What are khakis? And why are they a YLF "no-no?" - YouLookFab Forum

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What are khakis? And why are they a YLF "no-no?"

Becky

Veteran

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: http://bananarepublic.gap.com/.....=638677042

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!

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from Elly

Mo

(website)

Veteran

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.

Becky

Veteran

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.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I'd agree with Mo. I just bought a pair of trousers in this color and I wouldn't count them as khakis.

christieanne

Veteran

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.
Those BR trousers are a khaki color but not a chino - I agree with Mo.

Scarlet

Veteran

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.

fashionista

Veteran

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.
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.
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.

ManidipaM

Veteran

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.

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.

So count me baffled too as to what exactly makes a 'khaki', *and* what makes it a bad idea.

Jewell

Veteran

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.

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

Adelfa

Veteran

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.

HelenInCanada

Veteran

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.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am being miss-quoted

Becky, those aren't khakis. Those are dress pants in a caramel/beige colour. Mo was spot on.

Sunita

Veteran

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.

Amy

(website)

Veteran

Yep, fabrication makes all the difference.

Becky

Veteran

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.

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.

Becky

Veteran

Maybe this was what I was thinking of, and it certainly isn't as unbending a rule as I remembered.

http://youlookfab.com/2009/04/.....de-debate/

Jjsloane

Veteran

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.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I re-read my 2009 blog post and I still hold the same opinion :). Becky, I guess I don't understand your question

This is how I see it:

Tan or caramel dress pants are not casual (like your original link). They are truly "business casual".

Cotton rich chinos (or khakis) are very casual - never understood how they can be business casual.

Faded jeans are casual too. Like khakis.

Dark denim and trouser jeans can be dressed up to look much dressier than casual chinos.

Hope that makes sense.

Becky

Veteran

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!

Anonymous

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.

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!

MNsara

Veteran

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

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....the-khakis

(I hope Kristine doesn't mind as the pics were still available. . .)

Elly

Veteran

Khaki is a color.

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.

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.