The overcoat always looks at home in laid-back looks, adding just a smidge of business to them. Roll with fashion’s new love for baggier cuts and let your pinstripe trousers cuddle up to a pair of boxfresh white sneakers. Here’s where we see the piece’s true versatility. Below the belt, the pinstripes on your slate-grey trousers will elongate your legs and draw the eye down to some classic minimalist trainers. Each layer will offer a slightly different cut and a slightly different shade to keep things interesting. Over the top, button up a beige blazer and finish with a grey shearling-lined jacket.

Go with a white shirt under a cream knitted jumper for a neat, relaxed start. Above the belt, take the approach that the lower the layer, the lighter the tone. Standard winter insulation, three to four layers that include a knitted piece, can be the perfect accompaniment to your pinstripe trousers. The darker tone of the blazer up to will contrast the bottom half without fighting for attention. No ties needed here, leave a crisp white shirt alone, unfastening the top couple of buttons before layering it under a neat, navy blazer. That means losing the smart shoes, popping on some minimal trainers, and rolling the cuffs of your trousers to give it a more relaxed feel. The key is to soften those smarter elements by swapping in some more relaxed pieces. Then, a simple layered look composed of white crew-neck tee under a soft, lightweight navy jumper will complete a Scandi-inspired take on smart casual up top.Īlthough arguably overused in tailoring, pinstripe trousers still offer a level of formality that will appeal to people after a smarter look. Go for a grey straight-leg cut, miss out the socks and pop on some fresh white trainers for a neat start below the belt. 5 Go-To Looks Layered Up TopĪn easy way to work pinstripe trousers into your everyday wear is to go back to basics. Pair them with other smart-casual heroes like a simple sweatshirt and minimalist trainers for a comfortable way to do business-casual. This has the interesting effect of making the stripes wavy, which instantly makes the look more casual and less straight-laced. To wear pinstripe trousers in a more modern way, look for a looser fit around the leg. Keep the surrounding pieces muted and bring in earthy or classic colors like off-white, grey or navy to ensure a neat look. Yes, it’s a subtle pattern, but treat it like you would bright colors or bold prints like camouflage: this is the focal point of your outfit. Secondly, keep the complementing palette minimal and pared back. First, avoid accompanying them with more stripes or garish patterns on your top half.

There are a couple of simple rules worth abiding to avoid any faux pas. For less adventurous dressers, it’s also an easy and accessible way of adding a touch of character to otherwise minimal looks. Traditionally seen in smarter looks, it’s perfect in an office two-piece but it can also carry a certain level of neatness into more casual ensembles, instantly giving your outfit a sharper edge. Sure, you can’t go wrong with plain navy or black pants, but pinstripe trousers offer surprising levels of stylish versatility. The New Rules Of Wearing Pinstripe Trousers Worn the right way, they’re only a few rungs up from loungewear. Pinstripe trousers are now as much a part of slouchy tailoring or rule-breaking streetwear as the average Wall Street uniform. Think baseball jerseys, casual shirting and most notably, legwear. Today, the subtle striping has returned with a new and more effective role, away from the confines of tailoring and gangsters and into the diverse world of casual dress. Precise and domineering, but ultimately monotonous because every banker dressed the same way.

For a long time, the pattern was predominantly found on the same-ish suiting of city types and Prohibition-era mobsters. The fine-line print hasn’t always been seen as a key piece in a man’s everyday arsenal. If, like everyone else, you have long been confused and frustrated by the smart-casual dress code, base a pair of pinstripe trousers at the core of your wardrobe and you’ll make the job a whole lot easier.

White pin stripe trousers