undeniably classic – pant holds. Here are three options for you to explore the next time you find yourself in the store.
Easy East Coast
Khakis are a cornerstone of any preppy or Americana wardrobe. They’re light, comfy and fuss-free pants that you can pair with myriad other pieces, a softer and slouchier option for worker-weight denim. It’s an aesthetic that you can pull regardless of the season or prevalent trend – timeless, in other words.
Minimal fuss is the easiest way to describe this approach to fashion, and everything else you wear should reflect that. Think pique polo shirts and rumpled button-downs with old sneakers and cotton blazers. Your color palette follows suit with pastels and happy prints. If you must dress up, do so with quirky pieces like a cotton bow tie, printed wool neckties or penny loafers with bright, fun socks to lighten the mood.
Keep it light and keep it fun to stay true to that area’s fashion philosophy. A slim fit, meanwhile, should keep your look on trend no matter where you are in the country.
Tough and Tempered
Who says only denim was tough? Khakis man up just as well as their darker and heavier cousins, especially this season where outdoorsy is in style. The right pieces weatherproof the classic khaki for anything that this season could throw at it.
Pick up a few of the other tried-and-tested ‘tough’ pieces – think buffalo plaids, denim jackets and work boots that a lumberjack would be proud to own. They convey a clear message of toughness – one, in fact, that’s so easy to overdo. The role of the khaki pant in the outfit is to balance things out by adding an element of comfort to all the toughness. At the same time, it also breaks up what tends to be a very strong, dark color palette.
That’s right: pile on the working man gear (except for the trapper hat, perhaps). The khakis add style to a mix that usually has a little too much hardiness to it.
Elegantly European
If you don’t have a use for rough and tough khakis, you could also dress them up like the folks from the Continent would. While this approach to fashion does forego a certain amount of comfort, you can’t deny that the put-together gentlemanly style has appeal.
Replace the button-down with a deep colored turtleneck or cable knit sweater, and then throw a tailored blazer or sport coat on over it. Complete the look with loafers or a pair of sleek formal boots. It’s dressy but not fussy, an outfit that strikes the right notes of unique and sartorial that should have you standing out at any fall party.
This is a style you’ll want to perfect for later on in the colder months. Not only is it a very elegant way of layering, but it’s a great strategy for getting to work toasty without having to do up your necktie. There’s also the added bonus of the style points you get for dressing like a Milanese or Parisian of the most discerning tastes in fashion.
Other Related Blog Posts:
Guide to Khakis
Summer Fashion Basics for Men
Your Mens-Ties.com Team