You Have Enough Pants. What You Need Are Trousers.

The platonic ideal of a modern trouser delivers a bit of everything: the sophistication of tailored menswear with the laid-back cool of street style. KOTN ticks both boxes with this cotton twill option, which gives structure at the top but roominess all the way down to the wide cuff. The fabric has a weight of 410 grams per square meter, which is very heavy for twill, providing a cozy feel and durability that can stand up to cooler temps. 

Not ready to embrace a wide leg, but loathe to be the "he's still wearing skinny jeans" guy? This wool offering from COS cuts a nice slim profile without feeling painted on. I practically lived in a pair of these last year while working in Central Europe, and found them equally easy to style for a day in the office as a night on the town. The hook and bar closure gives an added level of ease, and the shorter hem length will help you show off all the fall boots you're hoarding.

Japanese designers have led the forefront in popularizing the architectural trouser, playing with silhouettes and volume in ways that feel almost poetic. While Uniqlo is a bit too crowd-pleasing to fully push the envelope, their Wide Fit Chino embraces movement at an unbeatable price point. Available in a wide array of colors (another area where Uniqlo always delivers), there's no reason not to grab a second pair while you're at it.

Drawstrings rarely convey luxury, but one look at this knockout from NYC-based brand Stòffa and you'll forget about any sweatpants association. The thick strings read more like the ends of a robe belt, and feel just as comfortable thanks to the sueded peached cotton. The impeccable attention to detail, and left-of-center touches like inverted box pleats, are possible because of Asket's resistance to mass-market production. They create in small batches instead, but no need to worry about lack of inventory. If they don't have your item in stock, they'll make it to order specifically for you.

Some suit pants look downright wrong in any other context, while others have the kind of panache that can pair with a simple T-shirt. Percival's mini houndstooth (or "puppytooth") fabrication definitely falls into the second bucket. The forest green color looks killer alongside white cotton and clean accessories, while the breathable fabric makes these a solid year-round option. This UK brand is here to remind us who coined the word "trouser" in the first place.

Hear me out. The semantics seem to be working against me here, since the phrase "cargo pant" is burned into our collective consciousness. But there are true blue cargo pants, designed for the pure functionality of workwear, and then there are what I call the cargo trouser. That distinction comes from the fashion-forward profile on the pockets, the effortless cool of the drawcord cuffs, and the overall elevation of what used to be a frumpy pant. 

Khakis might sound as stuffy as they come, but there's a long tradition outside of Ivy League sportswear. Buck Mason, the purveyor of Americana-inspired clothing par excellence, was inspired by 1960s military-issued chinos instead, delivering a silhouette that's both nostalgic and deeply now. Designed to work equally well with or without a blazer, there's something undeniably classic about this trouser across the spectrum of formality. Plus any Buck Mason fan knows tailoring is where they shine, so every detail from high rise to hem has been meticulously thought through. 

Ask any fashion bro what the essential pair of trousers are, and there's a 90% chance he'll wax rhapsodic on Homme Plissé. While part of their Basics collection, the pleats on this product are anything but – they wrap all the way around the entire leg in the style that has become Issey Miyake's signature. If you're balking at the $400+ price tag for a garment that's 100% polyester, know that it's the only fabric that supports such intricate pleating in a permanent fashion. When it looks this good, we'll give poly the edge over organic materials.

There's something about a button-tab closure that makes even a relaxed fit look a bit more uptight. Just take a look at how chic these Asket trousers look by contrast, in large part due to the hidden hook and button that keep every visual line unbroken. The quality of the fabric deserves a special shoutout, too: every pair is made from premium, extra-fine Italian Merino wool, held to a Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) that guarantees ethical animal treatment and sustainable farming. 

The plaid trouser is a subgenre all to its own, one that could feel as homely as a tweed jacket if executed by the wrong hands. Dandy del Mar never leads us astray in that department, with a loungewear focus that keeps even their more formal offerings from feeling conservative. The Albatross plaid pattern reveals more variation the closer you look, while the Carajillo colorway incorporates reddish tones that are perfect for autumnal vibes. Either way, they're your one-way ticket to dressing up without feeling overdressed.