If, like everyone else, you have long been confused and frustrated by the smart-casual dress code, base a pair of pinstripe trousers at the core of your wardrobe and you’ll make the job a whole lot easier. The fine-line print hasn’t always been seen as a key piece in a man’s everyday arsenal. For a long time, the pattern was predominantly found on the same-ish suiting of city types and Prohibition-era mobsters. It was a power play. Precise and domineering, but ultimately monotonous because every banker dressed the same way.

Today, the subtle striping has returned with a new and more effective role, away from the confines of tailoring and gangsters and into the diverse world of casual dress. Think baseball jerseys, casual shirting and most notably, legwear. Pinstripe trousers are now as much a part of slouchy tailoring or rule-breaking streetwear as the average Wall Street uniform. Worn the right way, they’re only a few rungs up from loungewear.

The New Rules Of Wearing Pinstripe Trousers

Sure, you can’t go wrong with plain navy or black pants, but pinstripe trousers offer surprising levels of stylish versatility. Traditionally seen in smarter looks, it’s perfect in an office two-piece but it can also carry a certain level of neatness into more casual ensembles, instantly giving your outfit a sharper edge. For less adventurous dressers, it’s also an easy and accessible way of adding a touch of character to otherwise minimal looks.

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There are a couple of simple rules worth abiding to avoid any faux pas. First, avoid accompanying them with more stripes or garish patterns on your top half. That’s just hard to look at. Secondly, keep the complementing palette minimal and pared back. Yes, it’s a subtle pattern, but treat it like you would bright colors or bold prints like camouflage: this is the focal point of your outfit. Keep the surrounding pieces muted and bring in earthy or classic colors like off-white, grey or navy to ensure a neat look.