How to wear cognac colored pants? – CDL#95

We regularly receive comments from readers asking us for advice on wearing clothes that are a little stronger, more daring than what they are used to.

This time, we are going to talk about colorful dress pants from the Pini Parma brand:

Baptiste's question relates specifically to wedding outfits and we're going to talk about it.

Let me broaden his question to give advice on ways to wear these pants in everyday outfits, outside of marriage.

You saw it in the thumbnail photo. Here are the pants in question:

I share with you my step-by-step thoughts to fully understand the garment and be able to wear it well.

Analysis: why is this a strong piece?

1. Color

This is what immediately jumps out at you.

The brand calls this color cognac: a brown with orange hues.

The color is rather light without being too bright or vibrant.

Regardless, it's a rather strong color, not common in men's wardrobes.

In addition, they are pants, that is to say a fairly visible piece of clothing that you cannot really hide , unlike a t-shirt or a sweater on which you can place a jacket or jacket in a more neutral color to calm things down.

So unless you are wearing a long, closed coat, these pants are visible and catch the eye.

2. The belt

The other point that makes these pants stronger than the others is their belting.

This is a double-breasted belt with drawstring tabs . Rather rare, it is also a fairly wide belt , which imposes more than a classic belt.

Styling Tips

1. The right style register

These are sartorial-inspired pants.

It is therefore natural to gravitate towards this style , which is relatively dressy but not necessarily austere.

Here is a list of pieces that will be your allies with these pants:

• Blazer
• Knitted jacket
• Lightly dressed military-inspired jackets
• Shirts, including popovers and polo shirts
• All types of city shoes, from moccasins to buckled shoes, derbies, why not chukkas too

To illustrate military-inspired jackets, two examples of pieces that would go perfectly with these pants :

To go further, we can also think about more casual clothing

• Knitted sweater
• Cardigan
• T-shirt
• Polo
• Clean sneakers
• Espadrilles

I'm a little less convinced by a sweatshirt, a hoodie or running shoes which may have a bit too much of a sportswear connotation. We can find exceptions but this is not the universe I would head to in the first place with such pants.

2. The right colors

The first colors that come to mind are:

• White and its derivatives : ecru, cream
• Light browns : light beige, taupe, sand, khaki

Rather light but neutral colors , like the brand's look, to contrast sufficiently with the pants and support a spring/summer atmosphere.

We can of course go further and mention:

• The classic blue and gray
• A touch of green is welcome with any clothing containing brown

On the other hand, I would avoid:

• Other bright colors so as not to saturate the outfit. I'm thinking of mustard yellow for example.
• Red and its derivatives (burgundy, wine lees), which I don't find very happy with this orange-brown

3. Don’t hesitate to tuck the top into the pants

With dress pants, especially those with a worked belt, I find it appropriate to wear the top tucked into the pants , whether it's a shirt but also a polo shirt, a t-shirt or a sweater.

Indeed, even if you can wear the top outside the pants, it's still a bit of a shame to hide the beautiful closure.

Outfit suggestions

I've put together five outfits for you: two dressy ones that will be suitable for a wedding and three casual ones.

1. Tied but not formal

A harmonious outfit through the use of light and natural colors that complement and complement each other.

The sky blue of the shirt is neutral and goes well with the cognac of the pants.

The sand-colored suede leather brogues are a complete continuation of the pants : we are in the same chromatic range but there is enough contrast so that the two can be clearly distinguished.

The jacket is chosen light in order to create a monochrome look with the pants and shoes.

For the tie, I imagined it green and in shantung silk, a textured material.

I found what I was looking for at Shibumi Firenze with this beautiful olive green.

You will notice that the beige stripes are discreetly reminiscent of the shoes and the white stripes of the jacket.

The circle is complete.

2. An unexpected twist

For this second dressy outfit proposal, I made it a little simpler.

I start with a white linen shirt with an open Italian collar , which I complete with a textured blue jacket in a light fabric .

The touch of originality is found on the shoes: they are green leather moccasins . I really like the color, dark but not too much.

This allows you to have something other than brown. Additionally, green is a color that goes well with all the other colors in the outfit.

3. Simple and effective

A casual outfit without risks.

I recommend wearing the navy blue sweater tucked into the pants to show off the belt.

I didn't choose white sneakers but ecru ones . I find this color interesting because it is soft on the eye.

The little beige Japanese cotton bandana is welcome in this rather basic outfit.

4. It smells like summer!

I wanted to wear a shirt with a Cuban collar and long sleeves.

This open collar works well with the sartorial spirit of the pants. The check is quite showy here but is not shocking because there are no other patterns in the outfit. The base is a beautiful yellowed ecru: still a fairly natural color.

The white t-shirt is here so that its collar protrudes slightly from the shirt.

Finally, I chose espadrilles, a bit in the spirit of the brand's shoot.

I wondered about the color: green would fit right in here, as well as beige. I'm going with a rather dark brown to create a contrast:

• Above, the t-shirt and shirt are light
• In the middle, the pants which are of intermediate color
• Below, the shoes are dark

5. Mix of styles

The first idea was to use a military-inspired jacket, hence this olive green belted safari jacket.

I accompany it with a t-shirt that is not white but oatmeal , a color that we rarely see but which is very interesting. It is a slightly yellowed ecru dotted with light gray speckling.

It's a change from the white and ecru t-shirt.

On my feet, I'm thinking of navy blue sneakers . I particularly like the shape of these. They are inspired by military sneakers, which brings them closer to the jacket.