This reinterpretation of the U.S. Army 1937 Model Work Pant, for example, is crafted from 11. oz denim woven with slub yarn for a unique texture. Because current technology could not recreate the exact specs, they produced them on original U.S. shuttle looms to get it right. The pattern, thread, and stitch style are painstakingly accurate, and even the buttons and buckles have been faithfully reproduced to match U.S. Army specifications of the time. This level of historical reverence and dedication to authenticity comes at a price of course, but they’ll likely be the last work pants you ever buy.
Warmest Work Pants: Patagonia Iron Works Fleece-Lined Work Pants
Patagonia’s heavy-duty workwear line, Iron Forge, brings the same planet-friendly ethos as the main line, but with a rugged twist. Their spin on the classic work pant swaps out stiff break-ins for a proprietary hemp-organic cotton-recycled poly blend that’s tough as nails, but surprisingly soft from the get-go. The secret? The hemp, which has a tensile strength of at least three times stronger than cotton, but only gets comfier with wear.
Packed with all the utility pockets you’d expect from a classic workwear brand, these pants also bring some unexpected heat—literally—thanks to a cozy recycled micro-fleece lining that keeps the chill at bay. Oh, and to top all of that off, don’t forget that Patagonia still offers their legendary Ironclad Guarantee and mail-in repair service.
Best Work Pants for Fashion Guys: JW Anderson Twisted Workwear Trousers
Jonathan Anderson is a designer in constant motion. As the creative director of Loewe, the head of his own JW Anderson label, a longtime Uniqlo collaborator, and now a costume designer for Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, he has the fashion world hanging on his every move. But beyond the accolades, it’s the clothes themselves that captivate—he’s built a reputation for reimagining classics with a playful, offbeat edge.
His take on the work pant is no exception, featuring a literal twist—an off-centre button, and curved seams that disrupt the usual straight-leg silhouette—while still incorporating functional details, even if the overall look leans avant-garde. Sure, these are more at home in a gallery opening than a construction site, but that’s exactly the point.
More Work Pants We Love
OrSlow Double Knee Trousers
Like many of its Japanese compatriots, Orslow, as the name suggests, takes the slow lane to reach perfection. Their meticulous take on a classic French work pant, cut from a subtle textured herringbone, is easy-breezy—whether you’ll actually be working in them, or just working on your look.
Kapital Embroidered Cargo Trousers
If Orlow’s take on the work pants feels a little too straight-laced for you, Kapital’s version (available in ecru or black) takes things in a much wilder direction—just as you’d expect from a brand that many menswear heads collect as other would wine or art. With the embroidered contrast stitching forming a net over the knees, they keep the workwear spirit intact with just the right amount of distinctiveness.
Polo Ralph Lauren Paint-Splattered Cotton-Sateen Cargo Trousers
If you’re more likely to have carpal tunnel than callused hands, it’s all good—Polo Ralph Lauren has done the work for you with a touch of splattered paint and some pre-fading in the knees. We’re not here to judge.
New York’s 3Sixteen has a knack for taking classic styles and turning them into the overachievers of your wardrobe. Case in point: this work pant, made from heavyweight twill that’s been garment dyed and washed to perfection. That’s that ‘teen espresso.
Gap 90s Loose Carpenter Pant
For anyone who grew up in the ‘90s, owning a pair of Gap carpenter pants was practically a right of passage. Naturally, with that decade fully trending, Gap’s brought its note-perfect baggy fit, hammer loop, and relaxed vibe right back, at a price that’s hard to beat.
This is basically Stüssy’s take on the classic Dickies pant, under its Workgear line. It stays true to the original inspo but with a few key upgrades—looser, softer, and even more skate-friendly.
If by-the-book work pants aren’t your thing, Our Legacy’s—currently deeply discounted—cargos are the move. A mashup of hiking and military trousers, they’re cut from durable ripstop in an unexpected color, making them some of the waviest cargos around.
The Real McCoy Work Trouser
Like Buzz Rickson, The Real McCoy is a heavyweight in expertly crafted Japanese reproductions of classic garms. Case in point: these WWII Denim Work Trousers, cut from grey-weft 10 oz. denim with clean white contrast stitching—a straight-up workwear classic with a collector’s touch.
Alex Mill Ecru Painter Paint
Alex Mill has earned its stripes crafting solidly constructed basics in high-quality fabrics, always playfulness and comfort in mind—and their painter pant is no exception. Made from recycled, garment-dyed denim, these are built to handle both rugged and refined days.
Aaron Levine NY Workwear Pant
Design veteran, menswear whisperer and IG-moodboard favorite Aaron Levine just dropped his debut collection, and—no surprise—it contains his tributes to some classics. These made-in-Brooklyn work pants nail no-sweat versatility, and can easily be dressed up when the occasion calls.
Coming in at a nice sub-$100 price point, these work pants are technically some iconic climbing pants—but that just means they’re even more mobile, and come with a mighty useful built-in belt.
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Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.
