What features should I look for when buying a pair of (used/second-hand) dress pants
I know this one's an easy question, I hope. I think I have managed to find an ok enough navy blazer (it's ebay so fingers crossed) and am looking for some grey or brown pants to pair with it . I also seem to be tolerating wool better than I used to so I'd like a wool blend. But I admit to having no idea what makes something actually "dress pants" to be honest. I'm looking for something that would fit with business contexts that don't quite require a full suit, so I know I want dress pants and not chinos.
10 Replies
What features to look for I think is more of a list of questions of your preferences: pleats or flat front?
Smooth weave or something more textured?
Cuffed or plain hem?
Roomier or slimmer cut?
Why do you want a wool blend?
(I wouldn’t be afraid of 100% wool. Wool with lots of polyester is probably cheaper and less breathable. Wool blended with something else is going to be more for texture’s sake.)
I tend to have fairly sensitive skin so I usually stay away from 100% wool cuz I'll end up with red marks on my hands where they're rubbing. Jacket is a synthetic blend anyway.
As far as the rest...uh, that's a good question? I was planning on just wearing the jacket to the thrift store and seeing what was in stock, heaven knows I can't afford anything decent new.
That’s honestly the best plan. Just try a bunch of shit on. Feel free to post pics and ask for feedback
General tips for buying second hand would be to inspect it really thoroughly, and also be aware a tailor can take in or let a little waist if need be ~1” or so. And check the inside of the hems for extra material if they’re too short.
you're most likely going to see enough grey or brown pants that you can afford to be a little picky in terms of specifics (pleats vs flat front, smooth vs textured, the roominess of the fit)
I'm 5'3'', "too short" is really not a concern
yeah we'll see what happens. the stores are small here so there might not be a ton. still, good things to think about at least. I don't need something super fancy really. I just need something that's good enough to have like, maybe 2 pairs of business acceptable pants for job hunting.
Get synthetics if you want to avoid wool
Lululemon, Theory Neoteric, Uniqlo, etc have tech fabric options and are common on the secondhand market
As does Bonobos for their golf/travel line
I'd also browse through TheRealReal; https://www.therealreal.com/sales/pants-and-denim?sort=lowest_price&taxons%5B%5D=1160&color%5B%5D=4&color%5B%5D=3
(would not sort by size as it rarely works)
good to know. I seem to tolerate some wool blends, but yeah synthetic is fine, and I'm frankly doubting anyone will care much. mostly I want to be able to have something to go job hunting in and look like I tried. preferably something I don't hate.
gonna be my first time job hunting in proper menswear, and only my second time really having to wear professional clothes.
i would also make a distinction between job hunting and working, because there's plenty of places where business attire devolves as soon as you enter
especially if you're working in a field like tech or the arts, or if you're aiming for entry level positions
so I'm IT but I'm often in government or government adjacent. but yes, I'm largely looking at job hunting here right now.
hence why I'm only getting 1 or 2 pairs of pants.
I can recalibrate for an actual job, but right now the dressiest thing I own that actually fits even remotely acceptably is dark wash jeans
Skid marks