Khaki pants are very popular casual and dress-casual pants that work equally well for men, women, and those who don’t identify as either. In many ways, they are the one clothing item that works well for anything but the most formal of occasions. They also are incredibly comfortable on hot summer days, which is why they were first created about 175 years ago by a soldier in the British Army.
Origin of Pleated Khakis
The British Empire reached its zenith in the 19th century and had troops stationed in colonies and seaports around the globe. The sun never set on the British Empire, but it did subject colonial troops in nations like India to high heat and humidity. The traditional uniform of the British soldier at the time was usually made of thick cotton or wool and colored bright red, which made them stand out in a jungle environment or just about anywhere else.
A British soldier stationed in India was the first to create pleated khakis by dying his thick cotton uniform a drab-brown color that better matched the natural background in India. Khaki is taken from the Urdu language and means “dust-colored.” Thus, the common pleated khaki was born from the pleated uniforms often worn by British troops.
The dust-colored uniforms are considered one of the first forms of modern camouflage uniforms and might be the first. Khaki doesn’t absorb the sun’s hot UV rays as readily as the bright-red or early dark-green soldiers’ uniforms, which makes it ideal in India. Its use spread to Australia, South Africa, and other hot and dusty locales in which British troops were stationed, including North Africa and Burma during World War II.
Khaki Comfort Wins the Day
Khaki pants are available in many fits for just about any body type. You can get pleated khakis that are slim with straight or relaxed leg cuts. Slim-fit khakis can enhance your silhouette, and straight-leg khakis give you a bit more room. A relaxed cut is terrific for a more casual mode of dress and helps keep your legs cool on warmer days.
Most khakis are made from cotton, but you could choose many types of woven cotton khakis, including the luxurious feel of Egyptian cotton. Cotton is the preferred choice due to its breathable knit fabric, which makes hot days a little less hot. A breezy day is especially good for wearing khakis when the hot sun is warming things up and humidity levels are high.
Many Great Uses for Pleated Khakis
You can wear khakis for just about any purpose, and they will look great while you are working or having fun. They are perfect for casual wear and work well with t-shirts, polo shirts or your favorite button-down shirt. You can wear them with tennis shoes or sandals and enjoy going about your day in casual comfort.
Adding a dress shirt and dress shoes to the ensemble converts khakis into great work attire that is especially useful for office workers on casual Fridays. You could opt for a blazer or sports coat over a dress shirt and present a more formal appearance that works for business attire. When the night comes, some leather shoes and a great knit shirt help keep you looking and feeling great while you are enjoying a night on the town.
Khakis Are Durable and Low-Maintenance
One of the best features of khakis is their ease of maintenance. You just wash them in cold water to prevent shrinkage and dry them in low to medium heat to help keep them clean and looking good. A well-kept pair of pleated khakis can last many years and won’t require constant ironing to remove wrinkles.
