https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:02:35 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-591589 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:30:17 +0000 Elly 591589@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Khaki is a color. </p> <p>Chinos are hard to do right. They often come in shades of soul-sucking beige. Most women don't feel their best in light colored pants, especially pants that are very hard to get to fit right in a slimming style because the fabric is almost always loose or bags out and isn't as substantial as a jeans fabric, or floats over curves like trouser fabrics. Even men often don't look their best in them, and they can look very very dated if the fit isn't perfect. Darker chino colors are easier. Chinos also wrinkle very easily, because very few manufacturers make chinos in wrinkle resistant finishes AND modern styles and fits. Wrinkles are casual and sometimes unflattering. Because of all these factors chinos take more work to pull off in a modern way. </p> <p>I would not blink an eye at some of the very advanced YLF ladies creating chino outfits. For the rest of us I would mostly wonder why so-and-so insists on torturing herself. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-591317 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 04:55:51 +0000 MNsara 591317@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Becky - your question made me think of Kristine's khaki question a couple years ago. I think some of the things that came up about when the pants *don't* work well are still valid</p> <p><a href="http://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/letting-go-of-the-khakis" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....the-khakis</a></p> <p>(I hope Kristine doesn't mind as the pics were still available. . .) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-591296 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 03:38:28 +0000 Anonymous 591296@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think casual khakis are a bit out of favor at the moment. They seemed to me to really peak in popularity in the 80s and 90's. Now that half of the uniformed work force in America is wearing them (and half of the school children that have to wear a uniform or dress code wear them too) they seem drab to me, especially with all of the colored bottoms out there. </p> <p>A dressy pant in taupe is a completely different animal because of the fabric and the drape and the type of footwear you would wear with them. Tan and caramel are good options too, but like you, taupe would go with the colors I wear better, even if it isn't next to my face. I hope you find what you're looking for! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-591223 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:33:19 +0000 Becky 591223@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, Angie, that does make sense. It seems like it's all about the fabrication, plus what you would normally pair with the fabrication. I really feel like I have a better handle on this issue now. Thanks, Angie and everyone! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-591127 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 22:58:24 +0000 Angie 591127@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I re-read my 2009 blog post and I still hold the same opinion :). Becky, I guess I don't understand your question :(</p> <p>This is how I see it: </p> <p>Tan or caramel dress pants are not casual (like your original link). They are truly "business casual".</p> <p>Cotton rich chinos (or khakis) are very casual - never understood how they can be business casual. </p> <p>Faded jeans are casual too. Like khakis. </p> <p>Dark denim and trouser jeans can be dressed up to look much dressier than casual chinos. </p> <p>Hope that makes sense. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-591018 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:47:02 +0000 Jjsloane 591018@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think you've kind of sorted it out, but I'll add that I think khakis on men are dressier than most denim I see on men (dark wash jeans, jacket and nice shoes a possible exception). For women there are more options in style, fabric, cut and how worn. I think khaki colored cotton pants (chinos) worn with converse and tshirt are far more casual than dark wash denim with a nice top and heels but the same chinos can be dressed up with shoes and accessories. I like khaki pants as an alternative to jeans, but also like that the color on work pants goes with everything. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-591009 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 19:20:35 +0000 Becky 591009@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Maybe this was what I was thinking of, and it certainly isn't as unbending a rule as I remembered. :-)</p> <p><a href="http://youlookfab.com/2009/04/24/denim-and-the-dress-code-debate/" rel="nofollow">http://youlookfab.com/2009/04/.....de-debate/</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590988 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:45:16 +0000 Becky 590988@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks to all of you for weighing in. This is helping a bit to clarify things in my mind. This particular color of trouser doesn't go with my current color palette, but I'd like to find some that are more taupe. BR had a taupe in this style, but they're out in my size. Hopefully they'll restock.</p> <p>So, Angie, was it that chinos (not khakis) are less dressy than denim? I know I remember some discussion about that from several years ago. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590979 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:44:12 +0000 Amy 590979@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yep, fabrication makes all the difference. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590975 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:33:47 +0000 Sunita 590975@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is such a helpful discussion....I'm learning a lot. I tend to wear dressy pants or denim to work. I used to wear corduroy a few years ago, but now find those too casual. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590873 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 14:26:09 +0000 Angie 590873@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am being miss-quoted :)</p> <p>Becky, those aren't khakis. Those are dress pants in a caramel/beige colour. Mo was spot on. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590853 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:58:49 +0000 HelenInCanada 590853@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think of "khaki green" when you say khakis. I've seen linen versions that look beautiful (worn in office work environments or dressed up with a sparkly tank, etc.), and rumply cotton versions (usually with a lot of pockets) that are ultra casual, so I agree fabrication is the key. I personally like them, and have a light-coloured cotton pair (gasp- Dockers!), but use them when I want to look more laid-back. