Perhaps the single most polarizing men’s clothing item is the humble overall. Some people view them as suitable only for the manliest of men, guys who can effortlessly take an engine apart and rebuild it or who spend their days chopping wood and herding cattle. Others perceive overalls as strictly for children, while others still love them for everyday wear. 

Whatever your personal stance may be, overalls have been a hard-wearing and crucial part of the fashion industry for well over a century. Created by the legendary Levi Strauss and Jacob W. Davis of Levi Strauss & Co. in the 1870s, overalls started out as jeans with suspenders attached. For decades they were favored by the hardest-working people in America: miners, ranchers, farmers, loggers, and construction workers.

Understandably, overalls have historically been associated closely with workwear – particularly for men. However, there have been several periods throughout history when overalls were worn more casually and became trendy. It seems that one of those periods is upon us once again. 

If you’re interested in trying out overalls for yourself but don’t know exactly how, we don’t blame you. Although they’re distinctly casual, it’s not exactly easy to simply throw a pair of overalls on.

Technically it is, but we mean from a fashion standpoint. After all, overalls are far too casual for many environments (unless you work in a setting that has an extremely laid-back stance on business casual). Even if you figure out where to wear them, what do you pair them with? 

That’s exactly why we created this guide to men’s overalls. There are several options today, and they aren’t all traditional denim. Ranging from true workwear to more fashion-forward options, there’s a pair of overalls here for every taste.