THE JOURNAL
Cargo pants are, by their very nature, resolutely unstylish. Originally designed for the British military so that soldiers could carry more things on their person (maps, bandages and other things one might take to war), they usually come in various shades of pond water and are the embodiment of something traditionally anathema to fashion: practicality.
So why are there so many great pairs of cargo pants around right now? Blame peak Gorpcore (read up on that here) and a general move towards aggressively stylish outdoor gear. Baggy trousers with lots of pockets are everywhere. There are also plenty of ways to wear them without looking like you’re dressing up for a Y2K-themed party. We’ve done you the honour of compiling a few ideas below.
01.
The Norbit by Hiroshi Nozawa Japanese Gorpcore cargos
Japanese designers make some of the world’s best outdoor gear, but no one does it with quite as much style as Mr Hiroshi Nozawa. Think of him as the godfather of Gorpcore. His brand, Norbit, is a reliable go-to for practical pieces that feel truly unique (think achingly cool silhouettes in innovative fabrics). These belted nylon cargo pants, made in collaboration with Throwing Fits no less, have more pockets than a small family of kangaroos and will look excellent with a long-sleeved white T-shirt and some style-conscious hiking shoes.
Wear it with
02.
The classic Stone Island cargos
They were originally made that way for camouflage, but there’s a cool familiarity about cargo pants in khaki that just feels right. Stone Island’s pair are as classic as they come and have a straight-leg silhouette that will appeal if baggy 1990s-inspired trousers aren’t your thing. You can wear these trousers with absolutely anything, but a pop of colour – we suggest this pink sweater from Acne Studios, below – will help you stand out for the right reasons.
Wear it with
03.
The dark and interesting Rick Owens cargos
We’re just guessing here, but knowing Mr Rick Owens, we reckon he named these Bauhaus cargo pants after the gothic rock band rather than the German art school. They are a great example of what the designer does best: delightfully comfortable but stylish black clothing. The signature long white drawstring and silver hardware put these a cut above your average pair of cargos. Keep the too-cool-for-art-school vibe going with a slouchy sweater and black sneakers.
Wear it with
04.
The overly pragmatic Nike AGC cargos
Once the nadir of men’s style, trousers that convert into shorts (we can still barely type the words out without shuddering) are… perhaps not so bad after all? This pair from Nike ACG would look great with a hoodie and baseball cap for a casual weekend look. The fact that they double up as shorts is, admittedly, very useful. Just don’t zip off the legs in front of anyone, OK?
Wear it with
05.
The sophisticated Brunello Cucinelli cargos
You might not have Brunello Cucinelli, the absolute pinnacle of Italian luxury, down as your go-to designer for casual cargo pants, but perhaps you should. The brand’s beige cargos are as smart as they come, like chinos but leagues more stylish (it’s amazing what a couple of pockets can do) and will look the part with a half-zip sweater.