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In recent years, a healthy number of brands have embraced drawstring pants. Along with the requisite drawstring, most of these styles supplement elastic at the waist for added comfort. And that’s the key to these new pants from Outerknown: they’re easy-fitting, good-feeling and relaxed. The laid-back nature doesn’t imply sloppiness, though, and the silhouette is much closer to a traditional chino than a sweatpant. This gives the hybrid pant a wealth of versatility, appropriate in a wide range of casual settings. The question, of course, is whether a pant that blends opposing styles comes off as gimmicky. So, to see if this style is more than just the sum of its parts, I got my hands on a pair.
The Good: First and foremost, these pants are very comfortable. The silhouette has a roomier top and is tapered from the knee to ankle, so you have space in the thighs and crotch but an overall appearance that’s not baggy. The elastic waistband adds orders of magnitude to the comfort level, giving you a pant that is forgiving where you need it. The nine-ounce fabric has a drape that is similar to chinos you’ve worn before, and it is garment dyed for a gently-loved feel.
The Paz pants are made from organic cotton, which uses 90 percent less water to grow than conventional cotton and supports natural biodiversity. Even the button on these pants is sustainable (it’s made from Oceanworks recycled ocean plastic). While the materials are better for the planet, these pants are just as easy to care for a normal pair of chinos — just machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Another major plus for these pants is the price: similar styles cost almost twice as much.
Who They’re For: This pant is for the guy who wants something more casual than a chino, but more respectable than a sweatpant. If you have a laid-back office, this is a great weekday pant, but if the man is enforcing a dress code, get a pair for the weekend. You can wear them to the beach in the morning and out to dinner in the evening.
Watch Out For: These pants have a mock fly, so don’t buy them expecting a functional fly. This design detail makes these pants appear more like a chino but doesn’t sacrifice the integrity of the elastic waistband or the comfort of a pant-front unadulterated by zippers or buttons. Another thing to look out for: the inside of the waistband has two heavy-duty metal eyelets made from plated brass for the drawstring — though the metal shouldn’t bother most people, the plating composition could bother those with super-sensitive skin or metal allergies. The rest is just personal preference. If you’re a person who uses two back pockets religiously, these aren’t the pants for you. They’ve got a single back pocket on the right side, and the left side is unadorned.
