Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
While I prefer wearing raws in nearly every situation, sometimes you just need a change. And when that time comes in the colder months there is no better way to mix things up than with a nice pair of casual wool pants. While we’ve talked about this topic before, it’s been a while, and a lot of great pieces have come to market. Join us while we explore some of these new offerings, and maybe you’ll just find the newest addition to your wardrobe.
1) Snow Peak: Inoue Brothers Knitted Trouser
Snow Peak is definitely a bit more tech-wear than we normally cover, but the truth is they made some phenomenal pieces to suit a variety of sartorial needs. Their Inoue Brothers Knitted Trousers are made from 100% alpaca wool, and feature zippered hand pockets, integrated webbing belt and D-ring, and a great, tapered cut. While these might not be a 1-to-1 replacement for your favorite raws, they’re definitely easy to merge into a denim-heavy wardrobe.
Available for $336 from Hatchet Supply.
2) Parages: Double Pleats Wool Pants
While Parages‘ Double Pleats Wool Pants are definitely some of the more formal trousers on this list, that doesn’t mean they’re incompatible with a more casual wardrobe. With a fairly tapered leg and a 59%/39%/2% wool/polyester/elastane blend fabric, these pants fit much more like jeans than trousers and have the necessary synthetics to make them both stretchy and durable. If you’re a fan of pleats and want a pair of wool trousers you can wear around town without needing to spend a ton of dough, these are a solid choice.
Available for $153 from Wallace.
3) Frank Leder: Pleated Drawstring Trousers in Speckled Wool
Anyone who has followed my articles has probably noticed my infatuation with Frank Leder‘s knitwear, and somehow No Man Walks Alone always manages to pick out the best of any season. This time around it’s the Pleated Drawstring Trousers in Speckled Wool. They’re made in Germany from 100% wool with a cupro lining, and feature a drawstring waist and double pleat front that make these pants as comfortable to wear as they are great to look at.
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Available for $425 from No Man Walks Alone.
4) Sage de Cret: Wool Serge Pegtop Baker Pants in Olive
Sage de Cret is another all-around great option for wool pants, but their Wool Serger Pegtop Baker Pants are especially compelling. These made-in-Japan pants are constructed from a 100% wool outer with a cupro lining, and feature the cut and stylings of traditional fatigue pants. With trapezoidal front hand pockets, a slightly elasticated waist, and patch back pockets, these pants would be a breeze to put into any workwear rotation. And at only $250 they are actually quite affordable for what you get.
Available for $250 from Lost & Found.
5) Comme Des Garcons Homme: Wool Pants in Khaki
We’ve had the affordable, but now we have the … less affordable. Comme Des Garcons Homme is obviously a very renowned designer, but most of their offerings don’t mesh well with Heddels’ style. That said, sometimes they do and their Wool Pants, regardless of their price, are certainly a fun piece. They’re made in Japan in the style of fatigue trousers but feature an elasticated, drawstring waistband in place of the more traditional buttons and belt loops. With 100% wool fabric that features a myriad of beautiful hues, these pants are a real standout.
Available for $1015CAD from Blue Button Shop.
Plus One – And Wander: Recycled Wool Tweed Pants
And Wander is another one of those brands that sits at the intersection of tech wear and workwear, and I’m here for it. Their Recycled Wool Tweed Pants are made from a 65%/28%/4%/3% wool/polyester/nylon/acrylic blend, and while the fabric is beautiful what really makes these pants is the details.
They’re designed with a double pleated front, integrated webbing belt, heavily tapered leg, slightly slanted gusset back pockets, and a cropped inseam. Each pair is finished with reflective 3M stitching reinforcement to give you extra visibility in the dark, but really just to make these pants that much more special.
Available for $335 from Blue Owl.
