What Are Slacks? A Definitive Guide

Have you ever been pants shopping and thought, “Wait, what are slacks pants actually?” Dress pants? Do chinos count? Let’s put the confusion to rest.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe we tend to use the words slacks, trousers, and pants interchangeably. This can be confusing if you’re looking for something specific. So today, I’m going to answer an important question: What are slacks?

Some of you might not care. But even if you aren’t a stickler for dress codes, here’s an enticing thought. Imagine shopping for a pair of pants and knowing precisely what you need. You’d be in and out of that department store or shopping page in seconds. 

You’d up your efficiency (and efficacy) simply through understanding the world of pants. Knowledge really is power. So, here’s the knowledge.

What Are Slacks?

Rajesh wearing blue shirt, navy jacket and gray pants

Slacks are a type of pant usually made from lightweight fabric, such as cotton, linen, wool, or blends of these. They’re similar to dress pants but have a looser, more free-flowing cut. This is especially true for linen or bamboo slacks made for the summer. And they may or may not be pleated.

This is how it gets its name. There’s more “slack” to its construction than dress pants would have, as dress pants are traditionally slimmer. Even as dress pants and slacks change in fit over time, slacks must be the looser option, all things considered. Relatedly, they’re more casual.

However, they’re still more formal than a pair of jeans and even chinos, which are built more ruggedly. Even more, despite their comfortable fit, a good pair will still have a nice, clean-lined cut and silhouette. Another way they’re different from dress pants is that they aren’t made in a set. They aren’t meant to match with a suit jacket.

They’re a staple in smart casual and business casual settings. However, they’re also appropriate for casual wear and cocktail wear. In a pinch, you can often even trick others into thinking they’re part of a suit if you color match properly.

What Are Dress Slacks?

Mugsy Stretch Chinos

Dress slacks can refer to one of two things.

A pair of slacks might be slightly slimmer, emulating the slight sheen of certain dress pants. Perhaps there’s a touch of bamboo or silk in the blend. Or maybe they just look like full-on dress pants without a jacket to partner with. These might be called dress slacks. It’s not a cut-and-dry rule. For example, perhaps you go to a vintage store and find a pair of dress pants, but its matching jacket is lost in history. Well, in this context, they may be considered slacks.

Secondly, you might style your slacks in a highly formal way, perhaps within a cocktail attire context. In this case, you may have transformed them from regular slacks into dress slacks.

It’s a living, breathing term.

Look at Bonobos’s Weekday Warrior Dress Pants. They add extra stretch for a slightly casualized look and feel. Meanwhile, Mugsy’s stretchy chinos look less rugged than typical chinos. If not for the jean-like inner seam fabric, these might be mistaken for slacks.

So, in today’s world of blended fabrics and combination designs, slacks can represent a spectrum.

Next, what is the difference between slacks and pants? Spoiler alert: It’s all terminology.

Slacks vs Pants: What Is the Difference Between Slacks and Pants

How to wear M Gemi Sacca

When it comes to slacks vs pants, the latter encompasses any garment that covers both legs and extends from the waist to the ankle. In fact, shorts may even count as “short pants.” As such, slacks are simply a type of pants.

But one big reason I’m exploring this is that the semantics also have regional and era-defining differences.

In older American English terminology, the word slacks was often used interchangeably with the word pants. It’s not that the definitions of each changed. Slacks were just used as a casual catch-all, like how certain southern states use the word “coke” to mean soda. Meanwhile, the word trousers is preferred over the word pants in England and continental Europe. 

So the practical takeaway from this is that if you’re shopping abroad, you’re looking for slack trousers. In North America, they’re slack pants. And if you’re shopping vintage, what’s categorized as “slacks” might not be slacks specifically because of its former use as a catch-all. And hey, outside of the sartorial-minded, we use all of these terms interchangeably anyway.

Ultimate Versatility: Styling Your Slacks