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590849 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 13:48:07 +0000 Adelfa 590849@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I didn't know Angie said that, but you can take a pair of dark, well-cut jeans and dress them up for a nice dinner where khakis would look sloppy. OTOH many work places, mine too, only allow jeans on Fridays. Khakis are always okay. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590733 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 06:05:36 +0000 Jewell 590733@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ditto what Mo said. But I wanted to add that before visiting this forum I'd never before heard that khakis were less dressy than denim. I'm not sure in what parts of the world that rings true, but around here khakis are permissable in work environments that absolutely do not allow denim. My workplace is one of them. My boss wouldn't mind one bit if I showed up in khakis five days a week. I know this because some of my coworkers do. But if you're aiming for a more polished look, I think a dressier pair of trousers are the way to go.</p> <p>ETA: I'm not personally opposed to khakis. They just don't jive with the direction my style has taken. And after "having" to wear them for years as part of a uniform, I refuse to own any- lol </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590729 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:54:34 +0000 ManidipaM 590729@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Neither of what I consider my khakis are typical chinos --- to me khaki is a particular range of brown-ish green or green-ish brown shades of colour, and 'khakis' are medium-weight cotton pants in that colour. </p> <p>One of mine is a pair of casual wide-legged cotton pants, much lighter fabric weight than chinos; the other is stretchy, with a slouchy, tapered leg. And by virtue of fabric and cut, I consider both of them less dressy than jeans, but still okay for my casual work environment. Wrinkles typically don't bother me (love linen and pure cotton!), and the bagging in the stretchy pair is no more than with jeans that have stretch.</p> <p>So count me baffled too as to what exactly makes a 'khaki', *and* what makes it a bad idea. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590716 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:31:34 +0000 fashionista 590716@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>At our work too, when not in suits, khakis, chinos and decent blue denims are allowed. Our fellow collegue men adorn khakis or chinos but I always preferred denims.<br /> To me denims can be more dressier than khakis. If I wear khakis for a whole day, I don't know the material or the fabric what is that but it tends to look wrinkled and dirtier. Even the tightest khaki pants in the morning tend to be lose and loose shape by the end of the day for me with big sags in knees and butt areas. And no shoes seem to match those khakis. Yes they are comfortable but not dressy like jeans like I feel.<br /> Khakis I feel are more comfortable and causal version than jeans for work. So maybe I would wear more jeans than khakis in work. Outside office it ok. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590714 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:25:26 +0000 Scarlet 590714@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is actually something that has puzzled me too. I guess I would call those pants you linked to khakis. I don't make the distinction. I would also agree (and would think most Americans would agree) that khakis are dressier than jeans. It conveys trying to step it up a notch to me. The ones you linked to seem appropriate for an office environment. Just my opinion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590685 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 04:24:20 +0000 christieanne 590685@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>When I think "Khakis" I think of a generic chino/Docker with pleats. There are more stylish chino options like the colored chinos or boyfriend style at the Gap.<br /> Those BR trousers are a khaki color but not a chino - I agree with Mo. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590667 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:01:36 +0000 Jenava 590667@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'd agree with Mo. I just bought a pair of trousers in this color and I wouldn't count them as khakis. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590661 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 02:54:01 +0000 Becky 590661@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks, Mo. You helped validate what I was beginning to suspect. Also, the shoes and tops one would tend to wear with these trousers is far different from what one usually sees with cotton chinos, which gives an entirely different feeling to the outfit. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590636 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 01:54:17 +0000 Mo 590636@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think of khaki chinos when I think of the pants you are describing. All cotton, sometimes pleated, often what Home Depot and Target employees wear as part of their uniform. I see the pants you linked to as a pair of slacks or trousers that happen to be khaki colored. The fabrication alone makes a difference, as does the cut. IMO, the BR pants would be office appropriate. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/what-are-khakis-and-why-are-they-a-ylf-no-no#post-590634 Sun, 08 Apr 2012 01:49:24 +0000 Becky 590634@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I've been mulling over dressy-trouser options for warmer weather, and thinking about Angie's maxim that khakis are less dressy than denim. What is it about khakis that is less dressy? Is it the color alone? If so, these BR trousers would be khakis and thus more casual than jeans: <a href="http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=42996&#038;pid=638677&#038;vid=3&#038;scid=638677042" rel="nofollow">http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=638677042</a> </p> <p>Does it have to do with the fabrication? The styling? Some combination of all of the above? I used to wear khakis/chinos to work frequently and considered them dressier than jeans, which I never wore. I think most people outside of YLF would also consider them a step up from denim in terms of dressiness. So I guess I need some guidance here: Are trousers like the one I linked to above do-able for a business causal work environment? Does it have to do with more than just the color? Thanks in advance! </p>