School Pants: Which Brand Reigns Supreme?

Solid color dress slacks (without outside pockets, patch pockets or pocket flaps), with a belt worn at the waist.
The 2018-2019 Central Catholic High School Student Handbook.

 

Like it or not, the dilemma of finding a reasonable pair of school-dress code approved pants is one every Central student has to face. The men’s pants market as saturated as ever, and it can be overwhelming to choose the slacks with which we dress ourselves each morning. There is a myriad of available brands, colors, fits, crops, tapers, and any other minute detail you could possibly imagine. Even after finding a pair that is satisfactory, figuring out how to integrate it with “school shirts” and determining whether it is within the dress code is an entirely other animal. With the vast options within the pants market and the strict dress parameters imposed by Central Catholic, the question begs to be asked: Is there a perfect pant?

There are three criteria with which one can make an effective judgement of a pair of school pants: fit, quality, and cost. Fit is obviously most important. Central tends to be either really hot or really cold—this is to be expected from a nearly 100 year old castle. The only thing that could make a ridiculously sultry day on the fourth floor or a frigid morning in the STEM worse is spending it in a pair of ill-fitting leg holders. I am a slim guy, so I prefer a slim pant, but I am aware that this is not the case for everyone. For fit, the Banana Republic “Mason” chino is a very solid option, as it is a balance between slim and relaxed fit, with a more fabric in the seat and thigh and a gradual taper towards the bottom of the leg. Don’t let the chino moniker fool you, these are proper school pants. However, Banana seems to have created a perfect balance between dress and casual with their chino line; look as fitting with an old college sweatshirt and a pair of sneakers as they do with a blazer and leather loafers. Senior Thomas Peilert has been a wearer of Banana chinos for all of his high school career; “Yeah… they fit incredibly well.” In addition to the Mason fit, Banana Republic offers four other fits ranging from the Fulton skinny to the Gavin relaxed fit. Banana is as good as it gets in terms of pant fit and comfort. There are also a number of colors to choose from, all of which fall well within Central’s dress guidelines. 

Pullquote Photo

Yeah…they fit incredibly well.

— Thomas Peilert

Quality is a component of pant-analysis that is often overlooked. When purchasing a pair of pants, I want to make sure that they will last me throughout the entire year and perhaps even into the next one. Lululemon-athletica is second-to-none in terms of quality. The materials are fantastic and they are supremely comfortable. Liam Pulford, notable Central Catholic student-athlete, said “Lulu makes my favorite pant. I wear them almost every day. They’re crazy comfortable and the quality is great.” Unfortunately, the only pants within Lululemon’s repertoire that meet Central’s dress code are the Commission pants, which come in normal and slim fits. The color options are decent: there are a few different greens, navy, khaki, black, and a few different grays. If you’re lucky you may come across a maroon or a light-gray. As I said earlier, Lululemon is the king of quality. I have had two pairs of their Commission Pants since my Freshman year, and though they don’t fit very well anymore, there are no signs of pilling or tears, and the color has remained consistent. Lululemon clothes also do not shrink…no, I am not kidding, they don’t shrink. If any of your garments shrink, you can take them back to the store and they will replace them with a new pair, free of charge. Though they do not fit quite as well as those from Banana Republic, Lululemon’s pants will last as long as you need them to.

Last, but certainly not least, is cost. Though the Banana Republic and Lululemon pants are fantastic, they are not cheap. Banana Republic’s pants will run you between $60 and $100, but there are often sales that will bring these prices down. Lululemon, on the other hand, places their pants at $128, though there is something to be said for the fact that they will give you a new pair for free if they shrink or get damaged. Occasionally there are sales, and pairs can be found for $90, but this is still a steep price to pay. However, this does not mean that there are no good pants to be found for a reasonable price. The best pant is the most cost-effective pant. J. Crew Factory sells their chinos, from slim-fit to straight-fit, for a cool $29. These pants are of good quality, fit quite well, and have a number of colors and cuts to choose from. They are incredibly versatile, and can be worn both casually and formally. For under $30, there are few pants better than J. Crew Factory’s chinos.

Below, I will leave a power-ranking for each category:

Fit

  1. Banana Republic
  2. Urban Outfitters
  3. Gap
  4. Lululemon
  5. J. Crew

Quality

  1. Lululemon
  2. Banana Republic
  3. J. Crew
  4. Gap
  5. American Eagle

Bang for your buck

  1. J. Crew Factory
  2. Old Navy
  3. American Eagle
  4. Dockers
  5. Aeropostale