Slacks are pants with a waistband, belt loops, and a fly front. They are worn from the waist to the ankles, and cover each leg separately. In short, yes. “Pants” is the general category term in North America, as opposed to “trousers” in much of Europe and the UK.
Slacks, of course, are pants. But so are jeans, khakis, chinos, and (hopefully) the bottom half of your suit. All of these items also fall under the category of “trousers,” which is the favorable term for “pants” said by our UK neighbors across the pond.
Some style guides suggest that slacks are only formal pants, while others say that slacks are completely different from the type of pants that come with a suit or other formal wear. Going back to the Oxford English Dictionary to resolve the debate, we learn that slacks are “loosely-cut trousers for informal wear.”.
What are slacks?
The word “slacks” refers to a specific type of pants (or, in the UK, a specific type of trousers ). What type is a matter of some debate.
While we were writing we ran into the question “What are slacks and when are they used?”.
Slacks generally refer to a type of pant that is made from fabric that is more dressy than a chino or khaki but less formal than a dress or suit. They could be pleated or non-pleated and made from lightweight fabrics. Some people refer to their dress pants as slacks or use both as interchangeable words.
You could be wondering “Is “slacks” a real word?”
This is an archaic word, however, and “slacks” has not been used to refer to this since the late 1800s. In most cases, or if you’re just trying to resolve an argument over the meaning of “slacks,” you can point to the definition of “slacks” as loose-fitting, generally informal trousers (or pants).
One idea is that business casual attire is broadly defined as a code of dress that blends traditional business wear with a more relaxed style still professional and appropriate enough for an office environment. For example, in a business casual setting, you could wear slacks or khakis and a polo or blouse without a jacket or tie.
Are slacks only for women?
While the dictionary claims slacks are mostly for women, this particular distinction has largely disappeared and today you will find slacks in the men’s section of clothing stores as well.
What is considered business casual for men?
Business casual clothing options for men might include: Business dress pants, khakis or pressed slacks Button-down shirts, dress shirts, sweaters or polo shirts Professional-looking closed-toed shoes, such as loafers, oxfords or brogues with dark dress socks.